Did you find a collection notice in your mailbox and your first thought was a pang of anxiety? Are you wondering who could have sent you such a formal communication and, more importantly, what it contains? You’re not alone. In our country, registered mail is still the preferred channel for important communications—those with legal value that can affect our daily lives, from personal finances to bureaucratic matters. The uncertainty generated by a simple white or green slip is a common feeling, rooted in the knowledge that behind that numeric code lies a message that cannot be ignored.
The goal of this ultimate guide is not just to write a simple article, but to create the most comprehensive and authoritative online resource on registered mail in Italy. We want to “close the user’s task” by anticipating and answering every possible question. From decoding the mysterious codes on the collection notice to identifying the sender, from understanding pickup and authorization procedures to managing the legal consequences of non-collection, you will find everything you need here. Our aim is to transform your apprehension into awareness, providing you with the tools to handle every piece of registered mail with serenity, preparation, and competence. Welcome to the guide that will resolve all your doubts about registered mail.
Diagnosis and Confirmation: Is It Really Registered Mail? The Collection Notice Explained
The first contact with a piece of registered mail that couldn’t be delivered directly into your hands is a small but crucial piece of paper: the collection notice (avviso di giacenza). This document, left by the mail carrier in your mailbox, is the starting point of the entire process and the first key to deciphering the mystery. Ignoring or underestimating it is the first mistake to avoid.
The collection notice is an official communication certifying the attempted delivery of a shipment (registered mail or judicial act) that was unsuccessful due to the absence of the recipient or an authorized person to receive it. It contains crucial information:
- The date and time of the delivery attempt.
- The exact address of the post office where the shipment is being held.
- The time frame available for collection (the “giacenza” or holding period).
- A unique barcode and a numerical sequence, the true heart of the notice.
The Color of the Notice: A First Clue
In the past, the color of the collection notice card provided an immediate and reliable visual clue:
- White Notice: Indicated ordinary mail, such as letters, payment reminders, or notifications from companies and individuals. While requiring attention, it generally did not signal a judicial act.
- Green Notice: Was reserved almost exclusively for judicial acts and fines for traffic violations. Seeing one was an immediate cause for alarm.
Today, the practice has changed. Poste Italiane now predominantly uses a white, receipt-like notice, printed on the spot from the mail carrier’s terminal, for almost all types of mail. Although the color distinction is less common, it has not completely disappeared, and finding a green card is still an unmistakable sign of the legal and urgent nature of the communication.
Regardless of the color, the most important element, the true “Rosetta Stone” for your investigation, is the numeric code printed on the notice. The first few digits of this code are the key to unveiling the type and, with a high degree of accuracy, the sender of your registered mail.
Registered Mail Codes: Your Rosetta Stone for Deciphering the Sender
The numeric code on the collection notice is the most valuable element at your disposal. Although Poste Italiane does not provide an official list matching each code to a specific sender (for obvious privacy reasons), collective experience and the analysis of millions of shipments have allowed for the creation of an incredibly accurate map. The first two or three digits of the barcode, in fact, identify the type of postal service used and, consequently, the sender’s category. Learning to recognize them means you can anticipate the nature of the communication with a high degree of certainty.
This section is the largest and most detailed in our guide. We have organized it by category to help you quickly find the code you’re interested in and understand its context. For an even more in-depth analysis, each category includes direct links to specific articles in our cluster, which are mini-guides dedicated to each code.
Standard Registered Mail and Ordinary Communications (Codes 12, 13, 14, 15, 153, etc.)
When codes starting with the digits 12, 13, 14, or 15 appear on the collection notice, you can breathe a first sigh of relief. These numbers identify standard registered mail (raccomandata semplice or “indescritta”). This means that, in the vast majority of cases, the content is not related to judicial acts, traffic fines, or tax bills.
These are communications that, while maintaining the legal value of a notification, do not have the urgency or severity often associated with other codes. Standard registered mail is a tool widely used by both individuals and companies to send documents for which proof of shipment and delivery is desired.
Possible senders:
- Private individuals: A person needing to send a formal communication, such as a lease termination or a letter with legal value.
- Companies and employers: They may send communications related to the employment relationship, notices, friendly payment reminders, or other notifications requiring proof of receipt.
