Estepona Town Hall's outstanding debt with Telefónica has forced the company to cut off the council's telephones. The telephone company decided to bar outgoing calls from the Town Hall as a result of the local authority's outstanding debt of more than 200,000 euros. A few days ago a payment of 50,000 euros was made to the company to ensure that the telephones at the Local Police, fire station and Mayor's office weren't cut off too.

Municipal employees can receive calls at their offices, but cannot call out, which means that many have been forced to make urgent work-related calls from their own mobile phones. Antonio Sánchez, the councillor responsible for tax collection, said that he hoped lines would be reconnected by Monday, and that the council hoped to devise a payment plan with Telefónica within the next few days.

The council owes more than 40 million euros to its suppliers and a few months ago was forced to make a quick payment to its electricity company to avoid having its services cut off. The council was also forced to come to an agreement over payment with the Casares sewage treatment plant a few days ago.