Italy
 

I have a problem with the Trenitalia web site. After purchasing the tickets I wanted - didn't get any kind of confirmation via e-mail. I am thinking about disputing the charges since I have no proof whatsoever that I bought the tickets. Does anybody else have this happened before? I tried calling the numbers they listed on the site and all I got was a recorded message saying "leave the name and the phone number where we can reach you..". Of course nobody calls back. I was pretty sure it was legitimate but now I am not sure. Thoughts?

Have you checked with your credit card company that the charge/s actually went through? Did you inform the CC company in advance that you were going to be making an international purchase via the internet?

Log into your Trenitalia account.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Did you print out the tickets?

That's usually proof.

I live in Italy , if you need some help with your booking and tickets, just let me know.

I have a related question. Last week I purchased, for 4 adults, round trip tickets from Chiusi to Florence and one-way tickets from Venice to Milan. I never got an email from Trenitalia, but the tickets do show up on my Trenitalia account and I have printed out the tickets. What's more confusing is that the charge for these tickets have not shown up on my AMEX cc account. Does anyone have any idea what might have happened, and do I need to worry since I've printed out the tickets?

TIA

>>>>What's more confusing is that the charge for these tickets have not shown up on my AMEX cc account. <<<

Trenitalia's website used to state they didn't accept AmEx. If they do now, perhaps AmEx has blocked the charge if you didn't notify them in advance you were making an online purchase from an Italian vendor.

>>>>Last week I purchased, for 4 adults, round trip tickets from Chiusi to Florence<<<

Unless you purchased tickets for an IC train, I wouldn't have purchased these online in advance. Most trains on this route are the old R trains and there are much more restrictions on R tickets bought online than if you just walk up and purchase at the station. R trains don't have any discounts and no seat reservations so no reason to buy ahead. The IC trains on this route do not go to the main train station in Florence. You will have to switch trains there or get a taxi.

Thanks for the comment regarding the Chiusi to Florence - that was my mistake. I meant to write it is the one-way ticket from Rome Termini to Chiusi. We're pretty much locked in to those trains and times since we're making connections to our apartment in Montepulciano for that one, and then Venice to Milan for our hotel in Bellagio. The other reason I got them earlier rather than later is to appease the couple we're traveling with (their first time to Italy and on the nervous side) as well as my DW who likes to have everything taken care of earlier rather than later. And I guess we're not on R trains since we do have reservations for particular seats on each trip.

I realize the other trips (i.e., Chiusi to Firenze RT and Milano Centrale to Varenna [one-way] can only be purchased 7 days ahead of time at the earliest, and I'm aware of the Firenze train station situation.

Regarding the AMEX charge, I'd guess since they approved the tickets, with PRN numbers and vouchers, that Trenitalia must now accept AMEX. I guess I can call AMEX to see if they blocked the purchase, but I'd be surprised by that since Trenitalia did add the tickets and vouchers to my Trenitalia account.

Who knows. As someone else pointed out, maybe Trenitalia is not too prompt on submitting the charge to AMEX?

>>>I realize the other trips (i.e., Chiusi to Firenze RT and Milano Centrale to Varenna [one-way] can only be purchased 7 days ahead of time at the earliest, and I'm aware of the Firenze train station situation.<<<

I would not buy these online. There is absolutely no point. The only reason to advance purchase online is to insure seats (not even possible from Milan to Varenna - R train!) or to save money. You will do neither by purchasing in advance for these two. I would not bother with an IC train from Chiusi to Florence since they are much less frequent than the R trains. The IC train requires a change and costs more than the R train while only saving about 10-15 minutes on travel time. I would just buy my ticket at the Chiusi station and hop on the next R train. Be sure to validate any R ticket before boarding.

As for AmEx, Trenitalia always accepted Italian issued AmEx cards, just not US. I don't know if this changed in their last website upgrade. You need to call AmEx and see if they have a hold on the charge or if it's pending.

I did. It was amex, and the purchase went through.They suggested to wait another day because although they see it, it was not posted yet. Trenitalia replied automatically that the claim will be reviewed within 30 days! Very strange. I am afraid to attempt another purchase on line.

Thank you so much for pointing out that Trenitalia doesn't accept amex issued in US. I actually found it on their website. After spending so much time on this I am inclined to wait until I get there to buy the train tickets between cities. Would that be stupid regarding the price difference, since I am on a budget and the trip is about three weeks?

Per my other thread (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ia-problem.cfm), Trenitalia DOES accept US AMEX. The only issue I had was that the charge shows up on the AMEX online version of my account but not on my online version of my account. AMEX has "apologized" for this silly difference and is looking to change their web system so that what the customer sees is identical to what AMEX corporate sees.

In short, I charged my tickets to American-issued AMEX, Trenitalia accepted the charge, issued me the tickets (online; now printed at home with appropriate PRN number), and AMEX has honored the charge (and has honored the charge from the very beginning).

Of course, to be honest, YMMV,

Sam