I refer to the letter from Mrs R A Thomas printed in your edition of 17th - 23rd December 2009. What a pity Mrs Thomas got the whole story wrong and went off half cocked without the full knowledge of the circumstances surrounding a customer in the shop she mentions. I wonder how much time Mrs Thomas spends in the shop to be able to say that the voluntary staff, that do a fantastic job of raising funds, seemingly spend so much time gossiping about customers. The Spanish gentleman Mrs Thomas refers to was not in fact Spanish.

There is much misinformation about how tax and QROPS works for Spanish tax residents, especially in relation to receiving cash lump sums from their pension funds.

Reply to Mrs R A Thomas 17th - 23rd Dec. Albeit short. I wish you had named the shop. It would appear that those concerned are really animal haters or they would do their utmost to be polite and helpful so that customers, whoever they are, would return. Name them and shame them is my attitude. These people are not what we animal lovers and carers want to help in our cause.

Dear Mrs Ed, We have been trying for some time to sell our timeshare. We received a call from a company in Malaga stating they had a buyer wanting a place in Madeira. Despite warning bells sounding, I gave them details and a payment of 1,043 GBP in November 2008. When the promised completion date passed, I rang the company, who said they could arrange a corporate buyer on payment of 1,614 GBP (made in April 2009).

Dear Editor, On October 8, before walking through the centre of town to our friends’ house, I took our dogs on to the wasteland next to the Pension Club so they would not urinate on the way. Although on a lead our podenco/setter cross grabbed what obviously seemed to be a titbit off the ground about a metre in.

Dear Editor, With reference to the letter ‘A Big Mistake’ (1266), I can offer you some more facts.  As a neighbour of the parties involved I would like to point out that this couple are far from ‘peace loving pensioners’. The young family have had their problems, but being continually hounded only made things worse. The husband left Spain of his own accord over a year ago to find building work in the UK.

Dear Editor, I have only recently seen the letter that Pastor Margaret Locke wrote to the EWN of September 17. I have seldom seen such bigoted nonsense as her implication that only those who ‘know’ Jesus will avoid going to ‘a lost eternity’. How horrid that she puts her ‘passionate feelings’ above those billions of believers in the world’s other great religions.

Cracked up
Dear Editor,
I recently went to an opticians and asked them to tighten my loose glasses. They did this but a few days later the glasses were hurting around one ear, so I asked them to kindly adjust. When the lady came back she said: “Do you know that your glass has a crack where the screw is?” I could not see it. I informed her that a few days prior they had tightened them. When I got home I got out a magnifier and to my horror I saw the crack in the glass. I returned to the opticians and they said they are not responsible and that they adjust 100s every week. I asked why when having the glasses tightened that nobody informed me the glass was cracked, they did not answer because they knew they did it when tightening the glass.
Take this as a warning before you get your glasses adjusted. Regards, David Learning to behave
Dear Editor,
I read with interest, your article regarding behaviour. For many years I worked in London, firstly as a Queen’s district nurse in the East End of London and later as a qualified teacher. I often offered to have classes of children no one else wanted to teach. They were a great challenge and the first term was very wearing. However, once the guidelines were in place those children were wonderful. They began to want to learn. Admittedly some of my methods were unusual, I had an old bicycle wheel which we used to spin, with everyone having a set of numbers they had to juggle to come up with some answers. I always rewarded effort. We made a space station which encouraged the non-readers to record their flights to Mars or wherever. The one thing I insisted on was that they behaved within the parallel lines of acceptable behaviour, and after the first term, they did. What many people don’t realise is that freedom to do what one wants is not an option in civilised society. Children are not happy or secure if they have no guidance or restrictions. I saw those children blossom into worthwhile young people. It is sickening to hear the rubbish some people speak in relation to punishment. They obviously don’t understand developmental psychology. Children need to know where they are. It is of no use floundering in the world of today, without sensible guidance and help. Well, I’ve had my ‘spout’. Best wishes, Jean Wilson A thank-you
Dear Editor,
The Costa Blanca Branch 1359 of the RAF association wishes to express its sincere thanks to all the thoughtful people who donated towards this year’s Wings Appeal collections at Iceland stores in Torrevieja, San Fulgencio and San Javier. Their generous giving resulted in 2,470 euros going to help with the upkeep of the many welfare projects in which the RAFA as a whole is involved, which includes the maintenance of three respite care homes in the UK and the newest project, RAF Contact Houses, located on over 22 RAF stations, which provide a vital welfare facility for serving families during personal crisis and also estranged parents wishing to spend quality time with children in a suitable facility. Despite the gloomy financial situation which has affected all, it is gratifying to know that charitable causes are still so well supported. A special thank you to the anonymous donor who gave his piggy bank savings to the cause. RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 Gas scam
Dear Editor,
There’s another gas scam on the go. This week two men knocked on my door, all in uniform as per Repsol, with clipboard, etc, and asked if I had had a test of my gas appliances. I said I’d had one recently but always went to the Repsol shop for an appointment. The business card they handed out looks quite official: the company is Revigas, with an Alicante address, rep’s name and mobile number, and looks genuine. They are NOT the official company. I went to the Repsol shop in Torrevieja and the staff confirm this. They know about these people but can’t do anything about it. Please warn readers of this so no-one is taken in. Regards, Jenny Dodd Benefit payments
Dear Editor,
I’m an ex-pat who has lived in Spain for three years and had my payment of Attendance Allowance illegally stopped in July 2007. Since then I have explored every avenue to get the allowance reinstated. I have written to the Department of Works and Pensions and several MPs, to no avail. However, in 2008, I petitioned the European Commission stating that the stoppage of payment of Attendance Allowance was wrong in law. The EC have considered my petition and I am pleased to inform all those in my situation, that I have received a letter from them stating that they have ruled as follows: ‘I would like to inform you that the Commission services have analysed the legal situation and come to the conclusion that the United Kingdom condition of asking for presence in the United Kingdom territory during 26 out of 52 weeks on the date of the application for a benefit is contrary to Community Law and the provisions in Regulation 1408/71. Therefore, the Commission services, in accordance with Article 226 EC Treaty, have decided to initiate formal infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom with reference number 2009/2139.’ So, I am very pleased to say to all the ex-pats like me that there could be light at the end of the tunnel. John R Patrick, Almeria

