NIE POSTED AND MISSING !

For something important like that, I'd have thought most folk would first get a certified copy and then send the original by recorded delivery.

However, did it have the correct value stamp? Postage cost depends on whether or not the envelope fits within certain size criteria and the way the address is written (capitals); if it's 'normalizada' and below 20 grams, it attracts one price, otherwise it attracts a different price. If it's got insufficient postage on it, it will usually be returned to sender - provided you put your address on the back of the envelope.

Omg no we didn't put our address on the back however the address of the Notary was printed on the envelope. I took it into the shop where we got our stamp and asked if we needed 1 stamp or more, they said one would do. Yes you are quite right Jim if in the Uk we would have taken it to the P.O and sent it recorded delivery but we dont even know where the post office is here and were told to pop it in the post box and assured it had enough postage on it.  But its our responsibility and in hindsight we should have taken more care. We were trying to get it posted asap and so just took everything at face value. We do have a copy from the Notary but were told that would not count for anything, ie we couldn' use it for anything like opening a bank account for instance it had to be the original. Lesson learned here. Is there anything we can do now, or should  we just wait a while to see if it's returned to the Notary's office?

Thanks

What a shame, and a concern. Personally I'd wait and see. The shop may well have provided the correct stamp, but I have my doubts. We had a letter returned a little while ago for incorrect postage, and we only received it back a couple of weeks after we sent it. It was an off-white colour, a regular size, below 20 grams, and the address was written in black biro. When we took it to the post office to re-send it, our postie said it was probably rejected because the address was written in script rather than block capitals - and even block capitals have to be over a certain size. I'm sure we've previously put incorrect stamps on mail, all of which arrived at their destination, so I assume this is a typical Spanish scenario - it all depends on whether the person handling mail got out of the right side of the bed.

The hopefully good thing about your letter is that it has the notary's address on it, so Correos shouldn't have any problem in returning it to that address, should they have rejected it.

If you're out here at the moment, I'd take the copy NIE to the bank and ask if it will suffice - banks are desperate for new customers, so they might accept it.

If you do need to get a duplicate NIE, then the application procedure is the same as applying for a new NIE. The only possible problem is that the national police station you used might want you to have reported the lost NIE to the police and be given a denuncia number.

Thanks vey much Jim I feel a bit easier if as you say this sort of thing is common place, still worrying but I will take your advice and wait a while. Thanks again .

I would wait a while the mail can be really slow here and it's Christmas. Our son sent cards from UK and paid for express postage from the post office and it took 3 weeks to get to us. Hope they turn up soon.