Hi Phil

Why should they speak english? this is their country, and they are not as stupid as britain, converting all their social security claims forms into 23 languages, so that foreigners find it easier to claim!!

Why not hire an interpreter and give some english person who has learnt the language an oportunity to earn some dosh!!

Just a thought

Nobrot,
Thanks for directions, but I think he was the one that told us to go and do the trickey bit ourselves.   Then go back to him, with all the completed paperwork, and then he would do nice easy, clean bit,
and charge us a nice large sum of money.

Hazlenut,
I'me not against paying locals a fair sum for work, but when they continually charge double and triple for services it begins to wear a bit thin.
Yes, you are correct, we do make it too easy in England for non-English speaking people, by translating into every langauge know to man !
Perhaps it's time, now that Spain has been in the EU. for a few years now, to begin offering paperwork, such as Rates bills in other langauges ?

Why should Spain be like the uk ? It's not, thank god.  isnt it why we ALL have moved here? 
If you want it all in english go back to england, but better would be to learn the lingo and try to live as a native and enjoy their way of life.  We are lucky to be in their country, we don't want to change it, but to be part of it.  If you don't agree perhaps you should put your thinking cap on and decide if a foreign home is truly what you want, or is just a hot and sunny 'little england'?  If this is your want, then go south young man, go south