Looking for a Job in Valencia? - More Banking Madness

An experience I had with a client the other day means that I know there are jobs out there, you just need to make a convincing argument.

My client is recently arrived and wanted to open a bank account and a future business account once the business is set up. As their Spanish is basic at the moment they wanted to open an account in a branch where there was a customer service rep who spoke English. (At this point remember that we are not talking Serbo-Croat or Martian but English.)

They had been recommended the BBVA in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento by a friend. Main branch of second biggest bank in Spain. Well guess what nobody there speaks English even to a basic level and they laughed at the suggestion and said we should try the branch round the corner opposite the tourist office. That just happens to be my branch too so I had my doubts, obviously I always speak Spanish there but cannot remember anybody with a knowledge of English. We got there and guess what, nobody!

Next option was the CAM as I work closely with their customer service rep for foreigners but he is based in Lliria. Another blank. Then Bancaja, the Santander I will not touch with a bargepole after their treatment of an American client recently even though the subdirector does speak English to a fashion.

Barclays had someone who speaks English but after waiting for 40 minutes for her to come back from her morning coffee and another 40 minutes to deal with one client plus another 20 minutes trying to sell my clients the offset account she decided that they couldn't open an account without being able to prove where they worked. This is one day after arriving in the country and running their own business online and by phone. Therefore they had to provide a tax return for 2008!!! Basically if you want to open an account with Barclays you can if you have a crappy job paying 600 Euros per month but you can't if you have a few million to deposit and don't need to work ever again in your life.

Finally we gave up on the speaking English part, went into the Caixa Catalunya and opened an account with 100 Euros and passports. It turned out that the rep did speak English but he didn't volunteer this info we discovered it after half and hour of me translating. Oh and another thing, they weren't allowed to open a joint account because one is Canadian and the other German so a single account has been opened for now!!!

So what is the job? Get yourself round to the banks with a business plan and teaching plan specifically for teaching English to bank employees and point out that they are losing clients due to the total lack of preparedness for the modern world.

Great Day For Valencia

Apparently the Valencia Grand Prix went well and looked good on TV and a new contract has been signed to guarantee the event for the next five years. If we ignore the politics around this, the local Government has put up the money to save the backside of the private company that was organising it, the decision to change the date to October rather than August might well bear fruit as not so many people will be away from the City unlike in August. However they seem to have forgotten one thing, the dreaded Gota Fria.

The Gota Fria is a huge monsoon like breaking of the summer that happens around September/October time and is a localised event, ie Valencia alone. Let's just hope that it doesn't coincide with one of the races. However I think the crowds will appreciate more getting soaked rather than roasted on metal stands in the middle of August as happened last year and this.

Now August can be given over to what it is supposed to be for, closing the whole of the country for a month.

Cheap Bargain in La Pobla de Vallbona

This property in La Pobla de Vallbona is being sold very cheaply compared with other stuff in the area. Two houses for the price of one, especially useful if you have teenage children or lots of visitors who will be coming to see you.


The plot needs some watering and tender loving care but is 1200m2 and has lots of possibilities. The main house has 4 bedrooms and the other house another bedroom. There is also an outhouse with storeroom and paellero. Set on an estate just 4km out from the town of La Pobla and 20 mins from Valencia this is a bargain house.


It also comes totally furnished too.

Formula One Rentals

Formula One comes back to Valencia this month and Michael Schumacher is returning. This has created an interest that possibly would not have been there due to Alonso's suspension and general form prior to that suspension. Suddenly rental flats for the week of the Formula One Race have become like hen's teeth. Luckily we have a few available for the wek and if you want to know more get in touch on the email in the header above and give us your budget and dates for the week and we will see if we can find you a great place to stay near the track.

The hotels are virtually 100% booked so accommodation is going to be at a premium again this year in the city.

Valencia Property Client Testimonial

I went to visit Paul one of our clients from six years ago today. He wanted to talk to me about some paperwork he had received and didn't quite understand. Anyway on the way I had an idea to record a cient testimonial so that you get to see that it is not just me who says I do a good job and know what I am talking about.

Have a look at the video and concentrate on what Paul says because the little things make a big difference in your experience of buying property in Valencia and Spain


Watch Valencia Property Client Testimonial in Celebrity Videos | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com