Car parking with Ringgo / APCOA Connect

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, alanr888 / Alan EX39 2BA! 

[Bristol Traveler]

I tried the new system late last week. Worked OK. Bit clunky compared to RINGO, but I didn't get a ticket, so I see that as a result.

However...

I now find I can't claim the parking back from my employer because the print-out function on the APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) website isn't working. It shows I parked, where and for how long, but the actual "print file to PDF" bit just hangs.

Nice.

I tried the Apcoa system twice, both times I managed to park but took over two hours to sort out.... so I've stopped parking at the station. I now drive and although I'm not happy about my carbon footprint, I always get a seat, I've got voice recognition software so can dictate emails and my colleagues and I do conference calls on the way. It's not ideal but it really isn't that bad. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or I guess some individuals at FGW need a rocket shoved somewhere to get them to appreciate customer service. I can make a choice, I would like to take the train but too many obstacles get put in my way to make it the logical choice, straw camel's back etc

[andynel]

I've just been looking at some of the latest comments on TheYellowLines "Have your say" page and there seem to be some serious differences in pricing with the new APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) system. Things like days that were charged as 24 hours now stopping at midnight (one person got an ^80 fine for the pleasure), someone else saying they got charged ^174 for 3 days parking, and still the cost of the 0845 number. Isn't this something the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) coffee shop/customer panel should be taking up with FGW?

[johoare]

The RingGo parking day also used to stop at midnight, this isn't a new feature..

[ChrisB]

But you shouldn't habe to pay extra to arrive back after midnight on late-night services.....

someone else saying they got charged ^174 for 3 days parking,

The 0845 number is being fixed - there's a 28 day set up......and I would hope that anyone charged ^174 would let FGW^▸ (First Great Western) know immediately (and are stupid in my view if they don't).

I'll take up the after-midnight problem though.....

[johoare]

ChrisB.. What exactly are you going to take up about the after-midnight problem?

It's always been like this with RingGo too. And I'm pretty sure it is with the tickets from the machine?

[Ollie]

Yeah ChrisB bit confused where you're going with that..it's always been that way from my experience of paying for parking at Hayes and Harlington (both with RingGo and machine)

[ChrisB]

I thought you were saying above that a dats parking finished at midnight & someone got charged for staying later & returning after that time on a late train? And got charged for overstaying?

[IndustryInsider]

I think that a days parking at a railway station should be valid until the same time as a day return ticket, i.e. 02:30 in most cases.  This should be written into the franchise agreements, as it's confusing, contradictory and unfair.

[johoare]

I thought you were saying above that a dats parking finished at midnight & someone got charged for staying later & returning after that time on a late train? And got charged for overstaying?

This has always been the case though.. If this is going to happen to someone, then a simple phone call can extend the parking.. This isn't something new with Apcoa connect though..

[ChrisB]

No, indeed - but my point ios that a 'day's' parking should cover you until the last train of the day arrives....whatever time that might be past midnight. You shouldn't have to pay extra for it!

[eightf48544]

I agree with ChrisB parking should be up to last train of day arrives.

After all most station carparks are not exactly bursting at the seams with people queuing to get in at midnight. Besides which it must cost an arm and a leg to patrol.

Where there is an all night service say 03.00, or last train before. Slough
would work well 03:00 train from Reading arrives 02:45. Then an hours gap.

[johoare]

I agree too.. 24 hours should be 24 hours whatever.. I was just a bit confused (it's not hard to confuse me  ) as it's always been like that..

Anyway it's not obvious from the quote whether the person returned at 00.30am (for example) or 9am the following day (for example again).. I'd imagine the first instance would be ok, as would 2am or 3am (not that I fancy a trip to the station car park at that time of night)..In the second instance I'd definitely pay for more parking to avoid a ticket..

[ChrisB]

I've asked the question.....

[dischuffed]

I can see that others have different experiences, but I often parked at Bath Spa to go up to London for an evening's theatre and an overnight in a cheap hotel.  (I realise now that this sounds rather dodgy!)  I could pay with ringo for 24 hours which meant just the single day's payment .

Maybe the new guys system can't do this yet?