COMPLAINTS & GRUMBLES

While the Upper Tiber Valley of Umbria is about as close to paradise as one could get, not all is perfect. In fact, we often encounter frustrating and illogical situations that make us scratch our heads and wonder "why"? This page is dedicated to complaints and grumbles - we all need somewhere to vent! Feel free to add your frustrations by emailing us at info@lifeinumbria.com.

Example:

Today, I wanted to renew my parking permit. I got up early and headed over to the Municipal Police station at 9:00 am. My first frustration was that they have their business hours posted INSIDE the building. You have to park the car, and walk inside to see what hours they are open. My next frustration came when I saw they didn't open until 10:00 am. So, I returned at 12:00 pm, and had to wait for 30 minutes for my turn. Then, the officer behind the desk told me they could not renew my permit until - get this - "sometime" next week. I just wasted 1½ hours of my life chasing down a parking permit and I still don't have it. I look forward to returning next week on, hopefully, a day when they can help me!

GRUMBLE ON RESTORING PROPERTY IN UMBRIA

Getting things done here takes stamina, determination and a lot of patience. Sometimes it's just TOO MUCH! You want to scream! Here's a perfect example:

For Mr. Smith, to cut down all the old undergrowth, clear out all the dead wood, build and/or repair some small stone walls, level some land to a depth not exceeding 30cm and to install some lightweight fencing of a meter in height, just timber supports and wire mesh, we needed to make an application and receive a permission.

As each Comune has different interpretations of the rules and regulations, we telephoned and explained the position. Perfectly simple, just three copies of the ground plan, three copies of the sketch of the proposed work, and three copies of each of four photos showing the land and area. We duly presented the required information and waited a month, we phoned to find out about the progress and were told that we had not submitted the personal details of the owners and their agents. Dates and places of birth, full names, addresses and codice fiscale, were duly submitted.

We waited three more weeks and phoned again. This time we were informed that the photos had "no point of reference", but, we said, each one of them includes the building, deliberately, as a point of reference, "yes but the photos need to be numbered and those numbers put on the plan to indicate the point of reference". We asked, can't you turn them over, number them and number the plan for us? "Oh no, that would be interfering with your submission, you have to do it".

We went and did it and a couple of weeks later we were given permission to start, so far so good, but first we had to pay the local tax. How much is it? "That's not our department, you need to call Sig. Rossi". We did, but as poor Rossi had only just received the file it would take a couple of weeks to reach the top of the pile. Two more weeks and another call, yes he could tell us how much to pay, he did. Who do we pay? "The Treasury". Where? "Our town". OK. Yet another visit, and each visit is an hour's drive, half an hour to be there and queue, and another hour to return home. At the bank, yet another surprise. "Oh no, this Comune doesn't accept cheques, only cash!" Another round trip to collect cash and pay.

And now we can start.