- Professionals: A condominium administrator calling a meeting or a lawyer for a non-aggressive out-of-court communication.
- Credit institutions and banks: They sometimes use standard registered mail for general communications that do not involve sending critical cards or documents.
These codes, including their derivatives like 151, 152, 153, 1513, 1514, 1515, represent the least alarming category of communications. However, “standard” refers to the sending procedure, not necessarily the triviality of the message. It is always essential to collect the mail to know its content.
For more details, consult our specific guides:
- Ultimate Guide to Registered Mail Code 12
- Guide to the Sender and Meaning of Registered Mail Code 13
- Guide to Recognizing the Sender of Registered Mail Code 14
- Ultimate Guide to Registered Mail Code 15
- Guide to the Sender and Meaning of Registered Mail Code 153
Urgent Communications (Code 05)
Code 05 identifies a “Raccomandata 1”, a fast delivery service that guarantees delivery within one business day of shipment. Its main feature is urgency. A sender chooses this service when they need to deliver an important communication in a very short time, with the certainty of delivery confirmed by the recipient’s signature.
The content is often related to imminent deadlines or notifications that require prompt action.
Possible senders and contents:
- Termination of a contract (lease, utility) with a short notice period.
- Application for a public competition with an approaching deadline.
- Official communications between companies or professionals that require a timely response.
- Notifications from public bodies for particularly urgent communications, although less common than with other codes.
If you receive a notice with code 05, it is advisable to collect the mail as soon as possible.
The World of Public Entities: INPS and the Revenue Agency (6xx Series)
The series of codes beginning with the digit “6” is one of the most extensive and complex. It is the domain of the so-called “Raccomandata Market”, a service used by public entities and large companies for mass mailings of communications with legal value. Within this family, we can identify groups of codes strongly associated with specific entities.
INPS Codes (63, 65, 630, 650, 6970)
When registered mail comes from the National Institute for Social Security (INPS), the most common codes are 63, 65, 630, and 650. These communications are essential for managing one’s social security and welfare status.
Possible contents:
- Pension-related documents: approval or rejection of applications, updates on the amount, recalculations, sending of the ObisM model.
- Disability benefits: results of medical examinations, granting of disability allowances or attendance allowances.
- Assessments and warnings: requests for clarification on contribution status, reminders for unpaid contributions.
- Income support benefits: communications about NASpI, family allowances, Assegno Unico (single universal allowance).
- Contribution statements or other informational notices.
The code 6970 has also been frequently associated with INPS communications.
- Learn more about Registered Mail Code 630
- Complete Guide to Registered Mail Code 650
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 6970
Revenue and Collection Agency Codes
This is the category that generates the most apprehension. Tax-related communications use a wide range of codes. It is a mistake to associate a single number with a tax bill; the reality is more nuanced.
- Codes for Compliance Notices and Audits (573, 613, 615, 647, 648, 674): These codes are often used for compliance notices (payment requests for formal errors in tax returns), communications related to audits, requests for documents, or pre-assessment notices. Although they require action, they represent an “interlocutory” phase of the relationship with the tax authorities.
- Codes for Payment Notices and Collection (670, 671, 673, 675, 687, 689, 695, 696, 697, 698, 6980, 6982): These codes are almost unequivocally associated with the Agenzia delle Entrate-Riscossione (formerly Equitalia). Their content is typically a payment notice, a formal demand, a reminder for unpaid taxes (IRPEF, VAT, IMU, TARI, car tax), or other communications related to tax debts.
- Guide to Code 670
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 671
- Guide to Raccomandata Market 673
- Guide to Registered Mail with Code 675
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 687
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 689
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 695
- Guide to Raccomandata Market 696
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 697
- Guide to Registered Mail 698
- Guide to Registered Mail 6980
- Guide to Raccomandata Market 6982
Generic Public Entity Codes (608, 609)
The codes 608 and 609 are used by various Public Entities for the notification of their own acts. The sender could be a municipality, a region, or another public institution.
Possible contents:
- Communications from the municipal registry office.
- Notifications regarding minor local taxes.
- Mailing of the Electronic Identity Card (CIE).
