La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I’ve tried to keep today’s tale in a nutshell without much success. Yesterday afternoon, I went to the National Police to see if I could pick up my new identity card. I explained to a very handsome officer at check-in that I had been trying online for more than a month to get an appointment. He told me to come back in the morning when that staff was on and they’d let me in.
This morning, I walked back to the National Police. I explained to another very handsome officer why I was there. He said normally he would let me in but there was a waiting list two pages long (he showed me). He said if I came back between 1 and 2 today, they’d let me in.
I went back at 1. Another handsome officer gave me a slip of paper from a machine. I sat in the small waiting room until my number was called. The officer I saw was immediately unpleasant. I told her why I was there and tried to show her the form I had received in June when I paid for the new card with my new address. She shoved it aside and, grabbing a letter from the co-worker next to her who was with another client, she waved it in my face (through the plastic partition), demanded, “Where’s your letter?”
I told her I didn’t have a letter. She asked if I had received anything from them. I said, no, only the paperwork when I was there in June. She continued, always rudely, “Well, then I have nothing for you.”
I explained again that I was there in June, holding the document in front of me for her to see. All our exchanges were repeated several times. She asked if I was there for a change of address or a new card. I told her, “Both.” She said, “But you have no appointment.” I told her I had been trying online for more than a month with no success and I was told yesterday and today I did not need an appointment to pick up my card [despite what it says online].
She said since my card didn’t expire until mid-2026, there was no reason for me to waste the money getting a new one now. I asked, “Well then what did I pay for in June?” Again, I held up the form she refused to look at.
Finally, she pulled a large box from a set of alphabetical boxes on a shelf behind her and, lo and behold, pulled out my new card as well as San Geraldo’s. No apology. No explanation. San Geraldo was awaiting a delivery at home so I knew I’d be returning with him another day.
Still rudely, she confirmed my fingerprints and then gave me my new card. She asked where my husband was and I said he had another appointment. Before I could finish, she snapped, “Well, I’m not giving you his card.” I snapped in return with a condescending, “I know that. We’ll be back tomorrow for his.” I asked what time was a good time to tomorrow. Without looking at me, she said, “Any time.” Liar. We’ll go back at 1 tomorrow in case the morning is again busy.
I then asked her if she was aware of the problem making an appointment to pick up cards. She said that was because you don’t get an appointment to pick up cards. I said that I had been on the website where it told me to do just that and even has the option for that specific appointment. She snapped, as if all this was my fault, “Well it doesn’t work that way!”
I love Córdoba, but I have to say the bureaucracy has been appalling. Many very pleasant people. Many convoluted processes. Awful, inconsistent, and incorrect online information. And then this member of the National Police who should be fired. And I’m not sorry to say that.
I have my new card with my Córdoba address! Yay?
The photos are from my walks in the park to and from the police station.
He intentado resumir la historia de hoy sin mucho éxito. Ayer por la tarde fui a la Policía Nacional a ver si podía recoger mi nuevo documento de identidad. Le expliqué a un agente muy guapo en el mostrador de facturación que llevaba más de un mes intentando conseguir cita por internet. Me dijo que volviera por la mañana, cuando el personal estuviera disponible, y me dejarían entrar.
Esta mañana volví andando a la Policía Nacional. Le expliqué a otro agente muy guapo por qué estaba allí. Me dijo que normalmente me dejaría entrar, pero que había una lista de espera de dos páginas (me la enseñó). Dijo que si volvía entre la 1 y las 2 de hoy, me dejarían entrar.
Regresé a la 1. Otro agente apuesto me dio un papelito de una máquina. Me senté en la pequeña sala de espera hasta que llamaron. La agente que atendí se mostró inmediatamente desagradable. Le expliqué mi razón e intenté mostrarle el formulario que había recibido en junio al pagar la nueva tarjeta con mi nueva dirección. Lo apartó y, cogiendo una carta de la compañera de trabajo que estaba a su lado con otro cliente, me la mostró en la cara (a través de la mampara de plástico) y me preguntó: “¿Dónde está su carta?”
Le dije que no tenía carta. Me preguntó si había recibido algo de ellos. Le dije que no, solo el papeleo de mi estancia en junio. Continuó, siempre con rudeza: “Bueno, entonces no tengo nada para usted”.
Le expliqué de nuevo que había estado allí en junio, sosteniendo el documento delante para que lo viera. Todos nuestros intercambios se repitieron varias veces. Me preguntó si estaba allí por un cambio de domicilio o por una tarjeta nueva. Le dije: “Ambas cosas”. Me dijo: “Pero no tienes cita”! Le dije que llevaba más de un mes intentándolo en línea sin éxito y que ayer y hoy me dijeron que no necesitaba cita para recoger mi tarjeta [a pesar de lo que decía en línea].
Dijo que, como mi tarjeta no caducaba hasta mediados de 2026, no tenía por qué malgastar el dinero comprando una nueva. Le pregunté: “Entonces, ¿qué pagué en junio?” De nuevo, levanté el papel que se negó a mirar.
Finalmente, sacó una caja grande de un conjunto de cajas alfabéticas en un estante detrás de ella y, ¡oh sorpresa!, sacó mi nueva tarjeta y la de San Geraldo. Sin disculpas. Sin explicaciones. San Geraldo estaba esperando una entrega en casa, así que sabía que volvería con él otro día.
Todavía con rudeza, confirmó mis huellas dactilares y me dio mi nueva tarjeta. Preguntó dónde estaba mi marido y le dije que tenía otra cita. Antes de que pudiera terminar, me espetó: “Bueno, no te voy a dar su tarjeta”. Le espeté con condescendencia: “Ya lo sé. Volveremos mañana por la suya”. Le pregunté a qué hora le convenía ir mañana. Sin mirarme, dijo: “Cuando quiera”. Mentirosa. Volveremos mañana a la 1 por si acaso la mañana vuelve a estar ajetreada.
