Apcoa Connect

[whole diary]

[sanfrandragon]

Is anyone else having problems paying for parking today (16/10/15)?

I don't have the cash to pay the extortionate ^5.20 at Maidenhead Shoppenhangers Road.  I usually pay by phone but the automated message tells me 'there is a problem, please try again', my text message was returned, the website payment is down and the app doesn't work!

Any suggestions?

[ChrisB]

Tweet/contact GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) customer service?

[sanfrandragon]

I contacted GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) customer services who acknowledged that the payment system is down and told me I can pay at the station.  I told them I am now at work so can't do that; they said I can pay on my way home.  Hmmm.....this sounds completely wrong to me.

[ChrisB]

Why? Strictly you've still parked for the day.

Assuming queues aren't gigsntic/ticket office is open, you owe the fee

[sanfrandragon]

I wasn't asking for moral judgement on whether I have to pay; of course I am willing to pay.  I'm just trying to find a way to pay, and advice that I can pay at the station on my way home seems wrong.

[ChrisB]

Sorry, understood. How else do you suggest though if Apcoa is down?

[NickB]

Personally I'm of the opinion that if APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area)'s main method of payment is down for any length of time then they should forego their right to payment.  I'm not talking about 'i called once and it was engaged' but if they acknowledge that they have a problem then don't expect busy people to adjust their schedules to suit.
There is no cost to APCOA in running the carpark for the day so it isn't as though they have lost money, they have just failed to collect what they think they are entitled to due to their own IT problem.
I've been to restaurants where the PDQ machines fail and they've wiped the drinks bill.  That has an actual cost to the business, but they are still willing to do it because they acknowledge the inconvenience caused.
 

[ellendune]

I don't have the cash to pay the extortionate ^5.20 at Maidenhead Shoppenhangers Road. 

So not only does Maidenhead have cheap train fares compared to Swindon, they have cheap parking as well! And then have the cheek to call it extortionate!

The cheapest parking at Swindon station is ^7.50 and Swindon BC car parks are ^8.

^5.20 seems like a bargain to me.

[adc82140]

Stafferton Way car park (multi storey next to Homebase) is run by RBWM and is only ^4.50 for the day. I think the walk to the station is comparable to the walk from Shoppenhangers Road, if not slightly shorter. I used to park there when I used to do the Maidenhead commute. However I do understand if you're coming from any direction other than Braywick Road it's a bit of a swine to get access to without doing a circuit of the town centre.

[SandTEngineer]

....and Plymouth is ^9.60....

[TonyK]

... whilst Bristol Temple Meads is ^11.30 per day or per part of per day...

[Palfers]

Well my local station liskeard is a ^1.00

[Adelante_CCT]

^23.70 for a day at Reading Station, ^20.20 for a more realistic 9 - 12 hours (If commuting for example).  And just the ^4.70 for 60 minutes or under.