Embargos

Contrary to popular opinion a vehicle CAN be transferred to a new owner with an lien (embargo) against it, this depends on the type of debt and also the stage proceedings to recoup the debt have reached. This can cause problems for the new owner so it is essential to obtain a report (Informe de vehiculo) before handing over any money. If you have already purchased or the debt is your own, what can you do about the embargo? Firstly you need to distinguish between two types of debt – to private creditors and to a government agency. Depending on …

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Dealing with your local town hall

You will almost certainly have to deal with the local town hall at some point. They vary slightly in the way they do things from place to place, but the underlying procedures are the same. You may go to the town hall itself or you can often transact business at sub offices nearer to where you live, particularly for the costal regions. They will deal with the census (padron) information, and will issue Certificados de empadronamiento and Certificados de convivencia, opening licences for local traders, planning permissions, small works licences, “Vado permanente”, etc etc., In a seperate but often nearby …

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Residents discounts

From the 1 Sep 2012 In order to obtain Canary Islands residents’ travel discount on airplanes or ferries (in Spanish territories) you will be required to produce a certificate of entitlement to discount (Bonificaciones or Viaje) available from your local Town Hall at the point of picking up your boarding pass. (unless you have already been cleared by the automated entitlement checking system at the time of booking) The Certificate must be within date and show your address of residency entitling the holder to the discount, this must be accompanied by a Current National Identity Document or Passport if you are Non …

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Consumer complaints – what to do if it all turns sour!

Whilst there are a great many honest and reliable businesses providing quality merchandise and services in Tenerife, we have all heard tales of woe regarding purchases of cameras, electrical goods, bad service etc. Common sense tells us if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! However the following rights apply everywhere in the EU including Tenerife: • If the item you bought does not look or function as it was advertised, or if it is not satisfactory, you have the right to have the item replaced at no extra cost or to get your money back if …

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Buying a Business in Tenerife

If you are NOT thinking of buying a freehold business property, then in general what you are “buying” is what is called here a “Traspaso”. This is a private type of arrangement and what you are paying for is goodwill, stock, fixtures and fittings in the premises (if they are not the property of the premises owner) and also the existing business holder is giving up the right to what ever is left on their premises rental contract. A much better format is to negotiate a proper lease “cesíon” – but this is not so readily accepted by Tenerife landlords! …

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Reclaiming 3% Retention Held back from Property Sale

If you are a fiscal resident in Spain and can produce a certificate of fiscal residence from the Spanish tax authorities the gain you make on the sale of a property will be taxed and included as part of your anual declaración de la renta. However if you are a NON fiscal resident in Spain an amount of 3% of the sale price of your Spanish property will be witheld and paid to the Spanish tax offce regardless of whether you have made a profit or not! If you have made little or no profit you may be able to …

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What To Do In The Event Of a Death

If the death is suspicious or accidental the police would become involved and then there may have to be an autopsy and an enquiry in which case the relatives would be advised of what steps to take. If the deceased died in hospital then you should advise your local funeral director or Funeral Plan holder who will take care of arrangements. If the deceased; Died of natural causes at home Was registered with the Canarian Health service and has a national health GP here Died during normal hours, your own medical centre should be the first call. The local doctor will issue the death …

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Registering your child for a state school in Tenerife

If your child is staring school for the first time you need to sign them up in March/April for the following September. If they are transferring from a UK school you can apply at any time (obviously not school holidays) but may have to wait for the next term to start. You must visit the school administrator of the appropriate school in your cachement area, where you will be given a list of all that is required of you. There are slight variations between areas but the basics are the same. You need to fill out a “solicitud de plaza …

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Getting your own Doctor’s appointment at the Canarian National Health Doctor’s Surgery

If you know your CIP number and control number (in a box on the back) which are on your medical card (and provided you are properly registered with a Spanish GP), then you can make an appointment on the internet click on this link to make an appointment Or you can ‘phone 012 seven days a week to make an appointment with your GP, when you get through a recorded voice will speak giving you options, when it pauses then press “one” on your telephone. You may get straight through to a human being, or you may get another recorded message which …

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Who is entitled to Spanish National Health cover and how can I apply?