- Notices related to ongoing administrative procedures.
Although they can sometimes carry payment notices, they are generally less “aggressive” than the specific codes from the Collection Agency.
Banks, Insurance, and Utilities (Various 6xx Series)
The “6” code family is also used by a wide array of private senders for formal communications. Distinguishing them can be complex, but there are trends.
Banking and Financial Institutions (612, 614, 649, 669, 693)
These codes are often the vehicle for communications from the banking and financial world.
Possible contents:
- Mailing of a new credit or debit card and its PIN.
- Unilateral contract modifications.
- Communications regarding current accounts, mortgages, or loans.
- Important account statements or periodic information.
- Payment reminders for loan installments.
Receiving registered mail from a bank is not necessarily a negative event, but it always requires attention.
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 612
- Guide to Code 614
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 649
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 669
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 693
“Multi-Purpose” Codes (616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 664, 665, 685, 686, 688, 527, 5276)
There is a group of extremely versatile codes used by a multitude of private senders. Identification here is more difficult and relies on the recipient’s personal context.
Possible senders and contents:
- Utility companies (electricity, gas, water, telephone): reminders for unpaid bills or contractual changes.
- Insurance companies: communications about policies, management of a car accident claim, expiration notices.
- Debt collection agencies: the first formal step to request payment of a debt.
- Car manufacturers: recall campaigns for your car.
- Lawyers: formal warnings and out-of-court communications.
If you receive a notice with one of these codes, think about your current contractual relationships: do you have an outstanding bill? Are you expecting communication from your insurance company? This will help you form a hypothesis.
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 616
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 617
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 618
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 619
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 620
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 621
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 622
- Analysis of Raccomandata Market 664
- Analysis of Raccomandata Market 665
- Analysis of Raccomandata Market 685
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 686
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 688
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 527
- Analysis of Registered Mail Code 5276
Judicial Acts and Fines: The Codes Not to Ignore (7x, 3xx, 668 Series)
This is the category that requires the utmost and most timely attention. Receiving a notice with one of these codes requires you to collect the document as soon as possible, as strict legal deadlines start from it.
The 7x Series (75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
These codes almost unequivocally identify judicial acts or fines. The communication may come from a court, a police authority (for traffic violations), or a public entity for administrative sanctions.
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 75
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 76
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 77
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 78
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 79
The 78x Series (781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 789)
This series further specifies the nature of judicial and fiscal acts. The senders are the same as the 7x series, but these codes are often used for complex notifications such as payment orders, summonses, garnishments, or particularly important assessment notices. The envelope containing the act is often green.
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 781
- Guide to Code 782
- Guide to Registered Mail 783
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 784
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 785
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 786
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 787
- Guide to Code 789
The 3xx Codes (386, 388, 393, 3815)
The series beginning with “3” is also often linked to fines for traffic violations. If you suspect you have recently committed an infraction, the probability that registered mail with this code concerns a fine is very high.
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 386
- Guide to Raccomandata Market 388
- Guide to Atto Giudiziario Market 393
- Guide to Registered Mail Code 3815
Code 668
Code 668 is another important identifier, often used for administrative and judicial communications. It could be a notice of investigation, a summons to appear, administrative proceedings, or other official communications from a public authority.
Feasibility and Cost Assessment: Raccomandata Market vs. PEC and Digital Options
In the age of digitalization, traditional paper registered mail is no longer the only option for communications with legal value. Certified Electronic Mail (PEC) and digital collection services are emerging as valid alternatives, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the differences is crucial for choosing the most suitable tool for your needs.
| Feature | Raccomandata Market (Paper) | Certified Electronic Mail (PEC) | Digital Collection |
| Legal Value | Full legal value, equivalent to in-person notification. | Full legal value, equivalent to registered mail with return receipt. | Full legal value, replaces physical collection. |
| Cost | Variable per shipment (from ~€5 to ~€15+). | Annual fee (from ~€5 to ~€50+). Unlimited sends included. | Free for the recipient. |
| Speed | Slow (business days). | Instantaneous. | Immediate (after notification). |
| Accessibility | Universal, requires no technology. | Requires a PEC address for both sender and recipient. | Requires a digital identity (SPID) and sender’s enablement. |
| Archiving | Physical, paper-based. | Digital, automatic, and legally compliant. | Digital, accessible online for a defined period. |
| Ecology | High environmental impact (paper, transport). | Very low environmental impact. | Almost zero environmental impact. |
Raccomandata Market remains the universal standard, indispensable for reaching those who do not have digital tools. Its strength is its capillarity.
