A little break from Puglia posts to bring you a bit of ridiculous Italy…
We arrived home to find a letter from the Comune waiting for us. These letters rarely bring good news and sure enough the letter was letting me know that I had missed paying something.
I went to the Comune to sort out the problem. The letter waiting for me informed me that in 2011 I had driven in a restricted zone somewhere and had failed to pay the fine for €79.50. An interest fee of €14.80 and another fee of €7.54 brings the total to €162.06. Add another €5.88 to get to €167.94. I have 5 days to pay this.
I have never received a notice about this in 8 years! I am in Italy for 6 months each year. When I am not here a good and trusted friend checks my apartment and collects mail.
Neither of us has sighted anything about this in 8 years.
The fine will be paid because it is not worth trying to fight it. I would get nowhere, but a complaint will be made.
We have history with these things. A few years ago we went the wrong way in Bologna and a few months later, when we were back in Australia a registered letter arrived. My friend tried to collect it, but despite giving her authority the helpful person at the local post office would not give it to her.
When I arrived a month later I collected the letter which turned out to be 2 fines for driving in a restricted zone within 10 minutes of each other, 1 for €80 and the other for €90. I paid them.
A year later I was sent another notice asking me to pay the fines. I sent a letter saying that I had paid them. A return letter informed me that I had paid them late and had to pay again. €340 for a wrong turn!
Just as well I wake to this each day.
Siamo in Italia.