PEC Mailbox: the certified communication medium in Italy
PEC, or Posta Elettronica Certificata (Certified Electronic Mail), is the system that allows you to send and receive emails to various public and private bodies in Italy in a registered manner.
The PEC is managed by providers that attest to the sending and receiving of the message and can be used as legal proof that someone has or has not received the message. PECs can be used for any communication between individuals, legal entities, and government agencies. Communications between a Consulate and a Comune, for example, often take place through PECs.
When an Italian citizen contacts a Comune to request a public service, they are often asked to send the message to a PEC address. Unfortunately, this need that comes from the concept of making the request official can create obstacles to the full use of the public service because the vast majority of people do not have a PEC email.
I AM AN ITALIAN CITIZEN. CAN I HAVE A PEC EMAIL?
Yes, anyone with a Codice Fiscale can have a PEC email. Several providers offer the service; in our case, we use Aruba.it, which charges 12 euros per year (including taxes).
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO NOT SPENDING WITH A PEC EMAIL?
It is always possible to talk to the public entity and ask for alternatives to the PEC email. Every Comune has standard mailboxes to receive messages in addition to the PEC email. With a good explanation and a polite exchange of emails or calls, the Comune may accept requests via their standard mailbox. If you want to talk to a Comune and don't know where to start, check out this post that Chiara, an Italian teacher and blog contributor, wrote about Formal Conversations with public entities.
HOW DO I PURCHASE A PEC EMAIL?
First, you will need to have your Codice Fiscale number. We at the Blog use the service of Aruba. Here you can access and see the options they offer. You will be asked to provide your CF and an Italian address. If you do not have an Italian address, please contact support to use an address abroad.
IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME. I NEED TO SEND A PEC EMAIL
We can offer this service using our PEC email if none of the above work. Click on Contacts in the Top Menu of our website and write to us.