We have moved the blog to www.spainsurvivalmanual.com where you can get free downloads and view job lists for expats.
See you there!
One of the most important pieces of advice I give in my book is that you should always seek professional advice rather than simply doing research on the internet of taking information from a guide book.
Listening to Brian Deller on REM.fm bought this home yet again as he mentioned the case of an expat involved in an accident who while legally using a UK licence had not had the medical that is required by law in Spain. Because of this, he says her licence was deemed invalid, she lost the case and her insurance would not pay.
I stopped looking when I read that UK licences were valid! So of course I will be straight down to Trafico tomorrow to get my licence changed.
And for those who kept them (like me) because they don´t need to be renewed until you are 70 will be disappointed to hear that they are talking of bringing in the same renewal procedures in the UK.
Brian Deller is author of Motoring in Spain and you can find his website at: www.spainvia.com
According to the website www.spanishtaxreclaim.co.uk
If you sold your property in Spain between 2003 and 2006 you could be entitled to reclaim thousands of pounds back of the Capital Gains Tax you paid.
In the past non-residents were liable for 35% capital gains tax on property sold in Spain compared to only 15% that was payable by residents. The EU has ruled that this was discriminatory and the rates were lowered to 18% with the resident rate increased to this same amount.
To qualify they state you must fulfill the following criteria:
- You sold a Spanish property between May 2004 and December 31st 2006.
- You were NOT a fiscal resident in Spain when you sold it.
- You paid the Capital Gain Tax to the Spanish Authorities.
- You sold your Spanish property as an individual; not as a company.
- You have, or can obtain, a copy of the Spanish Tax Form “Modelo 212” you completed when you sold the property
They also have a calculator on the site which allows you to estimate how much you are entitled to. Based on a €200,000 property purchased in October 2005 and sold for €250,000, they calculate you could be entitled to approximately €10,000! Not to be sniffed.
Rush over to their site and see if you qualify - www.spanishtaxreclaim.co.uk
Thanks to Steve Clark of www.euro-cheque.com for bringing this to our attention.
Need a new laptop or some computers accessories but find it impossible to navigate your way through the jargon in Spanish? Computer Pitstop is based in Spain but with English-speaking staff and some great bargains!
They have laptops starting from just €305.74 as well as pc accessories, MP3 players and more.
According to their website:
Computer Pitstop engineers are all qualified and certified to the highest standards set by companies such as Microsoft, CISCO and Linksys.
Visit their website at www.cheaplaptopsinspain.com to see what they have to offer.
For any new property buyers in Europe there is a new forumwww.thesnaggingforum.com which is dedicated to helping only withbuilding and construction issues and has lots of useful information,guides and photographs
Those expats who are living in Spain and have yet to renew their passport are in for a shock - as of the 9 January the prices have seen an increase in fees (doubtless due to the new biometric passports).
If an adult wants to renew a passport they will pay €170 plus 11€ courier fee for a 32 page passport or 206€ for a 48 page passport!
Even children´s passports are not exempt from the increase with an under 16 renewal costing 109€ plus courier fee.
Just want to change your details? It will still cost you 139 €.
Time to start saving then if your renewal is due in the next couple of years!
For more information on passports in Spain visit www.britishembassy.gov.uk
Talking of weddings..... Lyndyloo offer a professional wedding planning service in Spain for those who want someone to take care of all the details for them. With so many destinations to choose from in Spain it can be hard to know where exactly to go to make your wedding day truly special.
In their own words....
"With our base in Spain combined with our Local Knowledge and contacts, Lyndyloo can offer you an affordable Wedding either by choosing one of our wedding packages or use us to tailor make your bespoke wedding package around you, most of all within a realistic budget."
It can not be underestimated how helpful it can be to have someone with local knowledge to help you find a venue, process all the necessary paperwork, arrange flowers, hotels and the million and one things associated with weddings.
Visit their website at www.lyndylooinspain.com
I discovered recently that Gibraltar is becoming a popular wedding destination.
