/scams·2024·Las Palmas·2y ago·@alcalamad

Cita previa resellers, why you should never pay for one

I almost fell for a "cita previa" reseller scam myself just last month here in Las Palmas. I saw an ad on Facebook offering guaranteed appointments for NIE, TIE, you name it, for 150 euros. It seemed like a godsend after refreshing the official portal daily for two weeks and seeing nothing. Seriously, I was getting desperate to get my TIE card processed after my arrival from the US on January 5th. But then I remembered something a DNV friend in Valencia told me: these agencies just use bots to snatch up appointments the moment they're released. They don't have any special access. It's essentially paying someone to spam the government website for you, which is unethical and often results in invalid appointments anyway. I decided to stick it out and keep trying the official site, often late at night or early in the morning when fewer people are online. Guess what? On February 26th, at 6 AM, a slot popped up for the Extranjería office on Calle Luis Doreste Silva! It took patience, yes, but it cost me literally zero euros beyond the actual TIE fee. Save your money, folks. These resellers are exploiting a system that's already frustrating enough. Just be persistent and check the official government portals directly. It might take a bit longer, but it's the only legitimate way.

#scams

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15 REPLIES

@sangria__design·2y ago

did you have any trouble at the actual office on calle luis doreste silva once you got the appointment? i heard they are super strict about having every single document printed and ready. i am worried about getting there and being rejected over a minor thing after fighting so hard for a cita.

@alvaro__eu61·2y ago

make sure you have the modelo 790 paid at a bank beforehand. they will not let you pay there and there is no bank nearby that makes it easy. bring two copies of everything just to be safe.

@wander__io·2y ago

150 euros is absolutely insane. standard rate for these vultures used to be 30 or 50. it is getting way out of hand. honestly though the official site is a joke. i have been trying since mid february for a family member and still nothing. i refuse to pay but i can see why people get desperate when their residency depends on it.

@gracia_bcn23·2y ago

honestly it's crazy that people still fall for this in las palmas. I get the frustration when you cannot find a slot for months, but paying some guy on telegram 50 euros for a free government appointment just feeds the bots. it makes the situation worse for everyone else trying to do it the right way. stay patient and refresh on monday mornings instead.

@elena_us7·2y ago

The 6 am trick is the only way. I had the same issue when I moved to the islands. It is frustrating that we have to act like we are buying concert tickets just to get basic residency paperwork done. The Facebook groups are full of these resellers and the mods really need to start banning them more aggressively. They prey on newcomers who do not know better yet.

@wander_tnf27·2y ago

the issue is that some people are on a tight deadline with their 90 days. when you're at day 80 and haven't gotten your fingerprint appointment, you start to panic. I didn't pay them but I definitely felt the pressure to do it. the system in gran canaria is uniquely broken compared to somewhere like madrid.

@alcalamad19·2y ago

I understand the panic but giving them money literally funds the software that blocks you from getting a spot. it's a cycle. if we stop paying, the bots stop being profitable.

@neon__co71·2y ago

actually i disagree that it is always a scam. some people literally do not have the time to check at 6am every day because of work or time zones. if you have more money than time it is basically just outsourcing a tedious task. as long as the appointment is real and your name is on it then it served its purpose. calling it unethical is a bit much when the government system is this broken.

@ghost__·2y ago

the issue is they use bots that block regular people out. it is not just a convenience service. they are actively making the portal harder for everyone else to use so they can create a market for themselves. it is predatory.

@pepagx·2y ago

if the appointment is invalid when you show up you have no recourse. these guys vanish the second they have your money. i have seen people turned away at the door in gran canaria because the name on the booking did not match the system.

@nachoibz·2y ago

i had a weird experience with a reseller who claimed they had a direct line to the office in las palmas. it sounded so sketchy. they wanted me to send my passport details over whatsapp before i even paid. that is a massive identity theft risk on top of the financial scam. definitely stick to the official portal even if it feels like shouting into a void sometimes.

@raul_svq·2y ago

quick question for those 6 people you talked to. did any of them actually report the agencies? there are a few offices near santa catalina park that look legit but they are clearly just botting the system. it would be helpful to name and shame the specific ones charging these fees.

@iberianpm63·2y ago

congrats on getting your slot. for anyone else reading this try checking on thursdays around 9am or 10am. that is when i heard they release the bulk of the cancellations in las palmas. i got mine that way last year. also make sure your browser cache is cleared or use incognito mode because sometimes the old "no appointments" message gets stuck in your session.

@ines__io29·2y ago

agree 100 percent. i almost cracked and paid a guy on telegram 80 euros because i was worried about my 90 day window. the real problem is that people paying these fees is what keeps the bots running in the first place. it is a vicious cycle. if everyone stopped paying for a month the bots would disappear because they wouldnt be profitable anymore. glad you got yours sorted at luis doreste silva without getting ripped off.

@matrixdata70·2y ago

the problem is people with kids or jobs that start at 8am cant sit there refreshing. the system is basically built to be exploited. i do wonder if the government even cares at this point.