Keith Forbes

I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
card to pay for toll roads?

TIA
Keith

The Reid

Following up to Keith Forbes

    >I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
    >the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
    >a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
    >card to pay for toll roads?

Half the time in Italy I have had to feed notes in an auto pump,
a right pain. They all seemed to close for lunch etc. I paid the
tolls by passing the attendant some coins, which seemed most
efficient.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Walking, Wasdale, Thames path, London etc "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

Elio

"Keith Forbes" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
    > I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
    > the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
    > a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
    > card to pay for toll roads?
    > TIA
    > Keith

Yes, You can use your credit card to buy petrol in Italy on many gas
station. You can also use credit cards to pay the toll roads (autostrada).
Head toward a gate having a blue sign on top and a side sign showing which
credit cards are accepted.
This website will show You which credit cards are accepted and instructions
in English:
http://www.telepass.it/AutostradeETI...o=carteCredito
Check also http://www2.autostrade.it/2001home_eng.asp for routes and tolls
and other info about italian motorways.
Elio

Braque Nospam

Most of the pumps accept Visa, Mastercard, AE. But remember that petrol is
still served by a attendant most of the time. You have to give him the
credit card and sign the receipt.
Most of the pumps have also automatic notes devices to get the petrol
yourself. (mostly during night hours but never on the "autotrade" wich are
always open and served by an attendant.)
You can use credit cards to pay the toll raods (autostrade) but the sums are
often so small that coins do well enough. You can also buy the "pre paied
card" (Viacard) at shops near the Autostrade entrance or directly on the
autostrade too.
more info here:
http://www.telepass.it/AutostradeETI...le.jsp?prodott
o=scalare
more info on autostrade here:
http://www.autostrade.it/pagine_1/english/e-homep.html

Bon voyage!
Braque


"Keith Forbes" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
    > I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
    > the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
    > a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
    > card to pay for toll roads?
    > TIA
    > Keith

R@L

"Keith Forbes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
    > the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
    > a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
    > card to pay for toll roads?
    > TIA
    > Keith

I agree with all the replies. The misunderstanding is due to the fact that
in Europe people use debit cards a lot, also in Italy. With unmanned
stations or at night or siesta times pumps only work with debit cards which
are all local country cards.
Since the Autostrada toll is small amounts only, credit cards can be used
without any addional identification or PIN code.

Ronald

Tim

"R@L" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Bw43c.2594$w3.11736@zonnet-reader-1...
    > "Keith Forbes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I will be travelling around northern Italy (Milan, Cervinia, Arco) at
    > > the end of March. My Italian phrase book (2002) says that I cannot use
    > > a credit card to buy petrol in Italy. Is this so? Can I use a credit
    > > card to pay for toll roads?
    > >
    > > TIA
    > > Keith
    > I agree with all the replies. The misunderstanding is due to the fact that
    > in Europe people use debit cards a lot, also in Italy. With unmanned
    > stations or at night or siesta times pumps only work with debit cards
which
    > are all local country cards.
    > Since the Autostrada toll is small amounts only, credit cards can be used
    > without any addional identification or PIN code.

I suspect that this has more to do with the fact that you can'tsteal
anything of tangible value.

1) No-one can steal a credit card, drive up the autostrada, pay the
toll and then have something in their hand that they can turn into
cash
2) the item stolen is of no actual value to the person that it has
been stolen from so if there is a dispute it can be refunded at
minimal loss. (I don't suggest that you try for a refund on this
basis, I would guess that there is CCTV that they can check if
they think you are trying it on.)

tim




    > Ronald