I can’t wrap my head around how people can ignore all those red flags. 2-3 days ago I just got a text from a random number about some parking fine. Not just that, but it said that that day was the last day I could get a 50% DISCOUNT on the fine. A fucking DISCOUNT! What’s next? I can use my Nectar card? Do I get a loyalty card with a stamp on it? But it’s not even the fact that I wasn’t contacted by mail, or there was no other contact given; I don’t even have a fucking car. Or a driving license in this country.
I got a fine for not getting my bus ticket stamped in Florence, Italy. Apparently if you paid it the same day it was one price and that price doubled after a week, month, etc.
Didn’t matter the machine failed when I stamped it because it was out of ink. I even tried to stamp it in front of the officer. He said I could appeal it in person in court. They know tourists aren’t going to appear in court to appeal. I felt scammed but after calming myself down and paying the fine the officer apologized and told me in a few words he hated his job.
They also can’t force a tourist to pay a fine. And it’s not a criminal matter, so they’ll never be able to deny you visa on these grounds.
When the same happened to me I laughed into their faces, they wrote down my passport data and address and kept sending me snail mail with threats for years till I moved. I’m still waiting for the day they’ll force me to pay the 30€ or whatever that was.
Yes, yes, give them your passport, and address, and a phone number, and whatever else they need. What are they gonna do with them? Send debt collectors from Rome to the middle-of-nowhere, Teneese?
When you face a system that was clearly designed by morons, you should remember that they will be just as dumb when it comes to actually enforcing the system.
(Just PSA, if you do live in, Rome, and repeatedly ride without a ticket, after repeated offenses, you’ll eventually catch a fine of 1k€+ and if you won’t pay that, they’ll put you in jail for a few weeks.)
On a separate note it’s the same with traffic violations. If you refuse to identify yourself, or your vehicle has been caught speeding and you refuse to give information on who was the driver, you’ll get arrested in no time. Otherwise it’s a 20-50€ fine, and you can probably not pay it, if you’ll never catch another one.
Ha ha, my random text was really vague about what council had issued the bogus parking ticket. By contrast when I strayed into a bus lane one time I got a letter from my council, complete with a very clear photo of me driving my car in said bus lane. And yes, I got a discount for paying right away.
I can’t wrap my head around how people can ignore all those red flags. 2-3 days ago I just got a text from a random number about some parking fine. Not just that, but it said that that day was the last day I could get a 50% DISCOUNT on the fine. A fucking DISCOUNT! What’s next? I can use my Nectar card? Do I get a loyalty card with a stamp on it? But it’s not even the fact that I wasn’t contacted by mail, or there was no other contact given; I don’t even have a fucking car. Or a driving license in this country.
I got a fine for not getting my bus ticket stamped in Florence, Italy. Apparently if you paid it the same day it was one price and that price doubled after a week, month, etc.
Didn’t matter the machine failed when I stamped it because it was out of ink. I even tried to stamp it in front of the officer. He said I could appeal it in person in court. They know tourists aren’t going to appear in court to appeal. I felt scammed but after calming myself down and paying the fine the officer apologized and told me in a few words he hated his job.
They also can’t force a tourist to pay a fine. And it’s not a criminal matter, so they’ll never be able to deny you visa on these grounds.
When the same happened to me I laughed into their faces, they wrote down my passport data and address and kept sending me snail mail with threats for years till I moved. I’m still waiting for the day they’ll force me to pay the 30€ or whatever that was.
I was told in no uncertain terms If I didn’t give them my passport info they would arrest me.
Yes, yes, give them your passport, and address, and a phone number, and whatever else they need. What are they gonna do with them? Send debt collectors from Rome to the middle-of-nowhere, Teneese?
When you face a system that was clearly designed by morons, you should remember that they will be just as dumb when it comes to actually enforcing the system.
(Just PSA, if you do live in, Rome, and repeatedly ride without a ticket, after repeated offenses, you’ll eventually catch a fine of 1k€+ and if you won’t pay that, they’ll put you in jail for a few weeks.)
This is a legal advice.
On a separate note it’s the same with traffic violations. If you refuse to identify yourself, or your vehicle has been caught speeding and you refuse to give information on who was the driver, you’ll get arrested in no time. Otherwise it’s a 20-50€ fine, and you can probably not pay it, if you’ll never catch another one.
This is a legal advice.
Well, that’s rather reassuring.
Discounts on speeding tickets are a thing in my country. Maybe they were from elsewhere and assumed it was a thing there too? 😂
I wouldn’t be surprised, considering the accent of scammers calling me with phone plans and stuff.
Parking tickets too here. Though they don’t call it a discount, it’s basically the price and if you wait too long the price goes up.
Ha ha, my random text was really vague about what council had issued the bogus parking ticket. By contrast when I strayed into a bus lane one time I got a letter from my council, complete with a very clear photo of me driving my car in said bus lane. And yes, I got a discount for paying right away.