Translator

If you're struggling try the sayhi app, it gives a translation when you speak into it and allows the other person to speak into it to translate from Spanish to English.

We are building on a basic knowledge of Spanish and, while having sufficient for day to day purposes, we have used sayhi to buy a new car and go through quite a few medical appointments. It's a useful tool. 

A translation service is available at/with 

www.getlegalinspain.com

I have used this company many a time for legal purposes and can recommend them, check out their website.

I personally have visited the Torrevieja padron office 4 times and the last time in March of this year and have never needed a translator and got by with my broken/bad Spanish, but I do always try and give it ago, at one visit the official spoke excellent English, all in all l have always received excellent service on my visits. Don’t forget to take with you, you’re appointment confirmation email, passport, TIE, any old padron you may have, a utility/Suma bill and bank statement, you may not need any or all, but definitely appointment, passport and tie and don’t be late, good luck. Ps if you require other members of your household to be included on the padron, they can either attend or you can take with you their passports or tie’s.

Thanks .Last visit we'd booked a translator they wouldn't even let us in the door without her .she didn't turn up 8n person just via phone and after heated words hers on the phone to security he let us in .They (both men who dealt with us spoke perfect English to us ) but they now hand you a leaflet at the door saying if do not speak Spanish you need a translator which I totally except were in Spain and we hope in the near future to speak Spanish 

Thank you for the update, re translator and as you stated it should be expected that you know some Spanish to get by, hope it all works out for you.