Problems in Spain — what to do and where to start
Living in Spain as a foreigner is often harder than it looks. Bureaucracy, banks, landlords, insurance companies, and government offices all have their own rules — and they don't always work in your favour. Here you'll find practical tools for the most common situations.
Tell us what happened to you in Spain
NAVI detects the problem and shows your route.
Landlord is not returning your deposit
Your tenancy ended, you returned the keys — but weeks went by and the money never came back. The landlord either doesn't respond, invents vague complaints about damage or cleaning, or simply ignores you. Spanish law gives the landlord one month to return the deposit. After that, a formal written demand is the correct first step — and the one that actually moves things forward.
Generate a deposit return claim →Can't get a cita previa at Extranjería
You need to renew a residence permit, submit fingerprints, or pick up a TIE — but there are no available slots, the website keeps crashing, and weeks turn into months. This is one of the most widespread problems among foreign residents. There is a formal route: a complaint to the Defensor del Pueblo, which in many cases actually produces an appointment.
Generate a complaint about missing cita →Bank has blocked or frozen your account
The bank suddenly restricted access to your account, froze a transfer, or demanded a pile of documents — without a clear explanation of why or for how long. This happens most often to foreigners and the self-employed. Banks are obliged to handle complaints formally and respond within a fixed deadline. A written demand to the bank's official complaints department is the right first step.
Generate a bank complaint →Insurance company refused or ignored your claim
You filed a claim — health, home, car, or travel — and the insurer either refused outright, went silent, or paid far less than expected. Insurance companies in Spain are regulated and must respond to formal complaints. A properly worded written claim puts your position on record and is the foundation for any next step.
Generate an insurance complaint →Benefits, unemployment, sick leave or INSS/SEPE refusal
IMV, paro, subsidio, subsidy for people over 52, birth and childcare benefit, alta médica or another INSS/SEPE payment: the first risk is choosing the wrong route or missing the complaint deadline. Use this entry point for benefit eligibility, applications, delays, refusals and suspended payments.
Check the benefit route in NAVI →Received a traffic or parking fine in Spain
You got a traffic or parking fine — but you believe it was issued in error, the sign was missing or misleading, the car was not yours at the time, or the procedure was not followed correctly. In Spain you have the right to file a formal appeal (alegaciones) before paying. A well-structured written appeal is the correct first step and is often enough to get the fine reduced or cancelled.
Generate a fine appeal →A company refuses a refund or ignores your complaint
You paid for a service, booking, subscription, flight, delivery, repair or purchase — and now the company is delaying the refund, keeps charging after cancellation, or simply ignores your messages. A formal written complaint is the right first step when you need to stop the endless template replies and put your position on record.
Generate a consumer complaint →Employer is not paying your salary
Your salary, bonus, extra pay, or final settlement has been delayed or simply not paid. The employer ignores messages, keeps promising "next time", or has gone silent entirely. In Spain, a formal written demand to the employer is the required first step before you can file with the SMAC (Servicio de Mediación, Arbitraje y Conciliación). Without it, no official case can be opened.
Generate a salary claim →Spain has many more problems — we're working on all of them
The situations above are the ones we tackled first because they affect the most people. But Spain throws up plenty of other challenges: utility companies, fines, labour disputes, council bureaucracy, and much more. We're constantly building new tools — so that every time you hit a wall, you have a clear and practical first step you can take right now.
This guide is general information about Spanish law, not a legal opinion on your case. Rules change and outcomes depend on your own facts and documents — check your situation before you act on it.
Need everyday protection, not just a one-off check?
Included: checks of Spanish documents, letters, requests and contracts before signing, Action Plans, consultation and sending your claims by burofax.