This story, published in the ITALY Magazine – the n.1 magazine for lovers of all things italian - shows that even the ”big clients” have trouble with their bills in Italy. We pay our power bill once every two months… and there IS NO consistency to the charges we receive. Our water meter is read twice a year, but only if we’re home, as the meter is UNDER the sink in the kitchen – Yep, inside the house. If you’re not home, then you get an estimate! Each year we get one or two utility bills (electric, gas, water) that have an ajustment. A BIG ADJUSTMENT!
So it came to me as no surprise when I read this article on the challenges faced by the Sixth Fleet in Gaeta. At least they did not have to go to the Post Office and wait in line to pay their bill… and it appears the service was re-implemeted quickly. It pays to have some pull! Here’s the story:
Italian utility companies are not usually super-efficient at disconnecting the services of late payers but this week a water company acted quickly and cut off an important client – the legendary US Sixth Fleet, which operates in the Mediterranean Sea out of the port of Gaeta. By doing so the company nearly caused a diplomatic incident.
The Sixth Fleet once had its headquarters at Gaeta but in 2004 it was combined with United States Naval Forces Europe and the staff as a whole now works from Naples. The USS Mount Whitney is the Sixth Fleet flagship and its only permanently assigned ship. Other US vessels are assigned to the Sixth Fleet as they enter the Mediterranean.
Under a confusing and bureaucratic distribution system in the Gaeta Area, Aqualatina s.p.a. supplies the water, whilst another private, local company delivers it. The delivery company charges high rates for out-of-hours work and passes these on to Acqualatina. It seems that the Americans got fed up with what they regarded as excessive charges and refused to pay any more bills.
Acqualatina then promptly interrupted their service.
Following an emergency meeting yesterday involving Gaeta’s Mayor and Prefect, the harbor master and representatives of both water companies, the matter has now been smoothed over. In future Acqualatina itself will deliver to NATO vessels in the port.
A good guidebook can be an incredible resource in your planning and preparation. And once in Italy, it can help you know what your looking at! Above are a few guidebooks on Italy. Click on any of the guidebook images or for more guidebooks of Rome or Italy, head to our Amazon.com Travel Store!
A good guidebook can be an incredible resource in your planning and preparation. And once in Italy, it can help you know what your looking at! Above are a few guidebooks on Italy. Click on any of the guidebook images or for more guidebooks of Rome or Italy, head to our Amazon.com Travel Store!
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