Several British expatriates residing in Spain’s Alicante province have accused a local fixer of failing to remit their property tax payments to Spanish authorities, resulting in significant financial losses and legal complications. The allegations focus on Matthew Smith, who runs One Way Services, a consultancy firm based in Rojales, near Alicante, providing assistance to expats with residency paperwork, translations, property purchases, and related matters.
Penny Chesters, 56, a British national who moved to the Costa Blanca region in 2020 following a divorce, is among those claiming she was defrauded. After investing €80,000 in a property in Orihuela, Chesters enlisted Smith to manage her property tax obligations. However, in April 2023, she discovered that her bank account had been frozen due to €8,000 in unpaid taxes and penalties—a sum that nearly exhausted her remaining savings. She alleges that Smith collected payments from her but did not forward them to the Spanish tax authorities.
Chesters is one of four expats in the Alicante region who report similar experiences, collectively citing losses amounting to approximately €86,000. Another British retired couple asserted that in November 2024 they transferred €30,000 to Smith for transfer tax on a property purchase in Rojales but later received demands for unpaid taxes from the Valencian tax authority. Despite assurances from Smith that the payments had been made, the couple said he failed to provide receipts, citing computer problems, and they have since reported the matter to Spain’s Guardia Civil.
A fourth British expatriate, who requested anonymity, claimed Smith owes her €48,000 after failing to forward all collected tax payments. She described the financial strain as “unbearable,” particularly as she was managing serious health challenges.
Smith has denied wrongdoing, referring inquiries to his lawyer, Modesto Sanchez Orts, who acknowledged “administrative and organisational issues” and “mistakes” but stressed that Smith is working to repay his debts gradually. Sanchez Orts rejected accusations of fraud, stating that all transactions are accounted for and that the matter will be settled in court.
Smith’s legal troubles extend beyond these recent complaints. In March 2023, he was arrested over alleged fraud involving nearly €90,000 missing from the finances of an elderly British expatriate in Almoradi between 2019 and 2022. Reports indicated that suspicious transactions occurred after the man was hospitalised and following his death. Smith was released pending trial, and his lawyer has maintained that there was no fraud involved.
Additionally, Smith faced a 2020 investigation concerning alleged alterations to residency paperwork, though no charges were filed, and he has consistently denied wrongdoing on social media. In 2021, Smith was involved in a civil eviction case in Torrevieja over more than €6,000 in unpaid rent, which he also denied.
Despite these controversies, Smith has pursued local political roles, including an appointment as pedaneo (neighbourhood mayor) in Orihuela in 2021 and candidacy for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party in Rojales in 2023.
One Way Services continues to operate amid ongoing disputes involving Smith. Chesters has stated her determination to recover the money she believes is owed to her, declaring she will persist until the debt is settled.