Presumably you are paying bills by direct debit from your local bank.

The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) takes several payments during the year which you might like to have explained. These come under the general heading of  SUMA.

The main payment is the local property tax which is calculated on the square metres of your land and of your house. This gives a total nominal value of your property and the figure is revised from time to time in line with inflation, general property values and various other factors. The tax is a percentage of such value and will obviously vary from resident to resident. You will be advised on an annual basis of any revised values calculated on your property.

Road tax on cars are also part of the SUMA and these, too, are paid to the Ayuntamiento.

The other payments taken by the Town Hall from time to time are in respect of rubbish collection and sewerage (even though our Galera is only partly connected at present to the municipal sewerage system). There are also some small charges levied on property owners who are not Spanish citizens. Again, your bank should handle these.

Utilities

For example, Movistar (Telefonica) collects monies for your telephone service.

For example, Iberdrola colllects monies for your electricity supply.

For example, Aigüas d’Altea collects monies for your water supply. BE CAREFUL OF WATER LEAKS – ONCE PAST YOUR METER, YOU WILL BE CHARGED!!

There are others and some of the above charges are debited monthly, some quarterly and the property tax is charged annually.