There is no requirement to be a resident and you simply need to turn up at the registry office to present your documents - just 24 hours before you want to get married.
For those who want to escape to get married, yet want an internationally recognised marriage certificate, in a destination that speaks English, Gibraltar could well be a good choice.
Once you are married you can simply walk across the border into Spain for your honeymoon!
For more information on Gibraltar visit: www.gibraltar.gi
Two new mobile phone operators have recently appeared to rival the big three - Movistar, Vodafone and Orange.
Simyo is trying to attract clients by offering just 9 cent per min to any operator or landline and Pepe Phone which will ´refund´every euro you spend on calls with flights.
Compare this to the likes of Vodafone which charges up to 56 cents per minute to call other operators including IVA depending on your ´plan´ and there is no doubt that these companies offer an attractive alternative with a one price fits all scheme.
The first real competition was Yoigo which still appears one of the best option as their website allows you to see all the fees including IVA, messages are in English, you can view your current call summary and costs online and call between Yoigo clients are only charged the connection fee, with no charge for the rest of the call.
Pepephone has a higher connection fee and calls between other Pepe Phone users cost 6 cents per minute. Their fees do not include IVA so this will be a little higher in reality. However, for those mobile users who have high mobile bills each month, this company offers an attractive proposition as you have the ´free´ flights option - each euro spent on your mobile equals one euro in flights.
Simyo does not have any ´cashback´scheme but does have cheap calls at just 9 cents per minute and 9 cents for SMS (not including IVA). Do not be put off by the €10 charge for a SIM charge as they give you 10 euros back when you join and a further €10 if you bring your number.
Yoigo has the lowest connection fee at only 12 cents but calls are also charged at 12 cents per minute unless you are calling another Yoigo mobile in which case it is free.
Confused? Each has its benefits depending on how you use your mobile:
- Pepe Phone: Good for those with high mobile phone bills who will take advantage of the ´free flights´
- Simyo: Good for those who tend to make long phone calls and will benefit from the lower per minute charge
- Yoigo: Good for those who make short calls with the lowest connection fee and for those who have friends and family on Yoigo as the calls will be free.
New posting from Channel4 in the Spainforum.
House-hunting in Spain? Contributors for Channel 4
Hi there
I work for Channel 4's A Place in the Sun: Home or Away and we are looking for people for the next series.
Are you looking to buy a dream holiday home or perhaps you are looking for a complete relocation?
Well if you’re torn between buying in the U.K and venturing abroad, the new series of ‘A Place in the Sun: Home or Away’ is ready to help!
Please contact househunters@fftv.co.uk for details!
We would be very grateful if you could help us out.
Thank you
Michala
Michala Bateson
Casting Researcher
Freeform TV
React on this posting:
http://www.spainforum.com/index.php?link=home/lees.php&id=2634&reactieid=2634.
Taken from www.nativespain.com
Hello,
I work as a documentary producer for an independent production company based in the UK. We are currently making a series for Discovery - and I need your help!
We are looking for stories about people (Brits, Australians - anyone English-speaking) who have moved to Spain for a new dream life abroad eg with a new job, a new relationship, or setting up a business), but events did not go quite as planned, and in fact turned dramatically, nightmarishly wrong. The scenarios can be about anything really – human rights issues, extraditions, a miscarriage of justice, being accused and arrested for something they didn't do, being conned, robbed, kidnapped etc., or even surviving a health scare or a natural disaster. Essentially, we are looking for ‘cautionary tales’ and ‘survivors’ stories.’ Stories don’t need to be recent – and the documentaries are 1 hour in length each and involve a talking-head interview and dramatic re-enactments.
If there is any way you can help me - then I would be so grateful if you would let me know - my e-mail is nhuggett@cineflix.com
Thank you very much,
Nicky
Every now and again I pat myself on the back for having relaxed so much since coming to Spain. No longer do I get a nervous twitch when having to wait 20 minutes at the bank while they discuss their life history instead of getting on with their transactions; if someone turns up late then I only start to get slighty irritated after they are more than an hour late as I would be shocked if they turned up on time.
