Treasury investigates Bankia for possible fiscal crime

MADRID – Yet another fraud recently risen to the surface from the muck: some 86 directors and executives of Bankia and/or Caja Madrid, to the value of some €15.5 million, all had access to individual credit cards issued by the banks themselves to its top people or to favoured customers’ executives. There was absolutely no control, no maxing out, on how or on what they were used, which accounts for items such as shopping (even for food), expensive travel and holidays, jewellery, etc. Some cards were used ‘only’ to €120,000, while others to significantly higher figures.//Without getting into too much detail (for fear of boring you, Dear Reader), the cases have now reached the desk of the judge in charge of the Bankia fraud case (yes, another one!), who the Anti-corruption Prosecutor has informed of possible tax evasion and other crimes.

(Editor’s Note: I suppose we’ll have to give some background to this case, too. Okay, we will, in due course… Maybe not: you can read all about it in El País in English.)

If you’re being charged for using a credit card, you’re being robbed

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MADRID – Royal Decree 8/2014 became law on September 1: it expressly banns being charged for using a credit card. However, several consumer organizations have discovered that many companies, including some airlines, are still doing so. Indeed, it’s the airlines who are mainly defying the law. According to OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios), "this is a completely illegal charge that has nothing to do with management expenses.” From its Twitter account (#NoConMiTarjeta – NotWithMyCard), the organization asks consumers to take a screen shot or a photo showing a bill that includes the charge. They are inviting anyone who have been charged to join others in a class action suit they are preparing right now, the idea being to stop the practice, punish the perpetrators and recover the customers’ money. (Enlarge the image and check right at the bottom ...)