Car parking - phone payments, extra charges

[whole diary]

[sorch]

Apologies for the slight thread resurrection but a couple of weeks ago, I was charged 10p extra for a parking confirmation SMS even though I didn't ask for it.

With that, the lack of a non-geographical number, and the general slowness of the system (even if you use SMS to park), I wish we still had RingGo.

[Phil]

I think that's fair comment, sorch. Must confess, I've stopped using cashless parking for the time being. I was a regular (2 or three times a week) Ringo user for most of the life of the system. I tried the new APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) service a few times when it was introduced and fell foul of both the unexpected extra charge, a faulty (to non-existent) service and the mobile phone charge, and have ever since made a conscious effort to make sure I have cash available whenever I travel rather than pay variable unexpected amounts to use what's evidently an ill-thought out, shoddy and second rate service.

[johoare]

I think that's fair comment, sorch. Must confess, I've stopped using cashless parking for the time being. I was a regular (2 or three times a week) Ringo user for most of the life of the system. I tried the new APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) service a few times when it was introduced and fell foul of both the unexpected extra charge, a faulty (to non-existent) service and the mobile phone charge, and have ever since made a conscious effort to make sure I have cash available whenever I travel rather than pay variable unexpected amounts to use what's evidently an ill-thought out, shoddy and second rate service.

I agree.. I'm still waiting to hear back after I filled in Apcoa connects contact form about 3 weeks ago (when their system wasn't working for a while).. I'm thinking their customer service is as bad as their system.. I wish FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would bring RingGo back...

[ChrisB]

I'm hearing that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have a contract wuith APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) to run their car parks, and that includes payment methods. APCOA then contracted with RingGo for that service.

APCOA have now developed their own pay-by-phone service, which of course is cheaper to run than contracting out. FGW have no choice in who APCOA uses without terminating APCOAs complete contract.

[HenryChurch]

i gave up on APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) to respond sensibly to my emailed complaints (only one of 3 was even acknowledged) and called them

You get what you pay for (except with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) where you should get at least 2 journeys per ticket) and i suspect APCOA dont overpay their staff but the net result was that the customer advisor didnt know why they were overchargin me and didnt seem overinclined to find out why.  But he did credit me the 40p

on another note i appealed against a ticket i was given in January and refused to pay up in spite of the Roxburghe and Graham White letters.  Just after the first Graham White letter (c4 months after the offence) i received a reply to the appeal and, unbeleivably, my appeal was upheld and the ticket quashed.  i wonder whether that would have happened had i paid up after one or more of the letters and, if it had, whether i would have got my money back.

Bottom line is that they will huff and puff but won't actually take you to court for non-payment so, if you are in the right, stand firm