Confusion in SJPdP over Canadian Pilgrim Passports

[p3nny]

This just posted on FB by the Canadian Company of Pilgrims:

Dear Canadian Pilgrims,

It has come to our attention that Pilgrims currently starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port are being told by some staff at the local Pilgrim's Office that our Canadian Credential is not valid and will not be accepted at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago to obtain their Compostella. Apparently, we are not the only approved organization to which this is happening to as our contacts from the American Pilgrims on the Camino have told us of similar stories.

Members of the CCoP executive are currently working hard to ensure that all Pilgrims' offices along the Way are aware of all acceptable Credentials, including the CCoP's.

In the meantime, the approval of our Credentials from Santiago has been confirmed and our Credentials will be accepted in Santiago to obtain the Compostella.

We are sorry that this misunderstanding has caused inconvenience to some of our Pilgrim members on the Camino but it'll be resolved quickly.

Buen Camino!

 

[movinmaggie]

Would be interested in any follow-up on an explanation as to how and why this confusion came about?

 

[MTtoCamino]

Back in 2014 they questioned my US Credential as well, so I took the one in the office & asked they stamp both. Once I arrived in Roncevalles I showed both to the folks there & they told me to use my US.
My intention is not to confuse the issue but to bring to light that many of us that take a credential with us do so to be able to be prepared. Like many things on the Camino, we learn to slow down & it will simply work out.
Once arriving in Santiago it seemed the Compestella office was not in the slightest concerned if the Credential was perfect. The stamps were the key.

In any case if someone from any country is concerned just get one from any Pilgrim office along the way. It would be an interesting test when I return to take a roll of adding machine tape & have them stamp it between SJPDP & Pamplona & see if the folks in Santiago would accept them as part of the proof of distance as well. My map/credential between SJPDP & Finnesterre is nothing like the small Credential used. Besides there was no room left.
Buen Camino

 

[stevedeployed]

Thank you for the update. Starting Sunday 17 April in Leon! Good guidance on picking up one at a Pilgrims office in case. Thank you.

 

[Camino2010]

Would be interested in any follow-up on an explanation as to how and why this confusion came about?

Hi, movinmaggie! I'm attaching a link that explains the new policy, it's in Spanish but Google Translate does a pretty good job of changing it to English. In part, it seems to be designed to stop vendors and tour groups from claiming they are selling "official" credentials at inflated prices. A friend of mine saw one albergue selling them for 20 euros last year. Not only that, he said a hotel attendant tried to sell him one with the sellos already in it so he could just take a bus into Santiago and get a compostela (I think that's kind of rotten behaviour). My friend said no thank you and kept collecting his own stamps!

http://catedraldesantiago.es/en/nota-credencial-peregrino-dic15

 

[J Willhaus]

In our latest newsletter from American Pilgrims on the Way, it was indicated that they were an approved organization to issue passports again this year. We have ours already (very exciting with our names and home city typed in them!). I will be sad if we can't use them, but do not want to take a risk if they will not be accepted and will buy another in SJPPD if needed. Leaving May 21 from the states so I hope this will be ironed out by then.

 

[Escalop]

I'm glad to hear (again) that ours is good because I want my first stamp from my church, St James, and that would be impossible playing their game. My goal is going from St James - here to Saint James there.

 

[NorthernLight]

If it weren't a pilgrims office, the folks in SJPDP would almost sound like a tourist agent themselves. How many credentials do they sell a year?

It's a good thing we know they just simply err from an abundance of caution.

I like the roll of adding machine paper idea.

 

[movinmaggie]

Hi, movinmaggie! I'm attaching a link that explains the new policy, it's in Spanish but Google Translate does a pretty good job of changing it to English. In part, it seems to be designed to stop vendors and tour groups from claiming they are selling "official" credentials at inflated prices. A friend of mine saw one albergue selling them for 20 euros last year. Not only that, he said a hotel attendant tried to sell him one with the sellos already in it so he could just take a bus into Santiago and get a compostela (I think that's kind of rotten behaviour). My friend said no thank you and kept collecting his own stamps!

http://catedraldesantiago.es/en/nota-credencial-peregrino-dic15

Thanks, yes I did know about this. It went out to the forum a while back and I figured that must have been how it started. Our Canadian Company of Pilgrims' credential is definitely valid.

 

[MTtoCamino]

If it weren't a pilgrims office, the folks in SJPDP would almost sound like a tourist agent themselves. How many credentials do they sell a year?

It's a good thing we know they just simply err from an abundance of caution.

I like the roll of adding machine paper idea.