But every now and again.....
I signed up for a Cuenta Nomina with ING, who in the interests of security will only send the documents by courier to delivered directly into your grubby little hands. And they chose UPS - a global, established company to make the delivery.
The first day I missed the delivery but that´s ok - I didn´t know it was coming. So I duly call them to rearrange a time and they ask me when I will be available. 9-5 I tell them being generous I think giving them an 8 hour window to deliver.
At 4pm I call to make sure they are coming as I had to leave at 5pm to collect the children. ´He will be there by 6pm´ was the reply. So I calmly explain that I have to leave at 5pm and I explained that when I had arranged the delivery. ´Delivery times are 9-6pm, if you can´t wait go home and we will deliver tomorrow´. Feeling my blood starting to boil I explain that I have already wasted a day waiting and do not plan to do it again tomorrow, so he grudgingly says he can get the warehouse at Sevilla to call me - but it will take at least 60 minutes so I might as well just wait. Grrr.
60 minutes later - no delivery, no phonecall. So I check their website to find that there was apparently no-one at the address and the package could not be delivered. By now I have been waiting in the office for 10 HOURS, the kids are with me complaining how hungry and bored they are - and quite rightly so.
So I go into Spanish mode and phone them to tell them how incompetent they are and that tomorrow I want the driver to call me if he can´t find the office. Oh God forbid. That is not possible they tell me as he does not have a phone in the truck and couldn´t possibly call clients.
All thought of giving them any leeway has now been blown right out of the water and is not helped when they tell me I am not allowed to talk to the warehouse in Sevilla to find out why the cretin did not deliver.
So I can´t talk to the delivery driver, he can´t call me and I can´t call the distribution centre to help them use the map book to find the only block of shops in a small urbanisation?
Mix centralisation with Andalucian lack of urgency and you have UPS - Utterly Pitiful Service.
My advice? If you want to use a courier service choose a more local one like MRW who you know will want to get all their deliveries out of the way before 2pm so they can have their long lunch or siesta!
Moving to Spain can be a little lonely at first if you arrive with no friends and family. It takes time to make new acquaintances in any new place, and finding a little romance can be even harder!
Pebblesonthebeach.com is a free dating website for expats created to make is easier to find love and friendship in Spain. There are no membership fees and they plan to keep the site free of any costs. None of those hidden charges you find on other sites for viewing profiles or sending messages.
Give it a try at www.Pebblesonthebeach.com
Call Expectations claim to be the largest telemarketing agency in Spain - based in Valencia.
They are currently looking for Market Researchers and Business Telemarketers - no Spanish required and an English timetable!
Market Researchers will be contacting businesses in the UK , working 9.30am - 6.00pm with a basic salary plus benefits.
Business Telemarketers will undertake outbound business to business calling, working 9.30am - 6.00pm, also on basic plus benefits.
This could be a great opportunity to work in one of Spains largest and most beautiful cities without having to learn the language.
Below you can view the latest expat jobs advertised:
- via Infoempleo on 1/23/08
- via Infoempleo on 1/23/08
- via Infoempleo on 1/23/08
- via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barbera de Valles (Barcelona)
Empresa: ACS - Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
Descripción: Do you have a degree in Administration/Economics and want to develop your career in Finance and Accounting? You will be responsible for: -Reconciling bank accounts, balancing general or ...
Requisitos: Good command of English and French is a must.
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: Microjocs Mobile
Descripción: Digital Chocolate is looking for two Game Artists to join its internal Microjocs game studio in Barcelona, Spain. We are looking for passionate and creative talents with good all-round experience ...
Jornada: Completa
Salario: 15000 Bruto/año - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Vigo/Braga(Portugal) (A Coruña)
Empresa: Hay Seleccion
Descripción: The INL( International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory) is an international corporation Institution founded by the Spanish and Portuguese Governments and located in Braga(1 hour from Vigo), ...
