241 Payments for services

Has anyone got a clever idea for paying for services in your Italian holiday home?

We live here, and paying our bills is hard enough, they often arrive with only a few days left before they are due (scadenza). Then we have to face the post office!

We are heading back to UK for 2 months this summer (not especially looking forward to it - but needs must!) and need a smart idea for paying bills in our absence. We are also in the process of buying somewhere we only visit occassionaly and will have the same problem there.

We have got an Italian bank account, so could set up our direct debits there, but we don't find it easy to get immediate and accurate access to our accounts.

Those of you with holiday places in Italy must have a way round this. Any smart ideas??

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/16/2005 - 13:35

We also live here and and have a second property as well. It appears to be normal for the bills to arrive with only a few days to spare befroe they are due! We have set up standing orders for most utilities with no problems. Did you know though that you can pay ENEL via the internet, i think Telecom Italia as well. This could be your best option, certainly while you are in the UK? Not sure though if it tells you on line when it is due or the amount! Bank accont direct debits may be best then, can not understand why that is a problem?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/18/2005 - 04:05

I set up Direct Debits for all the bills

- except the local 'garbage tax' and the ICI - if anyone knows how to pay these 'direct' - please let me know

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/18/2005 - 10:31

Hi Alan - how did you set up the direct debits from the UK?

Thanks
Mark

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2005 - 04:12

[QUOTE=markwon]Hi Alan - how did you set up the direct debits from the UK?

Thanks
Mark[/QUOTE]

I didn't - I set them up on my first visit over there after buying the house [my estate agent assisted me] - and obviously, I used my Italian Bank Account [again set up with my estate agents help]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2005 - 04:34

We pay all our bills through the bank with direct debits. All except the garbage and mountain tax and ici. We have been told that we can pay the garbage tax by direct debit also so we will arrange that next time we are in the bank. We opened an account with Banca Toscana and as you may know I have "ranted" in other threads about the charges etc so won't go into that, but will say that the bank may charge a lot but are very helpful and have arranged all our direct debits for us. We have even sent them bills and they have paid them for us i.e. the ICI. It seems from others posts that the Post office is the cheapest account to have and they will also pay bills for you. the other alternative is to use an agency, I know people who use these and they not only get their bills paid + the ici but insurance organised for their property, I don't know what the charges are as we have handled everything ourselves with the help of my sister in law, she sorts out our ici every year for us and pay's the local taxes like the garbage and mountain tax.

Which ever way you choose to handle it -Good luck, life is never boring in Italy

Susi