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Sh Barcelona

Sh Barcelona are the agents I used to book the flat that I was intending to live in for one year. Their website is very good with lots of information and photos of each flat. The person I dealt with also spoke very good English. So far, so good.

I had a few (big) surprises though. On my arrival I was asked to pay an extra three month's deposit on top of the two month's I had previously agreed (total deposit five months rent, €4,125).

A document that you can download from their website states that if you don't have a work contract you may be asked to pay an extra deposit. I forwarded my work contract to Sh Barcelona three weeks before I arrived. Their reason for charging the extra deposit was because I didn't have a 'Spanish' work contract. I was only told this on arrival in their office and after I had paid a non-refundable deposit to secure the flat.

If you book through this company expect to pay a much higher deposit than the one shown on their website. Ask for the full amount that you will have to pay up front to be confirmed BEFORE you pay any deposit to secure the flat (although I also did this).

The phone line and ADSL in the flat I booked were disconnected the week before I moved in, even though I asked specifically for this not to happen. I had to pay for a reconnection and wait 26 days for the phone and 30 days for ADSL (both services are vital for my job).

Three weeks after I moved in someone arrived to disconnect the electricity as the previous tenant had not paid the bill for six months and almost 1,000 euros were owing. After frantic phone calls from me, Sh Barcelona eventually paid the bill.

I didn't have hot water in the kitchen for most of the five months that I rented the flat, despite constant requests for it to be fixed.

Not all the information on their website is correct. For example, I wanted a flat with central heating. The website stated (and still does) that the flat I rented had central heating. It doesn't.

I was not pleased with the flat I booked with Sh Barcelona, and, if I had known about the extra deposit and the lack of central heating I probably would not have booked it.

On 2nd Nov 2005 the water supply was cut off! Again the previous tenant had not paid the bill. I had no warning that this was going to happen and after a phone call to Sh Barcelona they paid the bill and the following day the water was reconnected.

I found another flat and moved out. Most of my deposit was refunded straight away, but Sh Barcelona kept one month's rent in order to deduct any outstanding bills. Two weeks later I received a call from them to say that I was being charged over 300 euros for water and electricity. I asked to see the invoices for these utilities, which it turned out Sh Barcelona didn't have (not quite sure how they worked out what was owing without the bills ...). I insisted on seeing the invoices and having a meeting. At the meeting we both agreed that what I actually owed was €162 and it was arranged that my money, less this amount, would be paid into my account.

A few days later my account was credited, but with a different amount, €32 short of what we agreed. OK, €32 isn't much but it's my money and I'm still waiting - as far as I'm concerned Sh Barcelona still owe me money!

It's your decision whether you use Sh Barcelona, but a familiar phrase ending in '... barge pole' seems relevant here. ◊

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