Parking/Traffic Violation in Italy
Discussion
Thought I'd share this with you guys,
Last year I drove to Italy for a holiday, I sent the family by air and met them at Pisa airport. We drove immediately to the leaning tower, I knew something was up when I basically drove them to within 50 feet of the tower and dropped them off. I went and parked near some shops and again thought it was strange that I was the only car there.
Fast forward 12 months and I get a letter from a firm in Newcastle chasing a debt of £480.00 for a traffic violation in Pisa... bit steep, but fair play I got caught.. But then I realised the original letter from the authorities in Pisa never arrived because they had the wrong postcode, it had also been sent "signed for" but as it was never delivered I never signed the demands from Italy, so I never had the chance to pay the original bill.
Now this firm in Newcastle, Waters Gate, a solicitors so I understand, demanded that I pay the £480.00, when I mentioned the above (non receipt of the original demand) they drooped it down to £190.00 but would not budge further, I told them I would be happy to pay the original fine of €80 but they were not budging and neither was I.
Lots of emails and phone calls back and forth, all very amicable I have to say, I finally picked up the phone to my solicitor who told me to tell them "Unless you have the authority of a court order in Italy and as this is not a Judgement debt you have no legal authority to seek this increased demand. If you claim to have the powers to seek this debt I would like to know what is your authority for the proposition."
A day later I got an email back saying they were no longer dealing with this matter and it had been passed back to Italy.... I wonder how many people just end up paying....? I would've...
Last year I drove to Italy for a holiday, I sent the family by air and met them at Pisa airport. We drove immediately to the leaning tower, I knew something was up when I basically drove them to within 50 feet of the tower and dropped them off. I went and parked near some shops and again thought it was strange that I was the only car there.
Fast forward 12 months and I get a letter from a firm in Newcastle chasing a debt of £480.00 for a traffic violation in Pisa... bit steep, but fair play I got caught.. But then I realised the original letter from the authorities in Pisa never arrived because they had the wrong postcode, it had also been sent "signed for" but as it was never delivered I never signed the demands from Italy, so I never had the chance to pay the original bill.
Now this firm in Newcastle, Waters Gate, a solicitors so I understand, demanded that I pay the £480.00, when I mentioned the above (non receipt of the original demand) they drooped it down to £190.00 but would not budge further, I told them I would be happy to pay the original fine of €80 but they were not budging and neither was I.
Lots of emails and phone calls back and forth, all very amicable I have to say, I finally picked up the phone to my solicitor who told me to tell them "Unless you have the authority of a court order in Italy and as this is not a Judgement debt you have no legal authority to seek this increased demand. If you claim to have the powers to seek this debt I would like to know what is your authority for the proposition."
A day later I got an email back saying they were no longer dealing with this matter and it had been passed back to Italy.... I wonder how many people just end up paying....? I would've...
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