The pilgrims office in 2014 simply gave me one, it sounds like the shysters in other places have found a way to tap into pilgrims pockets. The Pilgrims offices & many Alburguies are run by volunteers who like other places sometimes only get info from word of mouth. Please be kind to them as many you will find are in remote locations. Some very lonely, so please treat them well.
Thank you in advance
Keith

 

[NorthernLight]

I've been through SJPDP three times and think they are wonderful, by and large. I actually want to get my credential from them. The last time, the volunteer was a bit of a jerk, but I really just wanted the credential that time so it didn't matter; I had walked in from Saint Palais, and there was a train/bus load of clean, eager folks wanting help and there was a line up, so I decided to overlook his attitude.

This too shall pass.

 

[Montana Jayne]

In our latest newsletter from American Pilgrims on the Way, it was indicated that they were an approved organization to issue passports again this year. We have ours already (very exciting with our names and home city typed in them!). I will be sad if we can't use them, but do not want to take a risk if they will not be accepted and will buy another in SJPPD if needed. Leaving May 21 from the states so I hope this will be ironed out by then.

Buen camino from another perigrino from Boise!

 

[selebi51]

Some misinformation. Last year I picked up my credential in Lugo pilgrim office on way to Oviedo, cathedral in Oviedo did not want to stamp as I had not bought it there...
No problems afterwards

 

[Mark Lee]

To any prospective pilgrims out there reading this thread, my best advice is that if you are starting your CF from SJPdP, simply pick up your pilgrim's passport from the pilgrim's office. No need to get one from anywhere else and no need to over complicate that which has no complications. The volunteers that work in the pilgrim's office have always been gracious and friendly to me. They can help you with directions, accommodation information and current weather over the Pyrenees. They will also give you (gratis) an elevation chart with distances between towns on the CF and a current list of albergues all along the CF as well as a day map for the trek between SJPdP and Roncesvalles. The passport you get from them is constructed of nice, thick paper stock and is pretty durable.
You can also get an official pilgrim's passport from the tourist office there in SJPdP. It is the same one you can get from here. Made of thinner stock, but still nice and they stamp it for you too.
Whether you get one from the pilgrim's office or the tourist office, they only cost 2 euros each.

 

[J F Gregory]

We just used to our American Camino passports and there was absolutely no problem getting a Compostela. We just got it yesterday.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Some misinformation. Last year I picked up my credential in Lugo pilgrim office on way to Oviedo, cathedral in Oviedo did not want to stamp as I had not bought it there...
No problems afterwards

There was a new system in place in Oviedo last year. We had our CSJ credencials stamped without your problem, but the girl on the desk had to ask where the stamp was!

 

[Blaster]

If it helps - The Australia Credential from Australian Friends of the Camino just provided two extra logos from Spain to attach to our document that would allow it to be accepted throughout the Caminos until their reprint with the two new Spanish Logos added.
They explained that it was to combat fraud and that Credentials should only be "Donativo" and not charged for.
When we went the last 2 times, I also got a second local Credential and it was easy to get both stamped each time - I used one for the Albergues and the other for bars, cafes and places of interest visited.
There are shonks that try to get stamps in blank Credentials to sell on the internet etc - those who buy them are only cheating themselves.
We were never happy with tour groups who tried to push in front of Perigrinos to get stamps and leave that place when they were staying in Hostels and hotels and were on organised tours - seemed to be mainly Asian and US groups?
No hassle having your Country Credential one as well and a good keepsake on return.
A suggestion that between Sarria and Santiago you needed two stamps per day seemed unfounded.

 

[movinmaggie]

If it helps - The Australia Credential from Australian Friends of the Camino just provided two extra logos from Spain to attach to our document that would allow it to be accepted throughout the Caminos until their reprint with the two new Spanish Logos added.
They explained that it was to combat fraud and that Credentials should only be "Donativo" and not charged for.
When we went the last 2 times, I also got a second local Credential and it was easy to get both stamped each time - I used one for the Albergues and the other for bars, cafes and places of interest visited.
There are shonks that try to get stamps in blank Credentials to sell on the internet etc - those who buy them are only cheating themselves.
We were never happy with tour groups who tried to push in front of Perigrinos to get stamps and leave that place when they were staying in Hostels and hotels and were on organised tours - seemed to be mainly Asian and US groups?
No hassle having your Country Credential one as well and a good keepsake on return.
A suggestion that between Sarria and Santiago you needed two stamps per day seemed unfounded.

Thanks Blaster... as it turns out, our Canadian Pilgrim passports have always been in good standing and yes, I was aware of the 'shonks' (love that expression) out there. While I was on the CF, there was a large tour ahead of me who seemed to be walking 'part time' and taking up all the space (and loos) at the local cafes. At one of their stops at a Cathedral, the keeper of the Cathedral refused to sign their their 'passports' and proceeded to shake his (tsk tsk) finger quite vigorously at the tour director, saying 'Shame, shame on you'. The more devious side of me quite enjoyed it I must admit. tsk tsk on me

 

[Blaster]

movinmaggie