sprostoni's activity

Questions Asked

I have tried to contribute, I have taken advice, I have given (hopefully) advice, I have tried to generate discussion, I have now given up, good luck to the rest of ya !S

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 17:27

Does anybody know more about this ?SReform of Italy: "40 provinces, 10 metropolitan areas"Rome - More than half of the Italian provinces are going to be cut and 10 metropolitan areas introduced.

Sat, 07/21/2012 - 11:25

How bad can life be..........desperate.........Ancona - Two illegal immigrants have been found dead, one almost dead and two in a coma on the Superfast ferry from Greece. The ferry docked at Ancona this afternoon at around 5.30 pm (CET).

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 03:44

Can anyone explain in simple terms, where all these BILLIONS of euros actually go? We now have Cyprus saying 'Can we have some?' This is the 5th eurozone country so far to say this..............Will I recieve a few hundred grand soon? S

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 15:31

We have just returned from a driving trip (slog!!) to the UK, and on the way back, we booked into a BARGAIN IBIS hotel in 'Grandate'.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 11:47

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE...........Is anybody getting UK TV (and maybe SKY) here in central Italy OTHER THAN via the Internet ?If so............please let me know howThanks in advance,S

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:52

Afetr 4 years of 'bliss' (!?!) here in Le Marche, I recently took my four year old car for it's first revisione. A few hours later, I got back the paperwork, with an appropriate stamp.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 11:46

I know we've been here before but...........Italian tax men blitz the chic in ski resort raids Italian tax agents donned skis, gloves and goggles to launch an unusual blitz in the chic ski resort of Courmayeur, two months after a similar raid on

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 02:05

I have seen that the Italian Government is eliminating some public holidays in 2012 and/or moving those that occur mid-week to a Sunday.Does anyone have a link reflecting whether or not this has been officially confirmed ?Thanks in advance,S

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 05:56

Whilst snowed in here in Penna San Giovanni, I was looking for some bright spots in the financial world.

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 02:08

Comments posted

Sat, 06/26/2010 - 14:10

I would imagine that somebody with the skills could sort out a new 'topic' in literally minutes (not hours). If they cannot the whole system has been set up incorrectly. It may be an approvals issue whereby a process is in place that requires one/two/three or more people have to approve it? Also, as I have mentioned before, there MAY be legal issues with buying/selling on the site, what if the sale goes wrong..............who is responsible? I sympathise with the administrators, it may be that they need a list of 'can do's' (without approval) and 'can't do's' (withous approval)..........surely they've thought of this ??!! And lastly..................administrators should really just RESPOND to the users(customers) saying that we are looking into it and an announcement wil be made on a given date, giving the reasons why a decision has been made. S

Sat, 06/26/2010 - 14:02

 Colonel Mustard...............I think the new term for downgrading (?!) is 'right sizing' Ha!!............. I tend to agree with alan h..............just do it, put up a list.........worst case scenario your post will be removed......good luck! I think if you put the list up, you will at least get some contacts even via pm-ing? S

Sat, 06/26/2010 - 13:57

Thanks for the response(s)..............I would say that it is not actually NECESSARY for me to do it, but......... I received a 'flyer' at my Italian address from a UK bank offering a reasonably ok interest rate. (Certainly more than my LIBOR related accounts earn (.5%!!)!) So thinking that there may have been the possiblity of a punt on it...............I applied......they turned me down immediately due to my being 'resident' in Italy. I do not have an (official) UK address. Apparently (from my understanding), the UK banks don't have to turn you down  for any legal reasons, they just do as they feel outside of the UK (even in the wonderful EU) is too risky for them (understandable?). Hey ho...................the exchange rate is improving though eh ??!!! Oh and the weather..........oh......and the wine is still disappearing fast! (Every time the exchange rate goes up a notch, I think that's equivalent to a free meal at our favourite restaurant !) S

Fri, 06/25/2010 - 11:26

    Thanks Penny, I also have an International account with LTSB in Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Luxembourg. The problem I have found is that you cannot open a NEW account 'on-shore' with any of the UK banks to my knowledge. HSBC will open another 'off-shore' account as well but not an 'on-shore'................grrr! S

Fri, 06/25/2010 - 11:22

More like 'past-it' than 'pasta' now !!

Thu, 06/24/2010 - 10:22

Folks.......... BUT.............Does anyone know if we can OPEN a NEW account whilst living/resident here (with NO address in the UK) in Italy? I'm sure that I can do it via (in effect fraud!!) giving my sister/brother's UK address as 'my home', but I'm not aware of another way ? S

Thu, 06/24/2010 - 07:44

Hi Penny........... MY UK & Offshore accounts have my Italian address as the contact address. We do not have an address at all in the UK, so...............I would LIKE to open other accounts with the UK but they won't let me open any new accounts (even with the banks that I am with!). European 'Union' eh ! grrr! S

Answer to: creepie-crawly
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 10:18

There are LOADS of insetti here and without a photo it would be difficult to identify........cockroaches (I've not seen them here but I live in the country) are very quick but tend to move more when disturbed..........a type of (harmless) beatle would be my call........ S

Sun, 06/20/2010 - 14:45

Crikey !!!!surprise S

Sat, 06/19/2010 - 11:12

Obviously Charlotte is the (super) experet here.......I'll be interested to see her response .... My understanding is pretty much as you say. 'immovable object' (assume house) is undertaken by Italian law UNLESS you have written (as a base starting point) an A4 sheet (in handwriting, dated and signed). Your spouse is entitled to 50% of the total value Your spouse and children will be entitled to half each of the other 50%, So on sale of property value (say) 400,000 euros.................wife entitled to the first 50% (200,000), then entitled to the next 100,000 euros worth(wife gets 300,000euros), and the 5 kids share between them share the other 100,000 euros worth. This is assuming that spouse and 5 kids agree to sell. without all of their agreement, there will be no sale ! oo-err! S