Entonces le pregunté si sabía del problema para pedir cita para recoger las tarjetas. Me dijo que era porque no se consigue cita. Le dije que había estado en la página web, donde me indicaban que hiciera precisamente eso e incluso que tenía la opción de pedir cita. Me espetó, como si todo esto fuera culpa mía, pues así no funciona.
Me encanta Córdoba, pero tengo que decir que la burocracia ha sido espantosa. Gente muy amable. Procesos ridículos. Información online horrible, inconsistente, e incorrecta. Y luego está esta miembra de la Policía Nacional que debería ser despedida. Y no me arrepiento de decirlo.
¡Tengo mi nueva tarjeta con mi dirección de Córdoba! ¿Olé?
Las fotos son de mis paseos por el parque de ida y vuelta a la comisaría.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
What a heavenly park to spend time in. I could stay there all day!
Mistress Borghese:
And that flows into another park which flows into another. All with different types of plantings and fountains.
What a b__ch! I hope you don’t get stuck with her again when San G shows up for his card. And how many others are going through the same annoying process only to meet the Wicked Witch of Cordova at the end. At least you got to interact with a few handsome police officers along that yellow brick road.
Shirley:
I’ve been tossing around the idea of refusing to see her today, but don’t want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I’ll be with SG to argue in Spanish for him. And since I know they have his card, I’m not at all worried. Besides one of her colleagues was right next to her and witnessed the whole thing yesterday (and she smiled at me as I left). Yeah, all that handsome police. Too bad she’s police, too.
Wow Mitchell, what a ________ (you know what)! I was getting frustrated just reading your post, but impressed that you could do that whole conversation in Spanish. I hope when you go back to get SG’s card that things will go smoothly. Those photos are a nice respite from the bureaucracy that you’ve have been dealing with.
Michael:
SG said he wouldn’t have been able to argue anything and would have ended up leaving without a new card. My Spanish is FAR FROM perfect and I argued in broken Spanish but I underestood everything she said and didn’t miss any opportunity. I was proud that I could follow her irrational arguments so well. What also amazed me was that I didn’t have a meltdown after. I was laughing to myself on the walk home. No problem coping, which is a surprise since dropping a spoon can set me off right now. A VERY good day.
Yes, a very good day. You should be proud of yourself for standing your ground! And in a language that isn’t your native language.
I hate people like that – fucking jobsworths! I have often been tempted to use an insult I heard somewhere: “are you a civil servant? then be bloody civil, then!”
Good job you had that lovely park to help you calm down after all that… Jx
Jon:
That’s a great line! Amazingly, I remained calm throughout. That surprised me and made me happy. She was most definitely abusive and I’m considering filing a formal complaint… after we pick up SG’s card today.
After all of your experiences there I have to wonder if the employees aren’t passing on their frustrations and anger at “the management” with the people they are supposedly serving. Things at the top must be horrible.
Or, they could all just be very, very rude, unhelpful, unknowledgeable, and should be fired.
Ms. I-Really-Don’t-Know-Anything Moon
Ms. Really-Knows-A-Lot Moon:
They’re not all rude. Of the three in that often stressful and confusing office, she’s the only one like that. The other two can get a bit wound up but we liked them both in June. All the officers at the door except one have been very nice. And that one was pleasant, just didn’t listen. This is all about her.
Ah well. So much for benefit of the doubt.
Wow! That is shocking. Someone really hates their job. Thank goodness you emerged with your card — ultimately, you won!
Steve:
She was one of the same three who were there in June when we filed. She was the only one who was unpleasant to everyone that came in. We were fortunate to not have her that time. So, yes, she must absolutely hate her job. And, yes, I did win!
That person is appalling. I wonder who she reports to. But you’re probably so sick of her you’d rather not take it to a complaint. Boud
Boud:
I’m considering filing a complaint. She’s abusive, downright abusive, to everyone who comes in.
….and just in time to move…
Rade:
Oh dear goddess, I shudder at the idea!
Right out of Kafka!
Kirk:
Exactly!
It always stinks when someone hates their job
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
It sure does. And she is clearly miserable. She was exactly the same in June, but we were lucky to not have to work with her.
It would have been difficult for me to stay polite.
Kelly:
I sometimes surprise myself. I was also surprised that I didn’t have a meltdown when I left. I laughed as I replayed it in my head. THAT made me feel wonderful because I haven’t been coping well with the simplest problems recently.
Sounds like she needs to have a different job or maybe she just had a bug up her ass that day.
ellen abbott:
She was exactly the same when we were there in June. But we were seen by her two colleagues. This appears to be who she is… at work at least.
Thank the gods that you had gardens to go to after that awful experience.
Jim:
The walk home from there is a pleasure no matter what route I choose. But I laughed at the absurdity of the exchange on my entire walk home.
I might have gone through the glass!!!
Bob:
Oh the things I fantasize about doing now. Fortunately, I remained in control throughout.
I am without adequate words to express my disgust on your behalf. Did you see that post that Ken made a week or so ago about going in for x-rays, and how unbelievably rude the woman was who was taking the x-rays?
Given the confusion the website causes, I can’t believe that this woman doesn’t run into this problem all of the time, so why on earth she takes it out on you is beyond understanding.
I’m very glad you have your card now!
Judy C:
Yes, I read Ken’s post. It is truly appalling the downright abusive behavior demonstrated by some public-facing people. The web presence is a mess, but this woman really had no idea what she was talking about. Listening to the customer first might have been of use.
Sounds like she needs a couple of cats and a saint at home to make her life better.
David:
Definitely a saint. I’d pity those poor cats.