Requisitos: - A profesional with a university degree (Business, Economics, Engineering, Experimental studies, preferably PhD or combined study: science/social). - Profesional experience between two or three years with UE funds/R+D projects will be an asset. - A good analytical skills. - A strong verbal and written comunication level. - A good knowledge of English. - A dynamic person who enjoying team working and challenges. - Residence in Vigo or Braga(Portugal).
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via Infoempleo on 1/23/08
- via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Madrid (Madrid)
Empresa: Reynolds and Reynolds Dealer Services, S.L.
Descripción: The incadea GmbH is one of the leading providers of Dealer Management Systems (DMS) and develops, maintains and supports a special software solution for the automotive business. The ...
Requisitos: At least 2 years of experience within Navision and 1 year in development.
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08BARCELONA (Barcelona)
Empresa: Talent Search People
Descripción: Talent Search People : We are a consulting company specialised in the recruitment and outsourcing of commercial people and Native Speakers. For one of our clients we are looking for System ...
Requisitos: Requirements Fluent in English is required. Fluent in Spanish is a plus. Studies in computer field (BA/BS, MSCE, MCP, A+). Previous experiences with Helpdesk, Desktop support (Microsoft Operating Systems and Applications), hardware installation and troubleshooting, TCP/IP, and Network (at least 4 years). Knowledge in MS Exchange (2000-2003) and Active Directory. Looking for a permanent position. Dynamism, good presentation, and motivation.
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barbera del Valles (Barcelona)
Empresa: ACS - Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
Descripción: We`re Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS), a premier provider of diversified business process and information technology outsourcing solutions. A Fortune 500 company comprised of more than ...
Requisitos: " Educated to degree level. " Good command of English is a must " You will have excellent customer service and administration skills and will enjoy working in a service centre environment, dealing with high levels of in-coming calls. " Must be a team player.
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: Fundació Clinic
Descripción: FCRB is seeking a Statistician. The Statistician will be responsible for the data management and analysis of the different trials within this project. The open source OpenClinica is proposed to be ...
Requisitos: REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: " Graduate degree in statistics " Excellent computer skills and knowledge of programming " Excellent organizational and time management skills " " Ability to meet deadlines " Ability to effectively work both as a team member and independently " Working knowledge of English is required
Contrato: De duración determinada
Jornada: Completa
Salario: 21000 Bruto/año - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Valladolid (Valladolid)
Empresa: Sartorius Y Montojo Consultores
Descripción: 1. Goal and Basic Job Content : Assistance on the use of SAP, Training new employees on the use of SAP PM, Test changes in SAP, Knowing the job-specific and company-specific requirements for ...
Requisitos: 1.Knowledge : Functional knowledge about SAP PM module Knowledge of Eusap scenario's in the particular work area of the BLS is a plus Basic computer skills (spreadsheet, Lotus Notes, MS office) 2.Degree of Autonomy Some autonomy and initiative required in problem solving, training and requesting improvements. 3.Complexity and difficulty of the position A good knowledge of how SAP should be used in the workplace is required. Due to the integration between various SAP modules, some knowledge of the links with other departments is required. 4.Personality Requirements Willingness to assist others Good communication skills Dynamic and organised Flexible to perform operational an project related tasks 5.Languages Good level of English French knowledge is an asset
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: Fortuna Media
Descripción: Core Duties will include: Preparing accruals & prepayments Maintaining Purchase order system Bank reconciliations Maintaining the fixed assets register Preparing ad-hoc reports Assisting with ...
Requisitos: 1-2 prior year experience in a similar role, Part qualified or by experience, Knowledge of accounting software used
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: eDreams
Descripción: The candidate will be part of the small international team. His core responsibility will be to develop the business on eDreams.pt by improving the website, its offering and its performance and ...
Requisitos: Education: - BA or similar. - Portuguese mother tongue or similar fluency. Further languages, esp. English and Spanish helpful. - Technical competence, ideally from an internet related environment. Characteristics: Entrepreneurial, creative and open-minded, responsible, self starter and team player. Professional experience: -At least 2 years of working experience in a travel or e-commerce environment. -Ideally established contacts in the Portuguese travel and/or marketing industries. -Ideally experience in online marketing, be it for a an online business or in a web agency.
