Well, I've had a reply from my bank about them deducting 6€, twice, from my account. Apparently, they renamed the account, changed the rules for free banking, and started charging me. They say that I should have been informed, but I hadn't and that was the first I knew of it, so I wasn't pleased.
My usually-helpful, assistant bank manager has refunded the money taken and told me the new conditions if I want to keep the account cost-free. Besides depositing my pension, which I do already, I'll need to take out one of the bank's many insurance products. The bank has previously quoted for house and car insurance and I know they're not competitive, so I don't want to; it would be like paying for the account indirectly. Instead I re-stated details of my credits and told them that I would change my bank if they persisted with their desire to charge me. I was told that I'd have an answer soon.
Banks in Spain have a history of charging and most Spanish people are accustomed to paying. Recently, though, competition has increased and many banks now offer free banking, more like the British system. I've noted three major banks that would give me that; another reason for not wanting to pay.
A week's gone by and I've just had an email from the assistant bank manager saying that she has a solution. The name of the account has been changed (again) and I won't have any charges. The account number is the same, but my new debit card will now be blue instead of yellow. I can cope with that, although why an account with a yellow card would cost me 72€ a year and one with a blue card is free is beyond me! Furthermore, I don't have to buy any of the bank's uncompetitive insurance products.
Banks think that they can initiate charges as they want and their customers will quietly comply. Maybe a few will, but why upset the majority who will sensibly say 'no, that's not fair' and do something about it. Or am I wrong; is it the majority who accept changes and the minority who complain? I don't know. Nevertheless, for me, it’s a happy ending to a saga that should never have happened. Maybe, I'll offer the assistant bank manager my celebratory pizza.