Hiring services and tradespeople

It covers your rights as a customer, tradespeople and reforms, memberships and lock-in, deposits and advance payments, and quotes, invoices and cash deals. Landlord repair duties, utility problems and subscription services are handled elsewhere.

Start with "Your consumer rights when you hire a service in Spain". It explains what a provider must tell you, charge you and guarantee. The other pages build on it, so read it before you sign anything or pay anyone.

Key rules

• Cash limit: You cannot pay 1,000 euros or more in cash to a business or professional, and the fine is 25% of the amount paid, which falls on both payer and payee.
• Repair guarantee: Repairs of vehicles and appliances carry a minimum guarantee of 3 months from delivery of the repaired item.
• Chargeback window: If you paid by card and the goods or work never arrive, contact your bank quickly, as claims are typically accepted within about 120 days.
• Claiming in insolvency: If the business enters insolvency, you must report what you are owed to the administrator within one month of the declaration being published.
• Final price: The price you are offered must be the total including IVA, with extras listed separately and agreed by you.

Hiring services and tradespeople: the whole process, step by step

• Check the provider's credentials and registrations (Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain): before you ask for quotes

• Ask for a written quote that shows the total price with IVA, parts, labour and extras (Quotes, invoices and paying without an invoice): before any work starts; for repairs the workshop must offer one, and it is free unless you were warned of a fee

• Accept the quote in writing and decide before it expires: within the quote's validity, at least 12 days for regulated repairs

• Choose how to pay a deposit or advance, preferably by card (Paying a deposit or in advance): before you pay anything; if paying by card and the goods or work never arrive, contact your bank quickly, as claims are typically accepted within about 120 days

• For gym or club memberships, read the lock-in terms and use the withdrawal right if you signed online, by phone or away from the premises (Gym, academy and club memberships): within 14 days of signing

• Approve any extra work before it is done: during the work

• If the work or delivery is late, set an extra deadline, then cancel and ask for a refund: if no date was agreed, the trader must deliver within 30 days; the refund is due within 14 days of cancelling

• Pay by card or bank transfer and ask for a factura (Quotes, invoices and paying without an invoice): when the work is finished; cash payments of 1,000 euros or more to a business are banned, with a fine of 25% of the amount paid

• Check that the repair invoice states the guarantee (Your consumer rights when you hire a service in Spain): at delivery; repairs carry a minimum of 3 months from delivery

• Ask for the hoja de reclamaciones (complaint form) and send a copy to the consumer authority: if there is a dispute, within the time limit set by your region

• Challenge unwanted gym charges with your bank and tell the gym in writing: within 8 weeks for an authorised direct debit, up to 13 months for an unauthorised one

• Claim for defects in reform works: 1 year for finishing defects, 3 years for habitability defects and 10 years for structural defects, counted from final acceptance of major works

Documents you may need

Income and work

• Written reform contract with the parties' tax IDs — Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain

The home and the lease

• Registration number of the empresa instaladora — Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain
• Your signed membership contract — Gym, academy and club memberships: lock-in (permanencia) and cancelling

Payments and receipts

• A factura — Quotes (presupuestos), invoices and paying without an invoice, Your consumer rights when you hire a service in Spain
• Invoice for all work and payments — Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain

Other documents

• Your written acceptance of the quote before work begins — Quotes (presupuestos), invoices and paying without an invoice
• Written price breakdown before you commit — Your consumer rights when you hire a service in Spain
• Certificado de instalación eléctrica — Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain
• Gas installer certificate — Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain
• Written proof that the gym received your cancellation — Gym, academy and club memberships: lock-in (permanencia) and cancelling

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Hiring services and tradespeople: questions that cross several articles

Do I need a written quote for every job I hire someone for?

No, a written quote is not required for every service, but you can always ask for one, and for vehicle and appliance repairs the workshop must offer one before starting. Insist on the total price with IVA and extras itemised.

Who is responsible if the work is badly done?

The provider is liable for defective or poorly performed work, and you can ask for it to be redone, a price reduction or refund, and compensation for proven damage. You can complain through the provider's complaint form, the consumer arbitration board or the courts. Read Your consumer rights when you hire a service in Spain, and Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain for works guarantees.

Can I ask for an invoice when I hire a tradesperson?

Yes, you can ask for a factura and the business must issue it if you need it to exercise a tax right. Without one, you usually get a simplified invoice. An invoice is also your proof for guarantee claims. Read Quotes (presupuestos), invoices and paying without an invoice, and Hiring an electrician, plumber or reform contractor in Spain.

Which payment method gives me the best chance of getting an advance back?

A card is usually the best protection, because your bank can reverse a charge for goods or work that never arrive, while a transfer is hard to undo and cash leaves no route at all. Pay a deposit on a card where you can. Read Paying a deposit (señal) or in advance: how to protect your money, and Quotes (presupuestos), invoices and paying without an invoice.