ssc2229

Ok so my curiousity has overcome me enough that I have to start a new thread dedicated to those that have successfully purchased tickets on trenitalia.com website....Recently like within the last year might be important since everyone on fodors says it has gotten tougher recently.

I know there are tons of threads on why it doesn't work - hassle,username, password etc. But for those that HAVE bought the online ticketless option (and have enjoyed the cheaper Amica fares what did you do?
What bank did you use? Visa or mastercard? Did the name on your credit card have to match the name on your user account? Did you have trouble setting up an account at first? Were all the cookies turned off on your web browser? Did you leave spaces when you typed in your credit card number? Did it work the first time or did you have to keep trying? Did you get a temporary card number from your credit card? If your card was declined at first was it later accepted?

i am determined to make this work, as:

1) the cheaper fares will save us over a hundred US dollars for our trains

2) There is one train in particular we want to book ahead of time to meet up with friends.


IF anyone can share specific successful details - much appreciate!!

ssc2229

no one can recall any of their experiences or tips ?

annettetx

I'll look forward to hearing the answers to this, too. We tried all morning to book tickets from Milan to Genoa, and never could make it work...

LoveItaly

ssc, I don't know if you can find the thread by using the search box but some months ago a poster posted a long thread with all the information regarding using the trenitalia website. I am sorry I don't remember the poster's name.

ssc2229

I did find this thread by michael - but where he says it can, and often fails, it did. Card denied. Payment denied. Every single card i have tried...denied.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35116239

anyone have anything different to add? please....

kybourbon

If you are being told by Trenitalia that your credit cards are being denied then the problem is with your credit cards. You have to notify them that you are purchasing something from Europe. Then you have to give them time to process your request to tag your card (some cards can take 24 hours to enter the info so your purchase isn't rejected). Sometimes they don't get it processed at all. Call your credit card and check it's there before trying to purchase. In the past, Trenitalia has deactivated accounts after x# of cc rejections. When you get your credit card straightened out, then you will need to get your account with Trenitalia reinstated.

There has been a recent post (last few months) where people had trouble and used a travel agency in Rome to book them for a small fee (much smaller than the RailEurope type of websites). Another option, if you aren't needing them the day of arrival, is to e-mail your first hotel and ask them to make them for you. Tell them the exact trains, dates and fares.

ira

Hi SS,

There is no secret formula.

The trenitalia computer is just plain quirky. Some people get through, others don't.

See if this works:
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475

TravMimi

Trenitalia itself has nothing to do with the actual credit card purchase process on their website. That is handled by bank San Paolo who uses a VERY secure system. Problems with a purchase could be with either part of the purchase process. Trenitalia can disable purchases if they get San Paolo feedback that a user has used more than 2 different credit cards. Trenitalia will disable the purchase process if the user's cart is full. (If you play around trying to find times and fares using the "buy button" ALWAYS clear your cart. Trenitalia allows American Express use only with Italian Amx cards. Another part of the process is that your computer and browser must be set up right (also AOL users seem to have the most problems). Still ANOTHER part of the mix is your credit card must be set up right. This makes all of this the Rubik's cube of internet buying. Everything has to be set up right.
Trenitalia's part: Use yahoo email address. Don't sign in until ready to buy. If you sign in to get exact prices or car and seat numbers and are NOT ready to buy, make sure you CLEAR SHOPPING CART, SIGN OUT, CLEAR CACHE AND LOGIN AGAIN CLEAN AND FRESH WHEN READY. Don't try with more than 2 credit cards with same user name. Don't exceed spending limit (E515 I believe) Check your shopping cart and don't forget to clear (delete) items put in by accident. Don't take more than 14 mins. to purchase.
Your Card Company: No American Express. Call your company to authorize the purchase. Ask to enroll in their secure shopper program Ex: "Verified by Visa" "SecureCard" or "Virtual Number" as a security popup will be used with SanPaolo system asking you to authorize the transaction in the popup. CardS with a middle initial often give problems.
Your Computer: Browser Netscape or Explorer 4.0 or higher. Enable cookies, enable popups, lower security level to medium. To redo an attempt start again from "timetables" don't use back button. ALWAYS CLEAR YOUR COMPUTER'S CACHE!!. I'm sure there are other tricks I can't remember at the moment, if I do, I'll add them. Oh and Good luck too!

ssc2229

thanks for the well wishes. I didn't need luck, however, I needed a miracle.

I called Bank of America, Wachovia and PNC bank and all of them said they could not even see the attempt for a charge from trenitalia but that if they did it would be approved. It must certainly be on their end. I tried 4 different user accounts, 3 different computers, cleared cache from all computers, and 5 different credit cards (none which were Amex) and no luck. Now i am downright annoyed.

This is 2008 - how can this be??? why is the system so secure that people cannot EVEN BUY TICKETS!? i have been trying for the past 24 hours straight. impossible.
I will try and call tomorrow. I hate calling though because i won't have anything in writing documenting my tickets or payment.

Where do you pick up tickets for over the phone reservations?

I know everyone must think i am stubborn and high-strung but i should be able to get discounted fares and buy online - isn't that what is it there for???

Sorry for the rant. i just cannot believe they have not fixed this problem yet.

Images2

I also had this problem earlier this year. I ended up calling Pantheon travel agency in Rome:

To call from the U.S. dial 011 39 066785851

Via Caterina di Siena, 45

and Marco booked the tickets for me and e-mailed me the ticketless tickets for just 5€ extra for my booking of 3 tickets. You bring that copy of your ticket with you on the train as your ticket. No need to pick up any tickets in Italy this way. Be sure to ask for the Amica fare! Marco spoke English!

SISer

bookmarking, for my upcoming trip.

ira

Hi ss,

>Where do you pick up tickets for over the phone reservations?

At any train station in Italy.

annettetx

We found Michael's thread with his steps to booking through Trenitalia, and did everything he said (even down to invoking the gods!), but still no luck.

Our credit card company also says they don't even have a record of the attempt to charge the card. So...our current pet theory is that our difficulty has something to do with it being a weekend and the Italian banks not being open.

We're going to try again tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, we're going to try images2's suggestion of calling the Pantheon travel agency.

Here's hoping something works...

annettetx

Well, we have tickets now, but not through the Trenitalia website. Tried again over the internet this morning; still couldn't make it work; gave up and called Pantheon Travel Agency in Rome. Stephano was very helpful, and booked them for us.

One more thing off the "to do" list...

knickerbocker

Mrs. K and I did ticketless last year (using PDA with hard copy as a fallback) and had no problems whatsoever. Didn't do anything unusal so I guess I was one of the fortunate ones.

ssc2229

Annette-

we did the same. Had to call Pantheon Travel (thank you for suggestions on Marco).

No luck with Trenitalia. Maybe others after us would have figured out the secret but i agree it is jus finnicky website

pointofnoreturn

I didn't have any problems booking several train tickets (Rome-Naples and vice versa, Rome-Florence and Florence-Milan). I used a Mastercard in my bookings.

Before I booked my tickets, I made an account with a profile several weeks prior while researching for my trip.

I just think it's a cr*pshoot with Trenitalia. Some people are lucky. Some aren't.