Rtn north edition 757

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Issue 757

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NORTH EDITION

roundtownnews.com

Couple’s bleak house 17 - 24 APRIL 2014

by Jack Troughton

Roger and Veronica

A DESPERATE British couple face losing their dream Spanish home under a repossession order after becoming embroiled in a shady ‘black money’ scam. Roger Lines and Veronica Mitchell believe they purchased their ‘idyllic’ villa in October 2009 for 140,000€ - the value of the deal on the deeds – the ‘escritura’. But they are now being hounded for an additional 40,000€ for the house near Ontinyent, Valencia, and are facing the might of the legal establishment in a bid to save their home. And unless they can win a desperate rearguard action, they have just approached a new lawyer for advice, they will also lose the 20,000€ they have invested in the property. Roger, who has served as a Special Constable with the police in England, told RTN they had repeatedly said they wanted nothing to do with black money as it was tax fraud. But they admitted they were keen to press ahead with the purchase and ignored advice to wait for all the documentation. The pair has since discovered serious faults with the house – a hidden well in the front room and a cesspit under a rear wall – despite being repeatedly assured there were no such problems. They have already lost one court case where they attempted to get the nightmare purchase of the house declared null and void. And, not surprisingly, the ongoing struggle has taken a toll on both Roger and Veronica’s

Microsoft ‘Windows’ scam

Professional conmen posing as IT specialists are flooding homes across the Costa Blanca with calls in a bid to steal from unsuspecting victims. PAGE 4

health. Both have been very ill, Roger losing over 12kg, because of the strain and worry. EMBARGO “Since Christmas lawyers have told us the house will be embargoed, our bank accounts will be embargoed and our cars seized,” said Roger, a retired chartered engineer. They fell in love with the views from their new home but did not want to pay 180,000€. They maintained the most they could pay was 160,000€ but needed some of cash to make necessary improvements. The couple paid a total of 140,000€ - they believe it was the agreed price and it was written into the deeds. It included a 2,000€ cash deposit and 38,000€ in cash to a Spanish lawyer – a cheque was refused – for safekeeping. However, they are being sued for another 40,000€, described as a private loan in the escritura. “We have paid the 140,000€ on the deeds,” said Roger. “One lawyer said the price you pay for the house is on the deeds – but would not help us because he said the cash payment was black money. Another solicitor said to repay the loan or get kicked out.” Roger said they were told the sale was straightforward and they could share the vendor’s lawyer. “Unfortunately, it turned out he was her lawyer and not ours.” He added: “We know in Spain they declare a lower price to save tax and we were asked if we wanted to do that. We said ‘no’ because we did not want to play that game.” Continued on page 3

Top chef cooks lunch

On Monday 12th May, Michelin three star chef Quique Dacosta will lead a team to prepare a gourmet charity lunch in aid of Friends of the children of EMAUS.

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