Paying Parking Fine Received in Italy

[Oinkoink]

This is only loosely a motorhome question, we were in Italy in September in a hire car, (19 weeks ago). have just received a parking fine notification by email with a QR code which I think links directly to a phone number to automatically pay the fine but it does not work from the UK.
I am happy to pay the fine as we want, and here is the motorhome link, to take our motorhome into Italy and don’t want any hassle at the border, so much information is transferred to border controls these days I’m sure. Has anyone had similar experience? how am I going to pay the fine? Any advice from you knowledgeable Funsters would be greatly received!!

 

[chaser]

I would imagine the hire firm will know, can't you ring them?

 

[FrankNicklin]

The QR code could be missing the country code as it is assumed that most parking fines will be from locals not foreigners. I might be wrong.

To be honest though, I would avoid anything to do with QR codes linked to automated systems as too many scams around involving QR codes linked to scam sites. Do you know the email is legitimate for starters.

There must be a link in the email or on the parking fine paperwork or an email address to confirm the legitimacy of the fine.

Maybe this help

https://easypol.io/blog/pagopa/how-to-pay-italian-traffic-fines/

 

[Oinkoink]

I would imagine the hire firm will know, can't you ring them?

I have contacted them, but you get pushed from pillar to post to ring this number. No not us ring that number and after waiting 10 minutes I get ‘Grazie e arrivederci !!
Will try again tomorrow

I would imagine the hire firm will know, can't you ring them?

 

[Oinkoink]

The QR code could be missing the country code as it is assumed that most parking fines will be from locals not foreigners. I might be wrong.

To be honest though, I would avoid anything to do with QR codes linked to automated systems as too many scams around involving QR codes linked to scam sites. Do you know the email is legitimate for starters.

There must be a link in the email or on the parking fine paperwork or an email address to confirm the legitimacy of the fine.

Maybe this help

https://easypol.io/blog/pagopa/how-to-pay-italian-traffic-fines/

QR codes do seem rather mystical, particularly when credit cards are involved. I will try Sicily by car tomorrow if I get no joy I will try your link. Thank you

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[Soycd]

I got a speeding fine when driving a hire car in UK. If its one of the big rental companies then it always goes through them then they pass it on, with an admin fee, of course. I'd drop them an email rather than ring.

 

[VXman]

QR codes do seem rather mystical, particularly when credit cards are involved. I will try Sicily by car tomorrow if I get no joy I will try your link. Thank you

QR codes are just a link to a website usually.

 

[FrankNicklin]

QR codes are just a link to a website usually.

Yes, but the site may be a scam.

Lots in the news about QR codes being stuck to car park payment machines taking people to lookalike scam websites and payment processors.

I work in IT, I tell people never ever to trust the information they receive and especially information that is not visible, in particular QR codes.

Never click a link in an email unless your are 100% sure of the source of the email.

Here is a link to BBC website. Just a simple example of what you see might not be what you get. https://itv.com.

Here is a excellent article about links that lie.

Examples of Links That Lie

And dow to identify Phishing attacks.

Phishing | Phishing Examples

Here is a collection of real examples of phishing emails we've seen out there. It's a good idea to stay updated on different tactics cybercriminals are using.

www.phishing.org

 

[seasideBill]

I got a speeding fine when driving a hire car in UK. If its one of the big rental companies then it always goes through them then they pass it on, with an admin fee, of course. I'd drop them an email rather than ring.

My experience too. Fine issued to rental company (registered owner) who have your credit card details so settle the fine and charge you an admin fee for their trouble. I did once find a parking ticket on my windscreen in Sardinia and, if I recall correctly, had to go to somewhere like a local post office to pay it, so not an option for you. Your solution must lie with the rental company?

 

[Red Sonja]

When you hire a car any fines are sent to the hire company. In the paperwork you sign it says they will settle fines and charge you via credit card details they have for you. Is the invoice from the car hire?

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[DavidG58]

I will try Sicily by car tomorrow

Sounds a bit extreme, must be quicker to phone

 

[Wislin 51]

Going into Italy from France you don't need to see a border guard because of Schengen rules.

 

[Clockwork]

I had a similar experience with Sicilybycar before the pandemic (besides the worst rental company ever, IMO) :1) they notify the individual that the vehicle rented has received a traffic ticket (they will charge some admin costs, at the time was €25 and take that from the registered credit card asap). 2) they provide the authority the individual's details. 3) the authority will issue a notification via mail ( email not used abroad as far as I know as it is not legally valid) and when received there are 30 days for the payment, usually through a website, unless the individual wants to challenge the penalty (unlikely), or simply ignore it.

