Help!! I need a buddy.

psavage · #1 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 03:46 PM

I have a finca on the outskirts of Villena (60kms NWof Alicante) which hopefully will be our retirement home in the near future,and I,m sad to say I discovered a burglary in June ( done between Oct/07 and June).I have very limited Spanish but want to visit my neighbours with an English/Spanish speaking buddy who can introduce me and perhaps I can ask them to keep a watch over my property, (and maybe they may have info on our burglary also). Is there anyone in the area of Caudette, Villena or Yecla who would be willing to help me , I will willingly pay any fuel expenses incurred?.I also want to know any meeting places for expats in these areas , so we can get info on Spanish dos and donts especially as we have been badly advised on our house insurance from our Spanish bank and have now lost a fortune in being underinsured.(Didnt know the kitchen and bathroom were contents and not part of building !). We are coming over again next week and would really appreciate any help we can get.We simply cant afford to make any more mistakes.

Stravinsky · #2 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psavage

I have a finca on the outskirts of Villena (60kms NWof Alicante) which hopefully will be our retirement home in the near future,and I,m sad to say I discovered a burglary in June ( done between Oct/07 and June).I have very limited Spanish but want to visit my neighbours with an English/Spanish speaking buddy who can introduce me and perhaps I can ask them to keep a watch over my property, (and maybe they may have info on our burglary also). Is there anyone in the area of Caudette, Villena or Yecla who would be willing to help me , I will willingly pay any fuel expenses incurred?.I also want to know any meeting places for expats in these areas , so we can get info on Spanish dos and donts especially as we have been badly advised on our house insurance from our Spanish bank and have now lost a fortune in being underinsured.(Didnt know the kitchen and bathroom were contents and not part of building !). We are coming over again next week and would really appreciate any help we can get.We simply cant afford to make any more mistakes.

Hi

Sorry to hear that. I didnt know that kitchen & bathroom were contents either!!!! I'm insured through a bank also

Sorry I cant help, a little too far away from you.
Are you near SAX? (Apologies for being to lazy to check the map)

Stravinsky · #3 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 04:50 PM

I just wanted to say also ..... you'll ingratiate yourself much more with your neighbours by having a go yourself, rather than taking a complete stranger with you. Its a bit daunting at first, but with hand signals and a bit of a grasp of basic hello / how are you / my name is ...., you might be suprised

psavage · #4 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 05:20 PM

Yes just up from Sax, but as I want to know more about the area(we are having a fast trainline built very closeby- which I didnt know about either, and our land has been trespassed by workmen!!! who had our fences down to reroute waterpipes) the questions are too indepth for my bit of Spanish vocabulary I really do need a translator, and I,m now out of pocket by £10,000 so I cant afford to be paying a translator either.I really hope someone from the surrounding area can help us.Check your insurance I didnt get an English version from Lacaixa and the loss adjuster has decided we were only insured for 16%of the required amount so payout is 16% too, and the "building "is just bricks and mortar and nothing else.I am still fighting the bank after 3 mths, need to discover where to go to from here, cos bank isnt very helpful.

Stravinsky · #5 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psavage

Yes just up from Sax, but as I want to know more about the area(we are having a fast trainline built very closeby- which I didnt know about either, and our land has been trespassed by workmen!!! who had our fences down to reroute waterpipes) the questions are too indepth for my bit of Spanish vocabulary I really do need a translator, and I,m now out of pocket by £10,000 so I cant afford to be paying a translator either.I really hope someone from the surrounding area can help us.Check your insurance I didnt get an English version from Lacaixa and the loss adjuster has decided we were only insured for 16%of the required amount so payout is 16% too, and the "building "is just bricks and mortar and nothing else.I am still fighting the bank after 3 mths, need to discover where to go to from here, cos bank isnt very helpful.

