Payment for records sent from Italy

[lngrid]

Does anyone have experience with paying for records that are sent from Italy? I'm helping some Italian friends of mine who want to construct their family history for their children. We have so many questions:

I have read that sometimes payment for civil records is processed but the record is not sent or goes astray. Is it acceptible to send token payment or ask to be billed?

Is the cost for civil records still the Euro equivalent of $5 US per record?

What payment instrument works best when requesting that records from Belmonte and Positano be sent to the US?

Should the bank's processing fee be included in the payment for the record?

[johnnyonthespot]

Does anyone have experience with paying for records that are sent from Italy? I'm helping some Italian friends of mine who want to construct their family history for their children. We have so many questions:

I have read that sometimes payment for civil records is processed but the record is not sent or goes astray. Is it acceptible to send token payment or ask to be billed?

Is the cost for civil records still the Euro equivalent of $5 US per record?

What payment instrument works best when requesting that records from Belmonte and Positano be sent to the US?

Should the bank's processing fee be included in the payment for the record?

Repeating my answer to a recent similar inquiry, I think most people's experience has been that comuni do not charge for birth/marriage/death certificates (these can be either computer-generated extracts or photocopies of original handwritten registry entries). Family History (certificato di stato di famiglia storico) on the other hand can be quite expensive (tens or even hundreds of euro) as they require a great deal of research and time.

Provincial archives generally *do* charge for things like military records, however the charge is usually quite small - a few euro to cover the cost of photocopies and postage. Last time I had one of these, I dug a 5 euro note (left over from a past trip) out of my change basket, wrapped it in aluminum foil, and mailed it off with a note that said "Tenere il resto!" (Keep the change!).

Birth/marriage/death photocopies are called: Copia integrale dell'atto di Nascita/Matrimonio/Morte

Birth/marriage/death extracts are: Estratto Per Riassunto Per Atto Di Nascita/Matrimonio/Morte

[lngrid]

Found that query, Johnnyonthespot. That's some good information. I'd been reading on a lot of sites that charges ran from 5 to 15 dollars.
Thanks.

[johnnyonthespot]

Found that query, Johnnyonthespot. That's some good information. I'd been reading on a lot of sites that charges ran from 5 to 15 dollars.
Thanks.

Don't quote me on this, but I am pretty certain that Italian law mandates that these records be provided free of charge. While comuni are permitted to charge for postage, they rarely do.

Some sites strongly suggest including with your request "International Reply Coupons" - a sort of voucher you buy from your local post office and which can be exchanged at any post office in (most of?) the world for local postage stamps. Two problems: 1), few US post offices seem to carry them any longer and 2) most comuni don't know what to do with them or don't want to bother.

[lilbees]

johnnyonthespot, since most of the world are encountering economic problems, you are seeing more and more comuni charging for the copying and/or the postage for records.

http://www.gentedimareitaliangenealogy.com/stamps/

I have used this service for my Italian stamps quite successfully. When I enclose the self-addressed return envelope I do not attach the Italian stamps. Instead I enclose them separately so if the comune needs a bigger envelope to send the information the stamps can be used. I have found they do definitely use them.

Give it a try.

lilbees

[PeterTimber]

I would ignore any discussionof payment for any records, documents when making a request and only when an invoice for charges is sent then you will, in most instances, be advised as to how they wish for the payment to be received.

For checks in EURO call American Express and ask where you can obtain a euro check from their foreign exchange office. It is cheaper than any bank and easy to purchase. =Peter=

[PeterTimber]

Dear Lilbees and Johnny The Mormon european desk called me and stated that there is a lady from Napoli who is drafting a letter which we can all tap into for military records. They advised that as soon as she obtain approval inItaly she willnotfiy them to give us her website address. Just tokep you abreast of things. =Peter=

[lilbees]

Peter, thanks for the update.

For the previous discussion we are obligated to enclose a self addressed envelope. This is not payment for records but a courtesy to enclose with the envelope.

They do appreciate the stamps unlike the IRCs which as said earlier almost impossible to obtain.

I wouldn't say American Express is easier. I would have to go to Atlanta itself which is a bit of a distance. They do not, at least here, send it in the mail.

lilbees

[lngrid]

Thank you, Johnyonthespot, lilbees and PeterTimber for your informative replies. It's so reassuring to find CURRENT, ACCURATE information!

Edited to add:
Deciding how many stamps to send would be complicated, since we don't know how much what the comune will mail would weigh. How would you recommend a person do this?

[lilbees]

I usually include at least 2 stamps depending on the value of each stamp. I also use the priority sticker that comes with the stamps of that value. You can discuss what is recommended when you go to that website.

lilbees