Car Parks

[Somersetboy]

As most of us already know there is a big discussion going on about having to use Phone apps to pay for parking etc. Whilst in a car park in the town of Street, Somerset I spoke to a car park attendant about the methods of paying and was surprised to be told that if you pay using your mobile phone you could have a 40p added to the parking costs for admin charges .Just thought I would pass it on.

 

[Mr Plodd]

That has been the case for many years, especially if paying via "Ringo"

 

[Somersetboy]

I thought Ringo was an app , I was referring to the phone number displayed usually at the top of the parking machine etc.

 

[audiorob]

You'd have thought collecting the money direct would be cheaper than maintaining and regular emptying of parking machines that take cash - especially those monitored by CCTV and ANPR rather than patrol persons. Even though I suppose the company running the app and service for the land owner needs to make a living I still regard the extra fee as a licence to print money - like so much of motoring these days!

 

[GaryB]

It’s too easy to pay by parking apps. All your info is stored, click click click, pay by IPay job done with little observation with how much it’s cost. Well, that’s what I find anyway! I almost miss turning the car inside out looking for another 10 pence!

 

[Hutch]

It’s too easy to pay by parking apps. All your info is stored, click click click, pay by IPay job done with little observation with how much it’s cost. Well, that’s what I find anyway! I almost miss turning the car inside out looking for another 10 pence!

We had our car burgled a few years ago, on the drive way, Mrs H forgot to lock car not unusual for our area, the tow rags went in and stole the tin with the Euro coins. Missed the sat nav in the rear seat pocket.

 

[Raywood]

I have only tried to get an app once when the only machine in the car park was out of order. Spent an enormous amount of time getting the app and it did not work after that. Gave up in the end and nothing further happened. It was a very small car park though where cameras would not be worthwhile.
Personally I think that car parks should be required by law to accept at least one other method of payment as the apps are simply not available to anyone without a smart phone, this is discrimination which might be illegal.

 

[otherclive]

I have only tried to get an app once when the only machine in the car park was out of order. Spent an enormous amount of time getting the app and it did not work after that. Gave up in the end and nothing further happened. It was a very small car park though where cameras would not be worthwhile.
Personally I think that car parks should be required by law to accept at least one other method of payment as the apps are simply not available to anyone without a smart phone, this is discrimination which might be illegal.

The best compromise would be an app as if you forget to pay at the time you generally get until mid night to pay. But in strong daylight the app can be difficult to read even with the phone on its auto bright setting. Adding a credit, debit card facility would make a big difference to those who either don’t have smartphones, cannot readily use such phones or don’t feel comfortable using a phone for payment. Those two payment options would still achieve the aim of being cashless.