Dear Editor, I have been visiting Arroyo de la Miel for over 20 years and have seen the village change into a lively, thriving, cosmopolitan town, offering a wide range of activities appreciated by all.

Dear Editor,
As the writer of the original letter on the subject of autonomous employees, I still think that Chris Cade is in the dark and has probably not as yet had to defend a denuncia in court. He ends his letter with the sentence ‘as we would in our own countries’ (get a fair deal)? Surely he’s not referring to the UK (with close to half a million pending court cases) or is he from outside of the EU and not been in Spain all that long?

Dear Editor, My husband and I came to live in Spain 28 years ago. He died in 1991.  My daughter died in 1971 and my son in 2007, both in the UK, so now I have no family. I then found I had arthritis and it is now getting troublesome. I want to live in my own home but I need help, someone to clean my home, and take me shopping as I am unable to go out on my own.

Dear Editor, Please print this letter to hopefully prevent other retired English people from making the same mistake – it proves you are never too old to learn. My wife and I retired to a lovely house in a quiet residential village outside Antas in 2005. A family in their early thirties with two teenage boys moved in next door – ‘the Family from Hell’. Psycho, alcoholics, they played loud music all hours of the day, arguing, fighting with one another, smashing up their home! No, not Spanish.

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Golden Leaves for their help and efficiency before my husband Trevor’s death and during the bereavement period. This plan was only taken out three weeks prior to death on August 5, and all the arrangements went to plan and were conducted in a dignified manner.

The letter from Reg Gibson in Alicante regarding dogs is typical of the great ‘British Dog Hater’. How on earth does he think we dog owners survive with our dogs living quite happily beside us in our homes?

Dear Editor, In edition 1260, I read a very well-informed article by a Mr Paul de Vries on the subject of employment and employees. I would like to draw to Mr
de Vries’ attention to a bigger picture regarding the workplace. Paul is happy to sit on his hands and let the rest of us support him while he refuses offers of work for his own reasons. Is he not aware there is a worldwide recession on and unfortunately for him and his situation, it is a ‘buyers’ market for employers. But wait, I have the answer for Paul and I know it works, I’ve tried it successfully from 1973 until now! SELF EMLOYMENT! My friend found himself out of work several months ago and he went to a ferreteria, bought ladders, a bucket, a squidgy, a chamois leather and is now a successful window cleaner and earning good money. He’s getting so busy he will be looking to employ a helper soon! Is Paul aware that with the wealth of knowledge he has in employment laws that he can, with the right attitude do something similar, no association to join, no closed shop scenarios, no one to limit your income to a minimum wage. Paul, does this not sound like heaven escaping from all these evil employers? May I suggest, due to a slant on the employee angle you lean towards, that you may well be suited to taking a small office in a commercial area and set up a recruitment agency running parallel with a consultancy set up for employees and employers to give advice on all matters linked, e.g. holiday entitlement, minimum wage, and all other queries on Statute of Workers. After a few years of hard work you may have a ‘chain’ of outlets, giving employment to others and, if you wish, you can pay them in excess of the minimum wage. Won’t that make you feel good? I sincerely hope you find some words of comfort here and, more important, turn your situation into gainful self employment. A word of encouragement, my young son was unemployed at the start of the year and by March 1 he had two jobs and still has to this day, 70 hours a week no problem. He has had a mortgage for six years so ‘must do is a great master’ in his predicament, but he kept knocking on the doors until he got work.
Wishing you a brighter future, Alan F Foster, Elviria PS. Great paper, great reading, thanks.

