The importance of being reliable

PEOPLE LIVING in Orihuela Costa hardly need reminding of the importance of a reliable postal service. Until 2008, there were no official addresses to which Correos could direct deliveries and residents had to use addresses decided by builders and developers.

It was only after opposition party C.L.A.R.O complained that three quarters of voter application forms (more than 12,000) sent to those on the padron in Orihuela Costa in 2006, using padron addresses, had been returned as non-deliverable, that the PP led Town Hall introduced official, padron-based street names and house numbers, reported in RTN at the time to be done in a chaotic manner without adequate information and not co-ordinated with the post office which decided not to deliver to former addresses over Christmas 2008. 

 CHOICE 

Since then, C.L.A.R.O has taken legal action against the post office for this arbitrary action and now the importance of a reliable postal service has increased. Bob Houliston, President of C.L.A.R.O told RTN: “Residents depend on the delivery of official post to their official addresses for communications from the Orihuela Town Hall; from the regional Valencia authorities concerning health care; from tax authorities; from Consulates for registration of official addresses; from the post office concerning registered post or parcels and from authorities in their home countries.

“Residents should also be able to rely on the postal service for delivery of personal mail although many go to the expense of renting a post box to ensure delivery. This is a matter of choice but it is not sufficient to rent a post box for personal mail. You must be able to rely on delivery of official mail addressed to your official address and on the coast that is not possible”.

 ESSENTIAL 

In addition to the above, the DWP randomly checks continued residence of pensioners living in Spain. If no other address has been declared, the DWP will use official addresses for this purpose. A reply is needed to maintain payment of state pensions.

And from 1st May, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for non-Spanish residents will no longer be issued in Spain but will come from the country of origin. This useful card enables holders to obtain free health care when visiting the UK or other EU countries. The DWP will begin soon to write to UK nationals resident in Spain and again, unless another address has been declared, the DWP will use official padron addresses. It is essential that these important letters concerning state pensions and the European Health Insurance card arrive safely.

VITAL

C.L.A.R.O has real doubts that these important communications will arrive at their destinations as things stand at the moment. Bob continued: “Because of the increasing importance of a reliable postal service for official mail, we would urge all those registered on the padron in Orihuela Costa to seek advice from us in order to ensure delivery of what could be vital items of correspondence. We are aware that taking steps to ensure the reliability of the delivery of post to official addresses might involve a certain amount of inconvenience but we are equally convinced that this is preferable to the possible discovery, at some time in the future, that the non-delivery of a vital item of mail has resulted in very serious consequences, such as removal from the padron and loss of the related benefits of access to free health care; access to schools for children and the right to vote; the discontinuance of UK pensions or failure to renew the European Health Insurance Card. Therefore, the hassle is worth it”.

C.L.A.R.O will begin a programme of contacts with Administrators and Presidents of communities to urge them to take all necessary measures to ensure reliable postal deliveries. Please contact them at info@claro-orihuela.euThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Bob on 669 350 491 with suggestions or requests for help.