Is there a limit to the number of coins that can be delivered when making a deposit or payment? Can banks charge a fee for this?

Your bank has no obligation to accept more than 50 coins per payment, unless it is acting on behalf of public sector bodies, as is the case when it collects taxes and municipal dues. However, in these cases, where more technical and human resources need to be used, they cannot be considered ordinary deposits.

Thus, contracts between banks and customers (normally business customers) requiring this type of service usually include the following agreements:

• Banks accept cash deposits of more than 50 coins “subject to subsequent recount”. If the amount stated by the customer differs from that counted by the bank, the bank’s count prevails unless the parties have agreed otherwise.

• Blister packs are supplied to customers to make coins easier to count.

• Special integrated cash management services, including collection and/or delivery of cash from or to the customer’s address by armoured vehicle, and counting, packaging and changing of cash, may be offered.

The agreement you have with your bank is key in these cases: if the bank works with external firms to provide these services and a problem arises, it will not be able to use its commitments with the third parties as an excuse, unless it has been so expressly agreed.

If you wish to file a claim with the Banco de España, be aware that the Market Conduct and Claims Department is responsible for assessing the transparency of the process, i.e. how customers are informed about, among other things, the following:

• The indications in the delivery note relating to the bank deposit.

• Whether it is stated in the receipt that the deposit will be subject to subsequent recount.

• Steps to be taken in the event of discrepancy with the recount.

• How much time the bank has to record a counter-entry for a refund, if appropriate, and to consider the deposit to be final.

Lastly, banks may in these cases charge a coin counting fee. This not contrary to good banking practice, provided the customer is duly informed of the existence of the fee and of how it is calculated.