You really need to seek the advice of a solicitor to see if you can claim damages from the contractor .... I know that may cost money but you dont know what the ramifications of having those water pipes re routed i

So is the issue the waterpipe damage or the insurance claim being short paid?

psavage · #6 (**permalink**) 15th September 2008, 07:22 PM

There's no damage been caused other than the removal of the fencing(though this was supposed to be re-installed after work finishes) However we have a solicitor(original conveyancing one) looking into why the trainline didnt show on any searches but he hasnt given us any extra details we dont already know other than we will lose some land and therefore in time will be offered compensation for the loss(eventually). My theory is the house has been safe until workmen came onto the land and removed the fencing while we werent there and then obviously realised over time there was no-one living there.The rest is upto your imagination but police didnt want to know about the men at all.They just keep saying Banditos!I am instructing another solicitor to investigate as I only purchased 2 yrs ago and question why no searches showed train up , or did they?

chris(madrid) · #7 (**permalink**) 16th September 2008, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psavage

My theory is the house has been safe until workmen came onto the land and removed the fencing while we werent there and then obviously realised over time there was no-one living there.The rest is upto your imagination but police didnt want to know about the men at all.

It's a safe hypothesis. But if the original workmen are still about it's VERY unlikely to be them. If there are any missing - Bob's your uncle. But if they're missing - they're probably out of the country.

If you're leaving the house unattended - ALARM IT with remote support. If nothing else it will send them off to look elsewhere. I know it's expensive.

psavage · #8 (**permalink**) 16th September 2008, 10:05 AM

We are getting an alarm fitted in the next 2 wks, but having discovered the police wont go out to an alarm call unless a keyholder is present and checked the property first (and I dont have a keyholder, cos I dont know anyone around there - hence my reason for posting this in the first place!) theres no point in monitoring it anyway.Again as I have limited Spanish I cant converse effectively with the workmen to discover info on their activities and the police not being interrested, hence I need a buddy!!

Stravinsky · #9 (**permalink**) 16th September 2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psavage

We are getting an alarm fitted in the next 2 wks, but having discovered the police wont go out to an alarm call unless a keyholder is present and checked the property first (and I dont have a keyholder, cos I dont know anyone around there - hence my reason for posting this in the first place!) theres no point in monitoring it anyway.Again as I have limited Spanish I cant converse effectively with the workmen to discover info on their activities and the police not being interrested, hence I need a buddy!!

Yes you're right, and it was for that reason we chose an alarm which notifies our keyholder / locksmith rather than the police - ours cost €600

If you look for a locksmith locally you will probably find one thats English. Failing that (the reason I asked if you were near SAX) I can put you in touch with someone who might have contacts in that area. It is possible that he might come down if you paid his expenses, but I can't say for sure

chris(madrid) · #10 (**permalink**) 16th September 2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psavage

We are getting an alarm fitted in the next 2 wks, but having discovered the police wont go out to an alarm call unless a keyholder is present and checked the property first (and I dont have a keyholder, cos I dont know anyone around there - hence my reason for posting this in the first place!)

SOME OF THE ALARM COMPANIES offer a keyholder service. We declined it - but because if we're away for any time - my inlaws are in residence.

If they are kept advised when you will/wont be there - they'll send the police/GC straight there - and will attend.

Spanish is NOT an issue either with them - as if they KNOW they have to use English you will get called by an English operator. We were asked as I have a teensy weensy accent :-)

BY THE WAY do not fit an external alarm bell. Legally it has some liability issues. If anybody is annoyed or surprised and as a result has an issue - you're liable. here there was a HUGE campaign by the police. An unmonitored sytem is SFA use here - nobody bothers until the bell really pisses them off - then they'll complain and the police hit you with a fine. The reason that nobody is going to pop in for a look, is that most gangs now are organised and armed.

Bit surprised at the police response - as the first thing the GUARDIA CIVIL/POLICE do here do is tell everybody to GET OUT (checking ID's) incl owners and unsnap their side arms.