How to Close a Bankia Account ?

[SamT]

Hi, with the recent increase in monthly charges, it's time to say goodbye to my current account with Bankia. I can't see an obvious way on their website to do this and was wondering if I had missed something ? I'm stuck in the UK at the moment, so a visit to the local branch isn't an option.  I don't want to just withdraw the balance and forget about it as no doubt Bankia will find a way to rack monthly charges up and hit me with a bill at some future date. The only payments I haven't managed to reroute are the 2 annual AYUNTAMIENTO DE ANTIGUA payments so any advice on how to change my payment details with these would be appreciated also.  Many Thanks.

[Spitfire58]

It is not possible to change these to a non Spanish bank account (I have already tried) I was also trying to get away from the Spanish account as well due to charges. Managed to move our levy bill to my Revolut card but Antigua will not allow anything but a Spanish account. My next step was to cancel rhe DD & have them email me a bill. Have to do the same with CAAF water bill & then good to close Spanish account. It costs in the region of just under 200€ a year to keep it open !!

[Emmi Smith]

On the on line Banking of my Spanish bank, I have an option to cancel any DD or other regular payments.  there is a list of my payments and a tick box to stop any future payments. Although if you have opened a new account with another bank then surely they do all those payment arrangements as part of the service, cancelling them from the old bank to the new account?

[SamT]

Thank-you all for the worthwhile advice and guidance, especially, keeping a PDF history which no doubt will be required at some point.  Hopefully, I can also save some time with my  Ayuntamiento de Antigua DD's when I get back to Fuerteventura. I set up a (free) non - resident Irish account a year ago, as, even before the latest charges, the service I was receiving from Bankia was dreadful on a number of occasions.  I’ve been looking at some SEPA direct debit guidance  https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/no-geo-blocking-on-sepa-direct-debits-rules-eu-court  . It’s somewhat confusing but, overall it would seem to direct Spanish Institutions to allow DD’s from any EU country although I’ve not so far been able to set one up in Fuerteventura.  If it’s still not possible an Emailed bill as Ron mentioned would be almost as good. Finally, If I can return the favour with one tip I haven’t seen mentioned here – an option for fee free ATM cash – unfortunately restricted to Santander UK customers – users of Santander 123 /Zero accounts incur no charges from Euro denominated withdrawals from any Santander ATM in Spain. I’ve used this  in Caleta and Corralejo – always the genuine rate of exchange and no charges whatsoever.

[Emmi Smith]

" My next step was to cancel rhe DD & have them email me a bill. Have to do the same with CAAF water bill & then good to close Spanish account"  ( Spitfire8)

So spitfire8, how did you pay it upon receiving the bill by email?  Do they provide their bank details so you can do so from any other type of account incuding a UK one?

[Spitfire58]

Haven’t done it yet. We were out in January when I sussed out they (Antigua) would not use a non Spanish bank account but got caught up in the worldwide lockdown situation so haven’t done anything yet. I was going to go in and arrange with the council on our next trip (whenever that will now be 🤣😂)

[Spitfire58]

I believe it is possible to pay through any account though as a BACs transfer

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

With La Oliva ayuntamiento bills the bill includes a website link to a payment system where you enter the ref off of your bill, confirm the amount and pay by whatever card you choose. If you pay promptly you don't incur the 5% increase that applies after a couple of months. I'm pretty sure this is not a 5% discount for paying promptly but a 5% surcharge if paying in the latter stage of the payment period!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

This works for IBI, Basura, car tax.