| Have you ever tried to pay your electricity bill? | | | | wandered down, negotiated the electronic doors and |
| I love Spain, I love living here, I love speaking Spanish | | | | waited in the queue. Not having much confidence in |
| with the locals, I love so much about it and, for now | | | | the outcome, I turned to a passing clerk and asked if |
| at least, I can't see myself living anywhere else. But | | | | I could pay the bill I was waving in my hand at this |
| nothing in life is ideal, nothing always works as you | | | | branch. Yet again, and it's surprising how they all do it, |
| want it and the same can definitely be said for me | | | | another tightly clenched-lip expression accompanied |
| and my most recent electricity bill from Spain's main | | | | by the familiar shake of the head and a sigh so |
| electricity company, Iberdrola. | | | | typical of a smoker inhaling his final drag: |
| Having overdone it on the air-conditioning in the | | | | 'Si puedes, pero no hoy!' (Yes you can, but not |
| summer, I owed the princely sum of 225,28 Euros | | | | today!) |
| which normally - and this is for sure the best way | | | | What? Not today! I was directed to a polite sign on |
| when it works - is paid by direct debit every 2 | | | | the cash-desk the gist of which read that bills such as |
| months. Nothing wrong with that, but where it goes | | | | mine can only be paid between the 10th and 20th of |
| wrong is when, for seemingly unknown and | | | | each month between the hours of 10am and 12pm! |
| sometimes mysterious reasons, your bill just doesn't | | | | It was the 5th and 1pm! And the queue was so long |
| get paid. | | | | I wasn't sticking around long enough to argue the |
| Having no funds in your account is the first surefire | | | | point. |
| way to start your own 'mission impossible' with the | | | | For a week, my bill sat purposefully on my office |
| Spanish banking system. Alternatively, elect NOT to | | | | desk at home. And I sat there every day |
| pay by direct debit in the first place and you could be | | | | purposefully wanting to pay it. I could call Iberdrola |
| in for a regular adventure every 2 or 3 months, | | | | and ask them to attempt to retake the funds from |
| unless of course you know the system. | | | | account but thought better of it. They even have a |
| Well, I know the system. At least I thought I did. I've | | | | website these days, but I didn't think you can pay |
| lived here for 5 years, I speak Spanish after all and | | | | bills through it just yet. |
| surely there can't be too much difficulty in paying the | | | | Today, I woke up and I decided I was going to pay |
| old electric light man. To top it all, I even had enough | | | | my electricity bill. And so, it was off to Barclays. I |
| money in my bank account, but alas I received a | | | | know all the staff there, we have an excellent |
| polite reminder from Iberdrola on 3rd November | | | | relationship and surely they would be able to help me. |
| saying that had been unable to collect the due funds | | | | The cashier optimistically took my bill and started |
| and asked me to pay the overdue sum prior to the 2 | | | | tapping her keyboard. I put my cash in the little tray |
| January otherwise I'd be cut-off! | | | | beneath the security panel. And then, disaster, she |
| Fortunately, I'd been lucky! I actually received the | | | | called the manager! Tap, tap, tap, an empty look, and |
| reminder. Too many of our clients complain they | | | | another apology: |
| never see their bills and only know about it when | | | | 'Perdona, pero no podemos pagarla aqui' (Sorry, but |
| they receive their bank statements. The lesson of | | | | we can't pay it here) |
| this story is that if you are living on a new | | | | They recommended I go to Bancaja, where I'd been |
| development or urbanisation or an area where they | | | | at my first attempt. The girl examined the bill and |
| only deliver to 'buzones' (a 'buzon' is your own | | | | confirmed that because the payment had been |
| dedicated letterbox, usually situated somewhere near | | | | returned unpaid by Bancaja in the first place, I should |
| your property), ensure that you have given the | | | | go there. And so I did! I handed over my bill, waved |
| correct address to the public utility companies. Better | | | | a few notes, and was told the same. Pay using the |
| still, don't give them that address; have your mail | | | | machine in the corner. But I didn't have a card, I don't |
| delivered to a business address or your own private | | | | want a card, I just want to pay my bill!! |
| 'buzon' at your local post-office or one of the postal | | | | Clearly understanding my frustration, they |
| service shops that seem to be appearing all over | | | | recommended I head to Banco Popular or Banco |
| these days. It will cost you a few euros for the | | | | Santander. 'Seguro' (for sure) she said, you can pay it |
| monthly hire but at least you know you'll receive | | | | there and 30 seconds later I'm standing in the branch |
| your mail and your bills on time. Many assume that in | | | | of Banco Santander. |
| Spain, the postal service is at least as efficient as in | | | | In branches of Banco Santander, it's noticeably red. |
| the UK. Trust me, it isn't. In the Northern Costa | | | | Something to do with their marketing literature, |
| Blanca, there is not a daily postal service to every | | | | corporate identity and all that, but would the girl |
| area. It is probably fair to say that the postman will | | | | behind the counter acknowledge my debt and |
| deliver when he has 'enough' mail for a given area or, | | | | obligingly accept my money? By this time, every time |
| worse still, when he feels like it. | | | | I entered a bank I found myself recounting stories of |
| So I trekked along to Bancaja with my outstanding | | | | expeditions goneby. But this time, things were |
| bill and my 225.28 Euros. It even had one of those | | | | different. A knowing smile, perhaps? Or was I just |
| nice bar codes on the bottom which I assumed the | | | | convincing myself? No! Well, she wasn't quite as |
| cashier could scan through her computer, enabling her | | | | pretty as the others, but she knew her job. |
| pick up my details and happily pay my bill. On | | | | Yes, I actually paid my electricity bill. Today is the 12 |
| examination I was greeted, however, with that | | | | December and I did it. |
| typical negative shake of the head and the | | | | For all those moving to Spain, living in Spain, buying |
| clenched-lip (where one's lips almost disappear within) | | | | property in Spain or for whatever reason may indeed |
| expression so typical of Spanish people when they | | | | end up in Spain, the lessons of the story are as |
| know they don't have to take responsibility: | | | | follows: |
| 'Perdona, no puedo pagarla' (I'm sorry but I can't pay | | | | (1) do not give your actual address as your postal |
| it!) | | | | address unless you know you get a regular delivery. |
| Pointing to the nearby cash machine, the quite | | | | (2) do find yourself a business address or get your |
| delightfully-looking cashier suggested I pay using that. | | | | own postbox at your local post office or a postal |
| That's what the bar-code was for! Just put in your | | | | services provider. |
| PIN, opt to pay a bill and scan your bill. Great idea, | | | | (3) do ensure that your utility companies, telephone |
| except I didn't have a cash card for Bancaja | | | | internet service providers have the right address. |
| anymore. Reading the small-print on the bill she said | | | | (4) do quote your NIE numbers on application. |
| they can't pay Iberdrola bills - remember this is | | | | (5) do ensure you have enough money in your bank |
| Spain's largest electricity company which practically | | | | account (maybe more than you think you need) |
| supplies everyone - unless it's by direct debit. So, | | | | (6) do ensure you have a cash card for your bank |
| with my bill, my money and no cash card I was told | | | | account |
| to go to an affiliated bank to pay. | | | | (7) and if you can't do some or any of the above, at |
| Summoning up the energy to continue my adventure, | | | | least make sure you speak Spanish! |
| next stop was the bank BBVA. Excellent! A branch is | | | | You'll need it! |
| located only 2 minutes walk from my office so I | | | | |