BANK EMBARGO SHOCK..... Brits find their accounts have been frozen
By Nuria Pérez and Dave Jones
THE TREASURY is moving to embargo the bank accounts of EU citizens who are not residents in Spain, government officials have confirmed.
Foreigners who have opened accounts with either passports instead of NIE numbers or with NIE numbers without paperwork from the National Police declaring that they are not residents in Spain are being hit.
The situation came to light after an expat complained to CB News that her account had been emargoed while she was in the UK without her knowledge.
As a result and unbeknown to her the bank was no longer paying standing orders or making transfers.
A source at the Treasury department in Alicante explained that the Spanish government is following an EU directive introduced to crack down on tax evasion.
However the source added that they are not informing non-residents of the situation ‘because it would be impossible to do so’.
The source also stated that the Treasury is working ‘little by little’ and that all the accounts will not be embargoed in one go.
In order to have the embargo lifted clients are being asked to provide their banks with an NIE number and a certificate of non residence (un certificado de no residencia).
British citizens affected by the new regulations appear be to those who live in Spain for less than 180 days and who have not declared their ‘non residence’ with the National Police.
The initiative is not only affecing EU community residents – the government is using the legislation as a tool to clamp down on illegal immigrants.
Hundreds of Morrocans have been hit by the embargoes and thousands of non-resident workers from North Africa have been drawing money out of banks before their accounts are blocked.
In response to the information provided by CB News, the British Embassy in Madrid has advised British expats who are non residents to make sure they are registered as non residents with the National Police.
A spokesman at Orihuela town hall told CB News that certificates of non residence are available from the town hall building in Playa Flamenca.
People are asked to call between 09.00-11.00 from Monday to Friday to reserve an appointment.
Non residents all over the Costa Blanca are advised to contact their local town halls to find out where they should apply for their certificate of non residence.
nperez@cbnews.es
djones@cbnews.es
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This was brought to my attention by someone posting on my owners forum to us non residents & he banks with my bank Banco Halifax who, as I have posted, gave me assurances that all was well as we had signed a declaration Sept 2006 with them. (Not with the police, with Banco Halifax).
The poster said & I quote "
"On visiting the Banco Halifax we were told that if you hold a non resident bank account these are in the process of being frozen over the next few months by the police if you do not go the the National Police and register, again at a small charge as a non resident. This has made front page news in the CB News today so you can read it for yourselves online. The only information that differs from the paper to what the bank told us is, the paper reports that when the account is frozen they cannot pay your direct debits (so then you could be cut off if utilities present for payment). The bank told us that they would continue to pay all direct debits but it would not be able to allow transfers of money into the account. Of course that would mean that unless you had enough money in the account to pay all of the direct debits that were presented you would be cut off anyway!! Also just as a reminder if you go below €600 in a Banco Halifax account you are charged."
I therefore has rushed yet another email off to Banco Halifax asking them why they gave out two contradicting advices when I'd asked specific questiions that could only have one answer ?