I have had enough of struggling with the Alt Stazione. Click here to see one of the reasons why. In my quest to get a telepass I started asking friends how to go about it. None of the locals I know have one and don’t know anything about them. I asked another foreigner here in the village and he said first you have to go to the bank and then go to a Punto Blu office beside an Alt Stazione.
I went to the bank and they didn’t want to know about it. In the meantime, I had heard that it was possible to get one at the post office. I lined up for the usual 40 minutes at the post office only to be told that I need a current account at the post office to get one there. I don’t have one of those.
So, off I went to the Alt Stazione at Lucca Est – no Punto Blu. I went to the Alt Stazione at Lucca Ovest – no Punto Blu. I had to come back through Lucca Est to come home so I asked the man at the pay station. He said I would have to go to Pisa Nord or Florence – another day.
Yesterday I went to Pisa Nord, went through the pay booth, located Punto Blu and nervoulsy approached to try my luck. It was surprisingly easy. The man at the counter was friendly, efficient and very helpful. He also had a sense of humour, something quite rare behind a desk in Italy. When I asked if I could use my new telepass immediately he replied “Certo, siamo in Italia” and had the good grace to laugh.
I took myself off to Marina di Pisa for lunch and when I came back through the Alt Stazione my telepass beeped, the barrier rose and I drove through – wonderful!
So, here is what to do to get a Telepass.
1. Go to your nearest Punto Blu. You will find them beside some Alt Stazioni, but not all. There is a list on the internet, but it was not correct. It said there was an office at Lucca Ovest and there is not.
2. Take your codice fiscale, carta di identita and your bancomat card with pin.
3. Hope you get somebody on the other side of the desk who will help you.
Good luck and happy driving.
I suggest you all go back to the previous post and go to comments. Jan has come up with the perfect explanation for the sale of the 2 rooms.