We traveled to Amalfi coast August In 2019. The parking signs were confusing and there was pay stations for parking. So we parked in a spot that seemed legal but unfortunately our car got towed. We went to the towing station and paid the fine in cash to two very suspicious looking officers and collected our car. Now a year later we have revived a citation for not paying our ticket fee. What do I do? Should I ignore it?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11174 posts
Sounds like there are two separate charges
. One is the ticket/citation for parking illegally, which is what it sounds like you just got.
The other was the towing fee owed to the towing company, which sounds like you paid when you retrieved the car.
On the face of it, it does not appear to be a 'scam'
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7343 posts
Did you pay at a pay station when you parked?
Were the suspicious officers that you paid in cash wearing police uniforms? Did you receive a receipt? Or as suggested, were they just tow station employees?
It sounds like you didn’t receive an actual ticket a year ago. What does the citation you just received indicate - what entity is issuing it, how do they expect you to pay them, and for how much?
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
501 posts
As told above in Italy when a car is towed you have to pay two things: the towing cost (to the employees of the company in charge of the towing: you pay directly there to have back the car) and the police fine (directly to the police: you can pay on-line or at the police station).
In both cases you receive a receipt for the payment. Did you kept it? Usually is better keep that receipt for a couple of years, to avoid further problems.
If you paid only the towing cost, probably the citation is for the unpaid fine.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
99 posts
If you actually parked illegally and got your car towed, it’s not a scam. If you plan to rent cars in Italy and/or other countries in Europe in the future, you should probably pay it.
When I had a rental car towed in Italy a couple years ago, I paid the towing fee and got a receipt when I picked up the car. The rental car company informed me the same day that there was a fine for parking illegally but I wouldn’t get it til later. I was still in country then. About 11 months later, I received a citation in the mail with instructions on paying the fine. I went to my credit union and did a wire transfer as instructed and the fine was paid.
I’ve kept all the documentation and I’ve rented cars in Italy and other countries since then, from the same rental company and others, with no problems.
Posted by
Washington DC
27091 posts
I've had no experience renting cars in Europe, but I've read a lot of posts on the forum about tickets received long after the travelers returned home. Several posters have found using TransferWise.com was a lot less expensive than getting their banks to transfer payment.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you everybody for your prompt reply. We paid 150euro to the officers who were wearing uniforms. The citation I’ve received in mail is for 64 euro. Yes, maybe it’s the parking citation. I thought we paid for both back then but maybe I’m mistaken.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32731 posts
maybe, for the sake of history change the title of the thread from scam to Car towing fine or Car towing issue?
Posted by
Boston
1695 posts
I sent you a PM