Choosing an Advisor in Tenerife
Most expats who register into the system will use a gestor or professional advisor to help them do so. This tends to be the most practical way to get settled, as there are so many things to think about and do when you first arrive, that you may not have time to stand in queues, waiting for hours. Using a good advisor will ensure that you have not missed anything out – crucial for your own peace of mind, and security against future surprises.
There are all sorts of people who would be willing to help you with your basic paperwork, for a fee. You must ensure that they are qualified to do so, or else you may find yourself having to pay someone else later to rectify their mistakes. It is worthwhile thinking into the future about what your requirements might be, to avoid the complication of changing advisors later. It is best to use a company that is able to offer a wide range of services under one roof, such as an Asesoria laboral, fiscal y contable, who are qualified to help individuals as well as businesses with employment, accounting and tax issues. If you become self employed or run your own business, these sorts of professional practices will have the expertise to meet your growing demands.
Of course, not every advisor is the same and levels of service vary enormously. Some, for example, will insist that you meet them at 7am to wait with them in the queue for an NIE appointment. Others will work to your convenience and do the queuing for you, so you need only show up for the appointment a little later in the day. In your first meeting with an advisor, you need to ascertain how they work. Some will do everything you instruct them to, which is fine, but often someone new to the system will not know what to instruct them to do. Unless you know what document you are supposed to have, you won’t know to ask for it. Other advisors are more attuned to the expat and will take a slightly different approach. The will run through the various things that may affect someone in your circumstances, such as health, schools and employment in order to ensure that all aspects of your life comply with the system. If you are very lucky, then you will find an advisor that does all this and more. The best type of advisor is one that helps you to stand on your own two feet by explaining everything clearly, rather than making you continue to rely on them. They will explain how the systems all work, possibly even giving you the confidence to tackle the much of the administration by yourself in the future. There are some advisors who prefer to mystify the system, continually emphasising how complicated it all is, ensuring that you always feel you need them.
Lynn and Michael Stapeley moved to Tenerife and took over Bar Verde, in the San Blas Commercial centre in Golf del Sur. It’s possibly an apt name for a bar, because as the couple admit that they were ‘totally green’ when they came to live on the island. “With all the rules and regulations about getting ourselves registered and trying to start a business as well, we just didn’t have the time,” said Lynn. The couple arranged to meet Complete Legal Solutions, an English and Spanish company, at their offices in Las Chafiras. “We were very lucky, because we had heard good things about the advisors we chose from people we knew. They really did make it all seem easy. Where we lacked knowledge, they explained everything clearly which made us feel a lot more confident. Now, I would even feel sure enough to deal with a lot of the government offices myself. I’d be a bit nervous, but I could do it,” added Lynn.
To many expats, a good advisor provides a cushioned soft landing in Tenerife. With the stress of moving, few want to add the stress of dealing with officialdom in a foreign language. For Michael and Lynn Stapeley it was the difference between living the life they had dreamed about and returning to the UK, tails between their legs. “To be honest, we would have gone back to England if they hadn’t helped,” said Lynn in a serious voice. “And now we have the reassurance that they are at the end of the phone. It’s like having an extremely knowledgeable friend you can call on whenever you need.”
Rumour has it that the Stapeley’s Bar Verde makes the best hamburger in Tenerife, so there will doubtless be a number of other people who are glad that Mike and Lynn did find a good advisor rather than pack up and go home.
 Complete Legal Solutions, TenerifeTelephone: 922 736 098Address: You can find the offices of Complete legal Solutions beside the Las Chafiras roundabout, opposite Mercadona: C/ Las Moraditas, Edificio Clara-Toledo nš4 Las Chafiras Send an Email |
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