Just returned from the apartment last week after a relaxing break. However we found out that the council have had problems with their database and have lost/mixed up information. We first found out when we visited the Fincal who told us that some people have arrived at their apartment to find that their water had been shut-off.
We visted the local council office in Almerimar and found that our bank hadn't made payments to the council since last November. The problem was the information held on the councils computor had mixed up my surname and forename which resulted in the bank not paying the Drect Debit.
The council had levied a 20% surcharged on the outstanding payments. They thought they were doing me a favour when they removed this even though it was their fault.
We had to visit the Council offices in El Ejido to sort out our details.