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: Artificial Solutions
Descripción: Do you want to be part of a fast growing international company? Artificial Solutions is a leading international company offering Customer Service Optimization solutions. We help companies and ...
Contrato: Indefinido
Jornada: Completa - via InfoJobs.net: Empleo english on 1/23/08Barcelona (Barcelona)
Empresa: Maersk España
Descripción: Maersk FIM (France, Iberia and Maghreb) is General Agent for MAERSK Logistics and a member of the Danish A.P. MOLLER Group. Maersk FIM is among other activities operating a shipping agency and a ...
Requisitos: The required skills as follows: - Experienced PC-user (Excel, Outlook, Word,...) - Good comand of Spanish and English. - Experience with customer is a must. - Strong customer service skills and excellent teamwork skills. - Good communication skills, open personality, ability to handle swiftly all customer requirements.
Contrato: Otros contratos
Jornada: Completa
Salario: 18 Bruto/año - via expatriates.com - Spain - Jobs Offered on 1/23/08
- via Elance Projects on 1/23/08Looking for 2 x 500 word articles.
- via Elance Projects on 1/23/08
- via Elance Projects on 1/23/08What I need done:
I need 20 articles written on hip hop / urban fashion. They should each be approximately 500 words in length. - via GetACoder.com Projects by hipwizard on 1/23/08Please do not bid unless you have superb writing skills Take a look at the attachments below are a couple of copies already written up for a brand new website due to launch The site is a price comparison site for Home Information Packs in the... (Budget $20-$100, Required Skills: Content Writing, Copy Writing, Creative Writing, Direct Marketing, Other Writing )
Solads.com is a Business Internet Directory for Spain, providing advertising opportunities for all Spanish Businesses to promote their business and services over the Internet.
They are advertising for Sales Consultants on their website and state that applicants should fulfill the following criteria:
Must speak English and Spanish, Full/Part time to cover one of these towns; Malaga, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, San Pedro, Estepona and Sotogrande.
The job is Full/Part-time, hours to suit you; selling our advertising packages over the telephone from home or visit businesses personally.
The job is commission based and requires good selling skills and self-motivation. Great potential to earn good commission.
If you are interested in the above position, then e-mail your C.V. to info@solads.com or Call 646 808 993 for informal chat.
Kyero today announced that long-term lets have increased in popularity with approximately 20% of all enquiries for rental property now for long-term lets. Which could be very good news for property owners.
The majority of owners prefer to rent only to tourists as the prices charged during the holiday season are far higher than monthly rental charges. However, this has to be weighed against the lottery of being able to get enough clients, which in itself requires a substantial amount of work.
In addition, while there looms the new threat of the need for a tourist licence if you are planning to do holiday lets, long-term rentals do not require this - apparently, but always check with a local lawyer to be sure.
There is no doubt that it will take some time for confidence in the Spanish housing sector to return, during which time there are many property owners left with a property they were never planning to keep, which they are unable to sell, and which is costing them money.
Long term lets could well be the answer allowing owners to ride out the current dip in the market, while earning some income from the property towards the mortgage.
We require an editorial assistant for our vibrant and rapidly expanding marketing company based in Sotogrande, Spain. The company’s main business is to provide marketing support, advertising and publishing for online gaming companies.
About the Role
You will be reporting to the Portal Content Manager and will be involved in the following:
• Writing and adding content to the website: player guides, tutorials, etc.
(Use of CMS system)
• Article writing on current affairs in the gaming industry
• Proof reading, copy editing and sub-editing of both online and offline content
• Liaising with marketing and SEO team
About You
You will have some experience of publishing, preferably online. You will have the writing skills to produce lively and well researched news, features and written material to meet production deadlines. You will also have the flexibility to work as part of a team but be self-motivated in your approach.
