A post on the International Herald Tribune Blog by Kevin Brass is about British expats demanding their government help them with the abuses they experienced in Spain. The number of emails I receive from property buyers asking for help with Panama developers makes me think that buyers in Panama may need to take a similar approach. What other options are left for those who feel they have been shafted? Forget the courts in Panama as they are expensive, take years to get through and the judges can easily be bought by developers. Although there are organizations set up to deal with consumer issues, they have little power and no real experience dealing with the tsunami of complaints Panama will soon be dealing with. When should we start the petition?
Excerpts:
In addition to asking the Prime Minister to “voice his disdain” for abuses, the petition calls on him to support European Union sanctions on Spain “until these abuses are stopped and justice is delivered.” It also requests an investigation of British real estate agents who have “continued to sell illegal properties in Spain.”
“Many of us feel like powerless hostages, while criminal actions are being legalized,” said Suzanne Wyatt, who is organizing the petition drive.
So far, about 550 people have signed the petition, representing €13.2 million ($17 million) in deposits for properties declared illegal, she says. Twenty-four percent have closed deals on illegal properties, which cannot be resold and face possible demolition.
“The figures quoted are just the very tip of the iceberg,” Wyatt said.
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