Gra76

You've no idea how annoyed I was when I ultimately found out what had happened, and the fact that I couldn't do anything about it was even more frustrating. Having now spent a few years trying to get to the bottom of it and having to 'accept' that I have to live with a conviction for something I had no involvement in has been nothing short of infuriating. However, having now got to a point where I'm assured by my Spanish solicitor that there's nothing left to worry about I'm prepared to let it go as pouring more time and money into this will be an expense I can do without.

I've got every email I sent trying to get things sorted out, and every reply from the various places I sent them to. With a bit of luck nothing will flag up next time I visit Spain or any other Spanish country. I'm very tempted to book a cheap return flight out to Spain just to make sure nothing happens. Until I've done that there's always going to be that niggling doubt in the back of my mind that although I've been told the fines and potential prison time have now expired I'm also aware that my experience with the Spanish 'justice system' is nothing short of a joke in the way I've been treated.

Ronnyone

Surely if you are so angry about it and worried about any further actions you might face to pay fine why on earth do you want to visit Spain? I could understand if you had family here or a property etc but you just seem to want to come for a holiday. If I had gone through all this and had been given a conviction in a foreign country ( all be it erroneous) I would never consider going back given I would almost certainly be flagged up especially now that Brits get their passports checked.
Incidentally saying you are tempted to go back to " see if the coast is clear" sounds a bit like a freudian slip. I really wouldn't tempt fate, if I were you

Tweedpipe

I read your sad 'horror' story and certainly feel for how badly you've been treated through no fault of your own. Ironically it was because you were trying to be a good citizen and trying to help - now there's an important message for other travellers to overseas destinations!
The one part of your story I have difficulty to understand is why the hell do you wish to re-visit a country that have done you a grave misjustice? If it had happened to me, Spain would now be on my blacklist. Forever!
I understand you wanting to get away for a mediterranean holiday break, but for goodness sake why not Cyprus, why not Malta, Italy, Sardinia or Portugal - all of which I've visited in the past and have long-lasting, very pleasant memories.
As for the comment regarding being tempted to go back to "see if the coast is clear", you are either very naive or have a dark sense of adventure.
Having said that, if you did foolishly return to Spain to test the waters, a future blog from you could potentially turn out to be as readable as the long term saga posted by Philosophical 11 in the Philippines forum, which kept us on the seat of our pants for several years. Hopefully you're not that adventurous or naive......

Gra76

Maybe I need to see for myself that it's over, although it's potentially a bad idea if anything did flag up still.

I have so many good memories of Spain and the Balearics - I must have had a good 20+ holidays to various destinations there over the years and I've always loved it. It'd be a shame not to go back, although I did book to go to Rhodes this year specifically to avoid Spanish territories just in case!

Now I'm off to the Phillipines forum to go have a look at someone elses misfortune!

Coincidentally - if there's ONE thing I've learnt from this entire experience, it's that I will NEVER give my details as a witness to anything in a foreign country as long as I live! I'll look the other way and plead ignorance!

Lou71

I agree with others, I wouldn't touch Spain with a barge pole if that had happened to me. Ditto if I was one of the unfortunates who had received a demolition order on my house.

There are other places and I have to say, Portugal is looking more and more attractive by the day. We split our time between Spain and Portugal but I'm starting to prefer Portugal, not least because I don't like Sanchez and his government.

Please make sure you take proper legal advice on this and don't leave anything to chance.

Ronnyone

Interesting that you say you dont like Sanchez and his government so prefer to live in Portugal where Costa and his government are practically the same. Both are modern socialists. Costa is very popular winning a recent election outright. Sanchez is still head of the most popular party in Spain.

Lou71

Indeed. I have my reasons which I am not prepared to go into on here but I will say that generally speaking, I find the politics in Portugal to be more benign.

PSOE may be marginally ahead in the polls but I doubt Sanchez will win the next election ie win 176 seats, not even with the support of Podemas and other smaller parties. Polls suggest Vox/PP, rather like the regional government in Andalucia.

Of course you don't have to agree with me.

Notdunroamin

Do I see a new episode of "Banged up Abroad" coming