When living in Andalucia you are quite often reminded the simple fact that Andalucia is closer to Africa than Europe.

Say you have an outstanding bill with Movistar and they suspend part of your service. First of all they do this on a Saturday morning so any chance of going to the bank is impossible. Quite a lot of people have internet these days and banks provide an online paying service

Movistar usually asks you to line up in a bank, which can only be done on certain days and at certain hours. You can then either fax a receipt to Movistar or wait until the money arrives. It will then take another 48 hours before the suspended service is opened again.

If you call Movistar and inform them that there is in 2008 a internet banking system they will give you an account number. If you then ask them if you can email the receipt they will tell you that sorry, it has to have a bank stamp and it has to be sent by fax. Being Saturday this is not easy.

If you at any time want to cancel a line you must send a letter in the post. In this case a fax is not good enough.

We nothern europeans who enjoy living in Andalucia always have to stay calm and realize, as above, that we are very close to Africa and that Movistar is still in the stone age as for customer administration.