Reader's Question: Looking for a house share?

Illustration only!!!

This is a great opportunity to cut down on expenses. For just €200 per month, plus usage costs, you can share a lovely large house in Jimena with great views and a big garden. Call Graham on 671 865 588.

Reader's question: What's this about a new 'cadastral evaluation'?

JIMENA (Via e-mail) First I new that I had a problem was when I tried to use my cash card at the bank and found that I had no funds available! Checked with the bank and found I had an embargo on my account placed by Junta Andalucía. Called into the tax office opposite the town hall and they checked on their computer and advised me that it was an unpaid tax bill for a property I had purchased 4 years earlier and included tax, administration charge and a fine, they printed of the information that was available to them and also gave me an office to contact in San Roque for more details. I then met up with the Notary who administered my original purchase complete with all my documents relating to the sale including the escitura, invoices and receipts from the notary and my NIE certificate and passport! The Notary phoned the tax office in San Roque and found out that Junta Andalucía had reviewed the Cadastral value of my property and set it at a significantly higher figure than the price I paid... (the house was a complete wreck... uninhabitable)! The tax bill was for the difference in the tax I had paid when I purchased the property and the "new" cadastral value. The Notary advised me that this is a common occurrence at the moment an not just limited to Jimena and ex pats!!

I will get some legal advice on my chances of getting the cadastral value reduced but from feedback from other affected individuals I think my chances are very slim. So something else to consider when you purchase a property in Andalucía!!!!

Questions for my solicitor.....

1/ How long after a purchase can they revalue and claim the tax difference? 

2/ How is the cadastral value calculated and why is it not done at the time of purchase?

3/ Why have I been fined?

How long can it take to paint a yellow No-Parking line?

Vado (Entrance) number 911, Jimena

JIMENA How long is a piece of string, one might ask. This reader applied for a yellow line to be painted at the entrance to his garage on Calle Romo in 2008. He has been paying for the plaque (which is supposedly a no-parking warning, too) since well before that, but cars still park outside, blocking the garage door. It wouldn't be much of a problem if he didn't work different shifts, many on nights, when there is no Local Police available to have an illegally parked car removed. The last time he requested the line was about a month ago. At last notice, a police report was necessary to have the line painted, but had not been done in the month from the last request, despite the fact that police cars pass that spot dozens of times every day. Just a couple of meters up the street, another garage, and lots of other garages on the same street, have yellow lines in front of them (Proof below). Why not our reader's? (One suggestion: buy yellow paint and DIY, if poverty is Council's excuse!)

Who are these people living in Jimena? asks a very irate reader

JIMENA (by e-mail) I have lived in this village for 7 months, and in that time I have had 4 different objects STOLEN from me !!! The first being my car's badge, the 2nd being my geranium, dug out from it's pot outside my front door, the third was a flower pot which I placed outside for people to put their cigarette ends and other rubbish in, and NOW they have stolen the blue cat bowl that I place outside to feed the poor street cats !!!! Not only that, they have the nerve and cheek to empty the cat biscuits out before stealing the bowl !!!! Who are these people that would even steal from the feral street cats !!!! I ask you ? Who are these people living in Jimena ??

Reader's question: Will the power cuts in San Pablo affect Jimena?

(Via e-mail) "Just heard that some residents of San Pablo have been advised by notices that the electricity is going to be cut off there for (I think) 3 consecutive nights from 9pm until 5am starting tomorrow night.  Do you know anything about this?  If this is correct, will it affect Jimena? Would appreciate anything you can find out." Can anyone confirm this notice in San Pablo and the dates, please? So far, our answer: "If you had your lights or computer on last night, you have an answer. We had several, at least 4, short cuts over yesterday's 24 hours. So the answer is yes. Whether they continue today is a mystery. If the cuts in San Pablo have been advised by notices, but not Jimena, then the chances are that if we're affected we would know via similar notices."

Reader's Question: What's the matter with the water?

(By e-mail, and by phone yesterday) "Why has the water in Jimena turned dark and murky? Can we drink it?" Don't worry, it happens quite often, especially in the summer. It is a stage prior to putting in the chlorine that turns it white. Officially, it is perfectly drinkable, but would you want to? (Prospero note: Thanks for this one, people, I was alarmed in the shower yesterday and this morning! Took the photo this morning but wasn't wearing me glasses; sorry.)

Reader's Question: What's going on with Endesa?

(Via e-mail) "I did not get a letter like the one you are showing on the site,  but I just received 3 bills this week from Endesa from May of 2009 and June, 2009 - a year late and the last one just received, all 3 the same day,  for service sept. 22 to Oct. 28, 2009. What is going on there?  I call the number they give on the statements, 902 50 88 50 but only get recordings in Spanish  and am then  cut off.  I have tried this for 3 days now.   Anyone else having this problem?  Lee Andreason" Can anyone help?

Readers ask about an Endesa letter re your ICP

Several people have stopped Prospero in the street to ask about a letter they received from their electricity company, like the one here, our old friend Endesa. Why nobody has asked us online, we cannot fathom;  it's the kind of thing we are here for (what would you do without us?). Back to the letter. Our sponsors TheTranslationPeople have kindly translated it into comprehensible English, available below. If you have any questions, ever, please do not hesitate to contact us - we will do our best to help.>

Reader's Question: 'Don't like the look of this!?'

"When out walking the other day came across this; can anyone tell me what it is? and should it be avoided, looks as if it might? Jill". Thanks, Jill. We'd avoid it at least until our kindly bugologist reader has an answer. (Prospero note: We do have a bugologist reader, I'm reliably told . But if anyone else knows, please answer - pronto!)

Can anyone help?

(E-mail) "I wonder if any of your readers can help. We have visitors staying for four days starting on the 5th April (Monday). They have a baby and we would like to borrow a cot of some sort for those days. Can anyone help? Simon" If you can help, please leave a comment below.

Reader's Question: Do you know the dates for the 2010 International Music Festival?

We received the question from a reader. Our reply: "Thank you for your enquiry, Peter. We have no firm dates for the 2010 Festival. If you follow JimenaPulse, you will notice that there are some very significant budgetary constraints, which may result in there being no festival at all. Naturally, it is to be hoped that there will be, but ... As they say, watch this space. Yours, The JimenaPulse Team." (Photo by JimenaPulse of 2009 Festival)