España

Previous research

Before setting the project DISADVANTAGED EMIGRANT CONSUMERS into motion, the European School of Consumers carried out a documental study, consulting different sources and studies realised by the European Commission and has developed its own research in to the area.

Spanish emigrants (as well as though of Cantabria) live and work fundamentally in three countries, France, Germany and Belgium.

The contacts, work and study carried out by the European School of Consumers reveals that emigrants (in Europe too) are disadvantaged consumers, who encounter numerous problems with a number of difficulties that need to be resolved due to different reasons:
Comisión EuropeaEscuela Europea de ConsumidoresGobierno de CantabriaMAG (Estudios de Consumo) S.L.IFAVConsomation et Logement Cadre de VieAssociation d'avocats

 

Overindebtedness is one of the most serious problem for emigrants

Lack of information and training on this matter

There are pirate finance companies

There is a lack of co-ordinating laws

 

 


- Lack of knowledge of the language
  Lack of knowledge of rights and obligations
  Not knowing where to go or how to approach the resolution of their problems.

 

One of the most serious problems encountered by the emigrants in other countries is related to over indebtedness. The problem has different origins:

- The emigrants sign consumer credits and loans with out being aware of the inherent   contract clauses.

- Some pirate financial entities (i.e. those established illegally using practises of usurer)   capture emigrants as clients offering them automatic credit, or attractive offers, pension   and saving plans etc, but the emigrants who fall into the trap discover that they have to   pay high interest, or that they have invested money in companies which do not fulfil their   promises or that in some cases simply disappear without trace taking all money.

- There is an underlying problem in most of these cases: the lack of information and   inadequate training of the emigrants as consumers.

- In some cases it is due to opaque strategies employed by determined financial entities.

- Another influential factor is the lack of harmonisation of the laws applicable to this sector   of the economy.