 

[bobnick]

Drive to the border in your MH. If you are on the system what are they going to do. I would guess the worse case is you pay there at the border.
I could be wrong, i usually am.

 

[berni109]

As has been said where will you find a border guard to turn yourself into.

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[Jaspersteve]

This is only loosely a motorhome question, we were in Italy in September in a hire car, (19 weeks ago). have just received a parking fine notification by email with a QR code which I think links directly to a phone number to automatically pay the fine but it does not work from the UK.
I am happy to pay the fine as we want, and here is the motorhome link, to take our motorhome into Italy and don’t want any hassle at the border, so much information is transferred to border controls these days I’m sure. Has anyone had similar experience? how am I going to pay the fine? Any advice from you knowledgeable Funsters would be greatly received!!

What Border ?

 

[chaser]

What Border ?

Apart from that , do we know what happened,?

 

[Jaspersteve]

Apart from that , do we know what happened,?

Don't know....but I have had a parking fine from Milan.....it has the Website address on it...and like in UK it is usually the Council...so you'd know..and pay online...
Otherwise ignore it as we have no agreement with any E U Country anymore on speeding fines etc etc..

 

[RedFrame]

I once got a ticket in Greece, went to Police who sent me to Mayor's office, who told me to come back later. So I chucked it in the bin, never heard anything else about it. Not sure if I'm on Geece's most wanted list..

Cheers
Red.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Just re-reading this again, but if it's a parking fine, why did it take 19 weeks for it to be issued?
Do they not in Italy , stick it to your windscreen like we do in UK?
An instant notification.
And how does the OP know that wherever he parked, he has flaunted their parking regulations?
If it was a pay and display car park with ANPR and entry and exit time recorded, and the OP didn't know or overstayed a period, then so be it, but seems one heck of long time for a fine to be issued .
Personally, this smells a bit wrong for me , and I wish the OP well in resolving, but I would be very cautious.

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[Oinkoink]

I think the fine is probably genuine in that I was in Ostuni at 8 pm on that date. Having dropped people at a restaurant, then gone off to find somewhere in the dark to park the car and ended up in some backstreet so possibly could have parked illegally, but as someone mentioned, there was no fine under the windscreen wiper, maybe they don’t do that in Italy and I did think 19 weeks was rather a long time to request payment for the fine!!

 

[chaser]

Can't really help you but don't see it being a scam , as how would someone know that you were there at that time on that exact day.

 

[Ridgeway]

I think the fine is probably genuine in that I was in Ostuni at 8 pm on that date. Having dropped people at a restaurant, then gone off to find somewhere in the dark to park the car and ended up in some backstreet so possibly could have parked illegally, but as someone mentioned, there was no fine under the windscreen wiper, maybe they don’t do that in Italy and I did think 19 weeks was rather a long time to request payment for the fine!!

19wks is quite fat for Italy, and overseas from Italy I’ve had them up to 2yrs later…..

I wouldn‘t worry about any border entry as anyway your MoHo plate is a different number vs your car plate i assume (mine are the same here).

The only country i know does pull you up on this is here in CH where if you enter at an airport and go through passport control and have outstanding fines then you will almost certainly be expected to pay them plus heavy admin fees before being allowed in. A US colleagues called me 4yrs ago asa he was refused entry for this reason, £40 parking fine and then £800 fees on to he refused to pay, they were ready to send him back before he called me and i explained what he needed to do and so he coughed up

In Italy you can usually talk your way around most things, speeding & parking being included in that (as a visitor at least).

You‘ve tried to pay it at least.

 

[Bailey58]

I once got a ticket in Greece, went to Police who sent me to Mayor's office, who told me to come back later. So I chucked it in the bin, never heard anything else about it. Not sure if I'm on Geece's most wanted list..

Cheers
Red.

We're there next month, I'll ask around for you!

 

[gus-lopez]

Otherwise ignore it as we have no agreement with any E U Country anymore on speeding fines etc etc..

apart from spain which has full dvla access as part of the reciprocal agreement to give driving licences to those who left it too late.

but if it's a parking fine, why did it take 19 weeks for it to be issued?

The EU directive,of which the UK signed up to, allows parking fines to be sent up to 12 months after the offence.