PEC is the tool of choice for professionals, companies, and the Public Administration. It offers speed, cost-effectiveness (for high volumes), and automatic archiving. It is the true digital alternative to paper.
Digital Collection is an innovation aimed at the citizen. It simplifies life by avoiding queues at the post office, but it depends on the sender’s willingness to enable the service.
To delve deeper into the comparison between traditional and digital systems:
- PEC or Traditional Registered Mail? Discover the Differences
- Digital Registered Mail: What It Is and How It Works
Guided Execution: From Collection to Content Management
Once you receive the collection notice, a well-defined path begins that is crucial to know in order to properly manage the communication. Let’s look at the key steps.
The Journey of Registered Mail: The Role of CMPs (Postal Mechanization Centers)
Before arriving at your local post office, your registered mail has made a complex journey. The heart of this path are the Postal Mechanization Centers (CMPs). These are not simple offices, but large, high-tech logistics hubs where Poste Italiane manages the automatic sorting of millions of shipments every day.
When you read “CMP Bologna”, “CMP Milano Roserio”, “CMP Roma Fiumicino” or another city on the notice, it doesn’t mean the sender is located there. It simply indicates the sorting center that processed your letter. Many large entities and companies, in fact, centralize their shipments in these hubs to optimize logistics. Knowing the role of these centers helps to demystify the terms on the notice and in the online tracking.
We have compiled complete guides on the main Italian CMPs to help you better understand this world:
- Northern Italy: CMP Milano Borromeo, CMP Milano Roserio, CMP Torino Romoli, CMP Bologna, CMP Padova, CMP Genova, CMP Venezia, CMP Verona.
- Central Italy: CMP Roma Fiumicino, CMP Firenze Sesto Fiorentino, CMP Ancona, CMP Pescara.
- South and Islands: CMP Napoli, CMP Bari, CMP Lamezia Terme, CMP Catania, CMP Palermo, CMP Cagliari.
The Collection Procedure: Documents, Authorization, and Holding Periods
Once you receive the notice, you have a defined period of time to collect your mail.
- Holding periods:
- 30 days for standard registered mail (Market, simple).
- 180 days (6 months) for judicial acts.
- Documents required for collection: To pick up the shipment, you must go to the indicated post office with the collection notice and your valid ID (identity card, passport, driver’s license).
- Collection with authorization: If you are unable to go in person, you can authorize someone else. You need to fill out a written authorization (the form is often on the back of the notice itself), attaching a photocopy of your ID. The authorized person must present the authorization, the copy of your document, and their own original ID.
Our specific guides explain in detail how to handle these procedures:
- How to manage holding, authorization, and a lost notice in Bologna
- How to manage holding, authorization, and a lost notice in Catania
Lost the Notice? No Problem!
Losing the collection notice might seem like an insurmountable problem, but it’s not. If you have lost the slip, you can still go to the post office that serves your area. By explaining the situation to the clerk and presenting an ID, the operator can perform a search in the computer system using your personal data and check for any shipments being held in your name. The procedure might take a few extra minutes, but it will allow you to retrieve your mail.
Completed Holding Period (Compiuta Giacenza): What Happens If I Don’t Collect the Registered Mail?
This is a crucial point that many underestimate. Ignoring a collection notice does not nullify the legal effects of the communication. Italian law has established a mechanism called “compiuta giacenza” (completed holding period) to provide certainty in legal relationships.
- For standard registered mail: After 30 days of holding, the letter is returned to the sender, but by law, it is considered legally notified.
- For judicial acts: The notification is perfected by “compiuta giacenza” after just 10 days from the deposit of the act at the post office, even though you have 6 months to physically collect it.
The consequences are significant: the deadlines for paying a fine, filing an appeal, or opposing a payment order begin to run from the date of the completed holding period, even if you have never read the content of the act. Not collecting registered mail means, in most cases, losing the opportunity to defend yourself.
