NIE numbers

John you have completely missed my point - but I am not going to try again.

Scuba we don't expect the service or sympathy you indicate, some of us have been here for many years and speak the language but that of little use if the new laws are not known and nobody knows where to access the information in order to comply.

My point here is that making this information available to us is the role and responsibility of the  lazy s**s at the British Consulate/Embassy who don't give a Monkey's.

thanks John, I think that we will take your advice, ie do nothing for the time being!

Scuba, if a country want's you to abide by their rules then surely they should make them clear, or is that expecting too much?

That's the problem Scuba."as far as you are aware you have a abided by the rules". We also think that, but there may be rules that we just don't know about. In the early years we also took professional advice until we found out that others gave different advice! Now, we try to keep up to date on any changes via this forum and also the English press when we are in Spain. If as Woodbug say, the British Consulate doesn't know, how are non residents expected to?

but there may be rules that we just don't know about.

And there may not be, so why worry about it ?

I accept that different experts can give different advice.   I have suggested to people that they choose an expert, pay their fee and accept what they say,  and don’t ask around for ‘free advice/suggestions/rumours etc  ?       Then  relax and get on with their life.

But we're all different - some people want reassurance and like to do the right thing, others are more carefree.  There's no right or wrong and I know a lot of it's airy fairy in Spain anyway and so definitive info is not always easy, but I agree with Woodbug that the British Embassy are a disappointment.

If you ask them a question you expect better than a website address to the Spanish govt dept/police etc or as I had, a template letter off a word processor that waffled away and they knew of the problem but were not going to do anything, but in a lot more words.

If you're the kind of guy that's laid back and prefers to just let things happen that's fair enough.  But surely Scubamike, Johnzx et al you cannot be happy that these civil servants are not more receptive to the needs of those who pay their salaries, local overseas allowances, school fees, inflation proofed pensions...

.......     you cannot be happy that these civil servants are not more receptive to the needs of those who pay their salaries.......

I would like a better service but then I would like to win the lottery.  I do not believe the British Foreign Office and their consulates, are tasked with the function of keeping British citizens informed of the laws which may affect them in every country where they may be or live. 

 As when I was in UK, when I have a question I try to go the place where I will get the  authoritative answer that I need: e.g.  Hacienda re income taxes etc, the town hall for local taxes and regulations, Trafico, the police,  etc. etc.

 Like Hugh, I have reasonable Spanish,  and by asking in the right paces  I am seldom in any doubt about what I need to know.  There are also now a number of Spanish Government web pages which are presented in English.  

An example of Spain’s assistance to non Spanish speakers is the telephone system to assist with reporting crimes, which is in English. Italian, German and French (before the crisis in many more languages too).   I do not believe anything like that exists in UK.

 Often, confusion is the result of asking in the wrong places,  or reading the often confusing and wrong info published in reader’s letters in the freebie papers and in forums !

But Johnzx you have to wonder just what are they are "tasked with"?

You repeat the fact that you don't need them, but that's not the point, others do!  And it's not hard to see that they could be considerably more responsive to the needs of the local Brits who don't all have your linguistic skills or contacts.

This has got nothing to do with "winning the lottery" - that comment sounds to me like you have low expectations and accept the status quo.  Or Is it simply an ex-public sector employee defending another part of the public sector?

I re-call quite clearly that when I was an employee in the private sector if I did not look after the clients I would be out on my ear.  Shouldn't the same apply in the public sector?   To my way of thinking "I don't need them, so I'm not bothered" is not a satisfactory answer.

Acer   what are they are "tasked with"?

From internet, it appears , as I suspected, they are not there to hold our hands when we choose to live abroad

Quote:

What we do

The FCO promotes the United Kingdom's interests overseas, supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe.

Responsibilities

We are responsible for:

• safeguarding the UK’s national security by countering terrorism and weapons proliferation, and working to reduce conflict
• building the UK’s prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth
• supporting British nationals around the world through modern and efficient consular services

Consular Services

Helping British nationals     (I have added this : it appears to be as travellers not as residents)  in difficulty overseas is a vital part of the work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). We provide advice and assistance and support to British nationals travelling overseas. Britons make over 50 million overseas trips each year and although the majority of those are trouble free, if things go wrong the British Embassy is there to help. The help we can provide is limited so it’s important to take as many precautions as possible before you travel, and to know what our limitations are. Our Customer Charter sets out our commitment to providing a high level of service to you and what we ask from you in return.

In this thread, on 9^th May I said,   “I believe the police now require one to either register on the EU Citizens Register or register as 'non-resident' within the three of obtaining an NIE cert. and I believe there is potentially a very large fine for not doing so.  (I made a post about this some while ago. I will try to find it)

I just came upon my earlier post which I had referred to.  It was :-  

 " The law has changed.  For the past month or so when one applies for the NIE, the certificate is valid for 3 months only (although the actual number is yours forever).  Within that 3 months one must either apply for residence status or non-residence status. Not doing so will incur a fine of up to 600 euros."

4.