Dear Editor, I read G. Potter’s letter in edition 1260, regarding dog pee. Potter states that a solution to stop dogs peeing in the streets is to ban them in built up areas and especially in flats. What does this person think would become of all these banned dogs, let alone the children and families who would lose their beloved pets? I live in an apartment and have a rescue dog who gives me so much pleasure as I live alone. Would this person deprive me and my faithful little companion of each other’s company just because he perceives a smell of pee in the summer? Spain has one of the highest number of unwanted animals in shelters in Europe so to keep these numbers down, should we euthanise all the dogs that G. Potter would see removed from their homes? Why do the ‘pottys’ of this world relocate and then think they can decide what should and should not be banned? The world is in a terrible state at the moment with wars, suicide bombs, recession and to cap all that, G. Potter has to contend with dog pee... enough said! Regards, Sue Grech

Dear Editor, Well said Paul de Vries! It is high time Spain took action against illegal working practices and dodgy employers. When is Spain going to drag itself into the 21st century, with regard to legal work contracts? I have worked here for 10 years, and, along with several friends, have never had a nomina which states my actual wage. Along with half of Malaga’s mayors being arrested for corruption, perhaps they should start an operation on bent employers. Why is this the only country in Europe where it is acceptable to pay black money, and be offered work without a proper contract? My contract was not renewed after 12 months at my last ‘job from hell’, and the employers have now taken on someone else on a three-month contract. Is this legal? I realise the government officials have a lot on their hands right now in Spain, trying to bring their corrupt colleagues to book, but please, put operation ‘bent employers’ on your next list of things to do! Regards, Jayne Jackson

In support of Reg Gibson’s letter, I totally agree with Reg, animals should not be near eating establishments, I also agree with Mrs Ed, unruly children should also be ejected.

Thank you for writing the leading article about Baby P. Like all normal, decent parents I have been deeply affected by the horrific treatment of baby Peter by his own mother and the two fiends who lived with her. I cannot imagine how his little body sustained such bestial treatment, and how did this baby deal with it mentally? He couldn’t speak up for himself and not one single adult came forward to help him.

When staying in the area I got to know your publication, congratulations. I had not been in Spain for a while and, staying a few weeks, a few things struck my attention. I was astonished by the levels of corruption I read about in the Spanish media or simply speaking locally. How is it possible that a building was built on land which is legally too small, and the level of the building too high. In the meantime the company collapsed and the construction not finished?!

Further to the notice you kindly published last week in your August 20 edition, regarding the issue of the European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), I have learnt that the starting date for the issue of these cards by the competent State, in our case the UK, in respect of all citizens who have obtained their healthcare protection cover in their host State, in our case Spain, via the E.121 route has been postponed until May 1, 2010.

MANY residents of Benalmadena know about the much vaunted 60 per cent IBI discount promised by the town hall to people registered on the padron and up-to-date with IBI payments. We thought ‘great, we qualify’. However, just wanting to be certain, we went to the town hall to double-check. We were in for a nasty shock.

Dear Editor, Thank you for an excellent and essential read, as usual. Regarding medical certificates to accompany driving licences, a new law was passed on May 8, regarding driving in Spain on non-Spanish driving licences. A paragraph in the law appears to state that EU driving licence holders who are resident in Spain can drive with their own country’s driving licence, as long as they submit to the normal laws applicable in Spain in relation to medical tests (named ‘psicotecnico’), amongst other things.

Dear Editor, I have just returned from a visit to Spain. I have family there so I visit quite regularly. We took a couple of trips to Torrevieja; I must say numbers of tourists seemed down on last year, obviously due to the economic downturn and the euro. One thing however that I did notice is that most of the shops still have a siesta. I have to say that as a tourist.

Dear Editor,
I wish to register my disgust after reading VR Kenny’s comments in his letter ‘Employers and employees’ in the ‘Your Say’ section of EWN August 13-19.
The author of the article, as well as the author of the initial article, seem to genuinely feel victimised by the fact that employees can sue employers who do not follow Spanish employment law. In my opinion, not enough employees sue their employers for breaching their contract.