So, it has been some time since the last entry. With little to note on the house renovation and on other subjects, the site has been neglected.
But, we're back - with a lot to say.
Prompted by various factors we found some interesting facts with the bank account and reaffirmed the horrendous bureaucracy when dealing with Portuguese authorities.
We have online access to the bank through the website and mobile app. Janet needed to change the associated mobile 'phone number to her personal one, which seems simple enough. Not possible through the 'phone app, or online through the banking website. You actually have to go the bank in person, and after a brief explanation from one of the staff you use the 'special' ATM which allows various operations with your account. Something new learned today. The process was quite easy and worked well.
Our next problem involved the Chave Móvel Digital (CMD or mobile digital key) which is a common authentication method in government and other organisations. Janet's existing key had expired some time ago and I have been trying to obtain a CMD for over a year. The procedure is very simple if you have a Cartão do Cidadão (Citizen card) but as we are just residents and not full citizens we cannot apply for that card.
After being passed from one place to another three times and walking back and forth across town in the wind and rain we eventually ended up (after checking deeper online) at the Espaço Empresa, which is in the same building as Janet's office !!
Here we actually got some attention and almost some success.
It took some time and a lot of repetition but my application was made using my UK passport as the identification media, a temporary PIN was issued and an email with a link to the activation was received - all to no avail 😕
The system still insists that I need a citizen card to activate.
Janet had to return to work and could not spare the time to try her re-activation process but surely, as she already has a CMD, it should be possible. Time will tell.