Italian Parking Ticket: Do You Have to Pay?
I’ve received two parking tickets from Italy for €98 (£82). They were issued more than a year after my holiday there. Do I have to pay?
J.B., via email
Dean Dunham responds: The Italian Highway Code, or “Codice della Strada,” establishes road safety and traffic regulations throughout Italy, covering speed limits, signals, and parking.
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Time Limits for Notification
Article 260 addresses offenses by foreign nationals, stating that violation notices must be sent within 360 days of the infraction.
However, this period extends to 450 days if the driver—living abroad—committed the offense in a rental car.
In this scenario, the notification must be sent to the rental company within 90 days. The rental company then has 360 days to forward the penalty to the offender.
A reader faces an Italian parking fine from over a year ago.
Therefore, in your case, the parking tickets might have been issued outside the permitted timeframe. If you were driving your own vehicle, respond to the tickets, citing the delay, and request a withdrawal of the charges.
However, if you were driving a rental car, paying the tickets is advisable, despite the potential time issue.
Italian regulations notify all rental companies of unpaid fines, making it difficult to rent again with outstanding dues.
Early payment in Italy can reduce the fine by 30% if paid within five days, which most tourists cannot do.
Additionally, foreign authorities employ debt collection agencies to recover fines, operating across Europe on their behalf. Timely action is vital if contacted by these agencies.
Speeding infractions in Italy lead to on-the-spot charges, with fines starting at €42 (£35) for exceeding the speed limit by 10 kph, potentially reaching €21,714 (£18,278) for exceeding it by 40-60kph.
Delayed Delivery: Can You Get a Refund?
I ordered an outfit online for an event and paid extra for named-day delivery. The parcel was late, and the store blames the courier. Can I get my money back?
P.N., via email
Dean Dunham replies: When the shop offered and you paid for named-day delivery, these conditions formed part of your contract.
Since the outfit didn’t arrive on the agreed day, the shop breached the contract, entitling you to a delivery charge refund.
The shop’s position is legally unsound, as their delivery contract is with the courier and not with you, the customer.
Thus, the shop cannot use the courier’s failure as a justification for withholding a refund; they should refund you for your payment and address the issue with the courier afterward.
Demand a full refund of the delivery costs, citing the breach of contract. If the shop refuses, you can pursue compensation through your debit or credit card provider.
For payments within the last 120 days, file a “chargeback” claim through your bank or card issuer.
If outside of 120 days but paid with a credit card, file a Section 75 claim if the total payment exceeded £100.
In both cases, inform your bank or card provider about the shop’s contract breach and show evidence of your prior attempts to resolve the matter with the shop. This should provide an easy resolution.
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