Complaints UP!, High UV Levels, IVA / VAT Down, Clocks change
TODAYS PHOTO : A view of that rather pointless promenade at Jardim do Mar, it doesn’t do anything or go anywhere, or offer anything special other than an easy stroll … another PSD white elephant, but this one drove away the surfers.
Source : Diário de Notícias 28/3/2008
For those who didn’t already know, nearly all commercial establishments are obliged by law to have a complaints book, namely the ‘Livro de Reclamações’, one notable exception being taxi drivers. The obligatory use of this was expanded last year, and that is one of the reasons given for the notable increase in complaints in 2007 to 1,483 (1,046 in 2006). The licencing, hygiene and pricing were the source of most complaints, and two thirds were made in the ‘food, drink, and hotels’ sector. 52 cases went to tribunal, although many were settled privately and without the need for official intervention. As you would expect Funchal fared worst with c.35% of complaints, and Santa Cruz, Câmara do Lobos, and Machico followed with between 15% and 13% each.
More information on the ‘Livro de Reclamações’ on the m4u website. I used one once to complain about the toilets in a snack bar, and the authorities sent me a few months later a copy of a letter to the bar owner ordering the closure of the premises. I also asked a business owner in the course of conversation about his ‘Livro de Reclamações’ … he responded that if anyone so much as asked for it they would be thrown out! Note that refusal to give the book on request is itself an offence, and the police can be phoned to attend the complaint.
Ultra violet rays are forecast to be very high this weekend (level 9), especially between 11am and 3pm. I assume that means it’s going to be hot and sunny all weekend?
I have just been through today’s newspaper, and not a single story of any interest, so I might be struggling for material for tomorrows blog
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I saw on the national news Tuesday night that Portugal is to lower it’s top rate of IVA (VAT) from 21% to 20%, and wondered how that would affect Madeira’s special IVA rates, currently set at 15% for the highest rate. The good news is that Madeira’s VAT rate should also decrease by 1%, with the hopes that a further 1% drop will come in the near future.
Great, so we save 1% on our purchasing power, and hopefully 2% in the near future, good (if not mindblowing) news for us all. However, underlying that is something possibly much more important. Madeira currently has the equal lowest IVA rates in Europe at 15%, along with Luxembourg. A 1% drop in IVA can be a huge amount for a company wishing to locate offices in a low tax environment, so the spin-off could be quite significant for Madeira’s economy.
Don’t forget : clocks change tonight – put forward one hour at 1am on Sunday morning, or better still wait until you wake up naturally.
Aside from your valued blog responses, please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!
I've never understood why they change the clocks in Madeira like we do in England. Is there some historical reason for it?
1–Karen
I don't know for sure Karen but mainland Portugal does the same, so it probably comes from there. I find it an annoyance as you have probably noticed
2–Der