To check the quick guide to getting your healthcare entitlement click here Insured persons- those who are working or self employed and are making up to date Spanish national insurance contributions, plus their legal dependents. Retired who were working legally in Spain and have now retired Unemployed in receipt of unemployment benefits. Unemployed who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and others of a similar nature and not having insured status on any other grounds and residing in Spain. EU citizens (and UK citizens in specific circumstances) who have retired and are entitled to health cover from their own member state …

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Who is entitled to Spanish National Health Cover How Can I apply?- Quick Guide

The grid below gives a guide to the documents required to obtain Spanish state health care entitlement and where you can obtain them. Use this link to download the asistencia sanitaria application form https://sede.seg-social.gob.es  Use this link to make an appointment with CAISS Ciudadanos (seg-social.gob.es) ***Submission on line or via email(during Covid 19 emergency) Presentación de otros Escritos, Solicitudes y Comunicaciones INSS-Presentación de Solicitud (seg-social.es) OR email buzon.inss-tenerife.direccion-provincial@seg-social.es Continue reading at https://theonestopproblemshop.com/who-is-entitled-to-spanish-national-health-cover-and-how-can-i-apply/ | The One Stop Problem Shop ** Social Security There are offices in various parts of the island and depending on where you live and what business you need to transact …

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Prescriptions

Many medications can not be purchased without a prescription either from a Private doctor or from your Spanish National Health service GP. In Spain National health prescriptions are partly paid for by the patient. (With the exception of low income Pensioners whose prescriptions are free) A co-payment system of contributing towards the cost of prescriptions was introduced in July 2012. Most people, including UK pensioners, will be required to pay a percentage of the cost of their prescription medication. Co-payment will be handled by each autonomous community, so processes may differ slightly between regions. The amount each person pays will …

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Can I get Health Care In Spain?

COVID 19 British Consulate Health Advice update 26/3/20 UPDATE FROM THE BRITISH CONSULATE -1. If you have been issued with an S1 form and are registered for residency, but you have not been able to register the S1 with the INSS (Spanish Social Security), then please email the Healthcare Team at healthcare.spain@fco.gov.uk They will help you process your application electronicallyIf you have been issued with an S1 form but you have not been able to register for residency, you can use your EHIC to access any necessary care, including prescriptions. If you don’t have a UK EHIC, please call NHS …

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Vehicle and Driver Fines

If you are unlucky enough to be fined for a traffic offence (speeding etc) and you have been sanctioned by the Guardia Civil, you can pay the fine online with your credit or debit card and if you do it within 20 days of the fine being issued you save 50% The link is here and you must have the paperwork for the fine to hand with the reference number. If you can’t or don’t want to pay on the internet you can still; Pat at any Correos (Post Office) Pay at any Banco Santander Calling  060 and pay by card …

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Car sales/Purchase checklist

Making sure the vehicle is either in your name officially (or removed from your name if you are selling) is a more complicated process in Spain than it is in the UK Seller Photocopies of: NIF If non Spanish: White NIE in date plus Passport Or certificado de registro plus passport Or TIE Originals of: Ficha Técnica (car log Book) Permiso de Circulación matching the name of the documents above – this is to make sure the person who is selling is actually the regsterd owner Receipt of previous years  rodaje (road tax) Details of Current Address The seller should …

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Social Security Number Applications

A social security number ( not to be confused with an NIE number) is only obtainable if you are becoming self employed OR if you have a written job offer in Spanish known as a “pre- contrato” OR if you are a foreign pensioner who has entitlement to health care funded by their home country. UK citizens who are prospective  Employees have to have amongst other things a copy of the AUTORIZACIÓN DE RESIDENCIA Y TRABAJO POR CUENTA AJENA DE DURACIÓN DETERMINADA. Their visa application must be submitted  IN THE UK within ONE MONTH from the notification to the employer …

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