Going round in circles here. Does anybody have an answer?

I have cheques to bank, cash to collect from Correos, but I have no passport and need passport to collect cash, or open bank account. I have a photocopy of my stolen passport.

I could ask friends if they mind having cash sent to them, but why should I have to? It is not my fault for being in this situation - surely the system has an answer for me?

Anybody know?

Should a photocopy be good enough at Correos, or do I need to find someone willing to bend the rules a little?

Do you have your residency certificate? My post office has never asked me for my passport. I have used my certificate or my drivers licence.

Rosemary

I remember you saying that your passport and loads of paperwork was stolen a couple of years ago, did you never manage to sort out getting a new one?

Rosemary

The Correos in Alicante, in my experience, always insist on passport if you need to collect a package or a registered letter.

If you are in Spain, either as a tourist or resident, you MUST have a valid passport or official ID. The only legal ID for a UK citizen is a valid UK passport. Without it, you are essentially an illegal alien.

Correos and banks in Spain will need to see the original passport, not a copy. We used a laminated credit card sized copy of the title page of our passports, and that was OK for everywhere except correos, banks and the town hall.

Nope. Everything stolen. Still haven't managed to get anywhere near a new passport. Applications now have to be done online (from overseas) which means you need a bank card. All bank cards stolen. Have had the cash many times, but embassy, consulars officies will not accept cash.

I am currently waiting to know what the **** I do. Cash is there. Do I just go to the embassy and put it on the counter, or will they tell me I have to pay for an emergency travel document to get back to the UK and apply there?

I find it unbelievable that this is Europe today. Surely there is a way I can at least access cash and get new bank cards?

It is unclear whether or not you have a bank account? You have talked about opening a bank account, then about having your bankcards stolen. Usually banks send out replacements when they are notified that someone's cards have been stolen.

Can you not simply give a friend the cash and get them to use their bank card to pay for your new passport. I have done so previously for a friend who was in [nearly] the same predicament. The Passport is such a valuable identity document (as you are finding out) I would make it my priority to get a new one no matter how principled about EU rules and regulations I might be?

When I recently renewed my passport online, which BTW went very efficiently, I paid by just entering my bank card details. I used a UK bank account and although I don't have the card physically in my possession as it's with my daughter, I didn't need the actual card to carry out the transaction and neither should you.
If your cards were stolen surely they were stopped and new ones issued? How could you just be without the cards for such a long time and what, if anything is preventing you from sorting this out?
Best alternative is to ask a friend if the money can be paid on their card and give them the cash.