The bank has frozen my account - Page 2

Hi BigO

Well, in which case I feel you have a legitimate gripe. As I said earlier, my choice of banking was also based on their ability/willingness to speak English for anything other than daily needs. If they suddenly decided they were not able to offer this facility, I’d be well and truly stuffed. 

I remember our first time in Spain, about seven years ago. I screwed up my courage and asked for “gin y tonica”. The young lady responded with what appeared to be a question and it was all I could do just to say si. I went into total meltdown! I worked out much later she asked if I wanted ice and lemon 😂😂. 

I’ve not heard “polyglot” for a very long time🤪🥂

I have sympathy with this one - when we purchased our property our Spanish lawyer set us up with a Caja Rural account.  There is a branch in our village and they had English speakers.   We could email and they would reply in English. This was a few years ago.  It was set up during the few days we were there to complete the purchase, and as such we didnt get round to looking into setting up online banking.  However it worked well for about a year.  Then suddenly, no more statements were being sent, the emails were ignored, and when we went into the branch they didnt haved an English speaker. 

I tried calling them but as I spoke in English they just diconnected me.  This was very frustrating when you are at home in the UK  and you need to access your bank.

Finally we went into Sabadell in Almoradi and a very helpful lady there, Lourdes, opened us a new account and arranged transfer of our direct debits.  We have now set up online banking with them and have no problems.

I think Ray D is a resident of Spain?  in which case I would venture to suggest that maybe its a bit easier to learn the language when you live there, and understand how things work, rather than being a UK resident who visits for only a few weeks a year. Even websites that offer English can be confusing when you dont know how things work. When in Spain we feel very much that we are guests, and do our best to help in the community where we can and abide by their customs and local ways.  Hopefully if we ever get to move out there we will also get better at the language as well.     .    

Hi, we bank with Santander in Spain and have been given This number :

00 34 912 737 090 

This is the dept that will communicate with you in English - we have used them and they were really helpful

Also if you can download the Santander app they will give you a electronic signature number and then both the website and the app can be accessed in English

Hope this helps

Shar n Mike

Ill no doubt be told I’m not qualified to comment, but I notice no one has pointed out that at least some of the Spanish banks actively seek our business and go so far as to advertise for it in several foreign languages, English included. Is it therefore really so unreasonable to expect them to have English-speaking staff available?

No. ( & u r qualified) V

Hi, Paulandjoyce.

You are as qualified to comment as anyone who has done so thus far.  Moreover, the point that you make is an excellent one.  Thank you. 

Bigo

Hi, I think most British banks have Language Line, the same as British Local Government, this is very helpful, as I was a user.

Jean

I have been locked out of my Caixa bank for months.  Caixa are a nightmare.  They constantly change security codes and other requirements.  My card has now expired which I pay direct debits with.  I have asked my solicitor for help.  My son uses a international online bank which is so easy.  Your bank is your phone.  Never closed.  It speaks every language.  Transfers money from £ to euros at 0.4% of full BOE exchange rate.  Does debit, credit, regular and every other payments.  Pay with phone or draw euros free at ATM with card.  I will be using it in the future.

Thank you, Pinkshami.

That's incredibly useful information.

No! The banks that advertise English speaking do have helplines in English and a personal English speaking banker to assist you! If you don’t speak any Spanish you can quite happily enjoy life in Spain . As long as you don’t have to work 😅. Dump Santander immediately! Plenty of English speaking banks.