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Please explain 'retenciones'.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:08pm
11 replies493 views6 members subscribed
Classic man

Classic man

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On my recent bank statement they had taken off nearlly €300 for something called 'retenciones'  I went to the branch and the best I could get was that it for the use of my debit card, beyond that I could not understand the explanation.

Do they charge you for every time you use the card? I very seldom go into the branch but tend to use the hole-in-the-wall and pay for fuel and food with the card. Can someone please explain what this is all about and if it is common across all banks?

I have no loyalty to the one I am with at the moment.

John56

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:22pm

John56

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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:22pm

Which Bank are you with as I have found that whatever Branch of Sabadell I go into they always have English speaking staff and are very helpful. Hard to know what the Retention is for, seems unlikely to be for use of your Debit Card as if you are Non Resident you should only be charged the standard 30-35€ per Quarter, for using an ATM there should be no charge if you use your own Bank's Machines. The only other possibility I can think of is for unpaid Taxes.

Classic man

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:41pm

Classic man

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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:41pm

Hi John and thanks for the contribution,

The bank I am with at the moment is Bankinter and of late have not been too happy with them and now this.

I actually went into a Sabadell branch today with a view to changing the account to them and I will do that if I can't get anywhere with this.

I only ever use Bankinter machines if I am drawing cash as I am aware that you get charged if you use someone elses.

If they are charging me for every use of the card I can just draw out more cash and not use the card. Not convenient but it would work. But I still need to know what these' retentiones' actually are.

shayden

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:25pm

shayden

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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:25pm

Could it be a pending payment? Or have you used it in a hotel or such like where they authorise a certain amount when you check in?

Just a thought. Never heard of this. 

Shaun

Classic man

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:37pm

Classic man

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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:37pm

Hi Shaun,

That was my first thought, similar to when they take a swipe of your card when you go to a restaurant. However I have not done anything like that for a long while as I don't travel much any more.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

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ros4111

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:20pm

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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:20pm

Retenciones is part of the money that someone was going to pay you that for some reason keeps to pay someone else.

For example, if you are autonomo or freelance and you make a work for a bussines for 1000€, The goverment tell bussines to keep 15%, and the bussines gives that 150€ to the goverment. When the autonomo is going to pay taxes will say that he already pay 150€ so doesnt pay all at the end.

Classic man

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 12:33pm

Classic man

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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 12:33pm

Hi Ros, thanks for the post.

Unfortunately I don't fit into that catagory because no-one owes me any money and I am not working as I am retired.

The account is simple. We use it for everything while we are in Spain and top it up from the UK on an as and when basis and that's it. Just like a piggy bank.

Classic man

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:15pm

Classic man

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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:15pm

Lots of great suggestions coming in. Thanks.

That is not the problem either because the statement shows regular payments being made.The only thing on the statement is the word 'retenciones'.

This is becoming such that I need to go back to the bank and find someone who can really explain it.

Please keep the ideas coming. We'll get there one day.

Classic man

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:48am

Classic man

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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:48am

Hi Tony.

My branch is in Rojales but I live an hour away near Villena. That stems from when we lived in Torre.

Unfortunately my contact in the branch has recently moved, funnily enough, to Villa Martin. Her English is excellent but the others remaining don't have such good English. Hence the question in the first place.

I will go to the Villena branch when I am next there. Hopefully I can get the elusive answer.

Classic man

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:29pm

Classic man

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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:29pm

Hello Ray,

 Unfortunately this does not seem to fit my scenario either. We have not bought any property in Spain for well over ten years and even then it was bought from a resident who died a year or so later.

I am sure all taxes and levies were paid at the time. If something was wrong they have taken one hell of a long time to come looking. They must be getting desperate to go back that far.

Thanks for your contribution. I promise to let everyone know the true answer when I get it.

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