Key Competencies and Skills required - Essential
• Excellent written English – able to supply portfolio of work
• Creative ability – copywriting skills
• Experience of working to deadlines
• Competent researcher
• At least 2 years web writing experience
• Team player
Key Competencies and Skills required – Desirable
• Second European language
• Knowledge of the online gaming industry
• Experience with online community websites
Salary Level
Starting salary of £20,000 (29,500€)
If you are interested in this vacancy please contact Faye Pulley on fayepulley@gmail.com
Job posted at www.spainexpat.com
Legalandfiscal.com is a firm based in Javea, Alicante providing legal and accounting support in the area.
Through their collaborations with Spanish lawyers and a UK network they can offer help both with Spanish and UK issues. Founded by Glyn Moran who is a qualified UK solicitor who is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
They offer a host of services including having written a guide to buying property, taxation, inheritance tax, conveyancing and wills/probate.
Visit their site for further information at www.legalandfiscal.com
Several magazines, newspapers and radios are looking for expats to tell their stories about their experiences abroad.
Two of the most recent posts on the forum at www.expatsreunite.com include:
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I'm a UK journalist working on a story for Woman & Home glossy monthly magazine. It is about women, (single or with families) who have emigrated and left a lone parent in UK. The parent, preferably a Mother, needs to be at least late 60's and widowed or divorced. The feature is in no way invasive, but discusses the emotional and practical implications involved in leaving a parent. If you are interested in telling your story to me, I would need to know reasons for emigrating, telling parent and family, how often and by what means you keep in touch (email/skype/phone etc.) I would require a clear picture of yourself and your parent. If you are interested in telling me your story, please contact me asap at jancollier@fsmail.net Many thanks
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My name is Mark Butler and I work for the Guardian Newspaper's G2 supplement. We are currently looking for people born and raised in Britain whose families came to the UK from another country generations ago, who have now moved back to their ancestral homeland for 'roots' reasons. This is for a forthecoming special feature, and we would like to interview and photograph willing participants and invite them to share their family history and photos with us.
We would particularly welcome links with Ireland, Australia and Bangladesh, but any would be most appreciated.
If this applies to you, or you know someone who this applies to, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
I can be contacted by email at mbutler.media@googlemail.com
One of the things that is easy to forget when you move abroad is claiming a tax rebate! With one hundred and one things to do you may just about remember to tell the tax man that you have actually left the country.
Refundsdirect.com claim that up to one in three people are due a tax rebate with millions in unclaimed rebates and an average of 800 pounds per person. By taking a short survey on their site, they can give you a ball park figure of what you may be due and state that they will process all of the paperwork for you.
While they are not cheap - fees start at 18% - they work on a no win no fee basis, so if they do not manage to get any tax refunded, you do not have to pay for their services. Also, even after deducting their fee, if it is true the average rebate is 800 pounds, this means you will have a tidy little sum you did not have before.
SolChannel.com is an alternative guide to the Costa del Sol using the video medium instead of making you read through reams of text.
One of the main advantages of this type of guide has to be that you get to see videos of the areas they are talking about - as they say a picture paints a thousand words. Covering everything from lifestyle, beaches, hotels, health and more.
The site has grown substantially just in the last few months and will undoubtedly expand to include more areas of Spain in the not too distant future.
If you would like your 15 minutes of fame or would like to promote the region of Spain you live in Sol Channel is also accepting videos of up to 2 mins in length. For more details visit: SolChannel.com
When you start planning your move to Spain, there are a million and one things that you have to consider and to organize. It can be difficult to keep track of all of the things that you have to remember unless you are a very organised person by nature. In addition, once you get to Spain there are plenty of administrative tasks you will need to remember and take care of.
One excellent - and free - tool is available at www.simpleology.com. While it is initially focused at increasing your productivity it is also an excellent place to store all of your ideas, set priorities and goals, and have everything in one easy to access place online.
While it may seem like a strange resource to offer to expats, it is well worth creating an account as it is free. Not only will it help make your move easier, it could improve the organisation of other areas of your life aswell.
Find out more at www.simpleology.com
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