- Holding and Completed Holding: A Complete Guide to Avoid Penalties
- What Happens If You Don’t Collect a Piece of Registered Mail?
Error Prevention: How to Track Your Registered Mail and Avoid Surprises
In the digital age, the wait for collection can be mitigated by online tracking tools. The “Cerca Spedizioni” (Track and Trace) service (formerly known as “Dovequando”) from Poste Italiane is your best ally.
By entering the complete 12-digit code (or sometimes 10) from the collection notice into the Poste Italiane portal, you can view the shipment status in real time. Although it does not reveal the sender for privacy reasons, tracking can show useful information such as:
- The current status (“In giacenza” – Being held, “In transito” – In transit, “In consegna” – Out for delivery).
- The post office of origin or the CMP that processed the shipment.
This latter piece of information, combined with decoding the first digits of the code, can help you form a much more solid hypothesis about the sender. For example, if the code is typical of a bank and the tracking shows it originated from Milan, where your bank is headquartered, the clue becomes almost a certainty.
- Step-by-step guide to tracking registered mail with 10 digits
- How to Track a Raccomandata Market: Complete Guide
Future Maintenance: The Digital Management of Official Communications
The future of official communications is increasingly shifting towards digital. Tools like Certified Electronic Mail (PEC) and Digital Collection services offered by Poste Italiane represent the natural evolution of paper-based registered mail. PEC, in particular, has the same legal value as registered mail with return receipt but with the advantages of immediacy, reduced cost, and automatic digital archiving. It is already mandatory for companies and professionals and is increasingly used by private citizens for communications with the Public Administration.
Digital Collection, accessible via Digital Identity (SPID), allows you to view and download the content of registered mail directly online, avoiding queues at the post office. Although it still depends on the sender enabling the service, it represents a clear direction towards the simplification and dematerialization of processes. Familiarizing yourself with these tools today means preparing for a future where managing bureaucracy will be simpler, faster, and more environmentally friendly.
In Brief (TL;DR)
The codes on a registered mail collection notice reveal the sender’s category, allowing you to understand if it’s a tax communication, a judicial act, a notice from a bank, or a simple letter.
It is crucial to collect the mail within the holding period (30 days for standard mail, but with legal effects after just 10 days for judicial acts) because the notification becomes legally effective even if not collected, through the ‘compiuta giacenza’ (completed holding) mechanism.
This ultimate guide provides all the tools to interpret the codes, understand collection and authorization procedures, and manage every type of registered mail without anxiety.
Conclusions
You now have a complete map to navigate the sometimes complex world of registered mail. You have learned to recognize the nature of a communication from its code, to understand the importance of holding periods, and the serious consequences of non-collection. You know how to act if you lose the notice and how to use an authorization to simplify your life. With this guide, the anxiety generated by a collection notice can give way to informed and proactive management. You have all the tools to analyze the situation, make the right decision, and protect your interests.
If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. And now that you have a full command of the codes and procedures, why not delve deeper into the service that underlies many of these communications? Discover our complete guide to Raccomandata Market, with meanings, codes, and colors to become a true expert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each initial numeric code (e.g., 689, 787, 153) identifies a specific category of sender. In this guide, in the “Registered Mail Codes” section, we have listed and explained the meaning of the most common codes, with links to even more detailed guides.
The only way to be 100% certain is to collect the registered mail. However, you can get a very good idea by analyzing the first few digits of the code on the notice (as explained in this guide) and using the Poste Italiane online tracking service to see the city of origin.
The communication is considered legally notified through “compiuta giacenza” (completed holding). This means that the legal effects (deadlines, obligations) take place regardless, even if you have never read the content. Ignoring a notice is almost always the worst choice.
The green notice is traditionally reserved for judicial acts and fines. The white notice is used for all other communications (raccomandata market, standard mail, etc.). Today, a white receipt-like slip is almost always used, but finding a green notice is a signal for maximum alert.
Yes. You just need to fill out a written authorization (often found on the back of the notice), attach a photocopy of your ID, and give it all to the authorized person, who must go to the post office with their own original ID.
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