Paying for car parks.

Our local beauty spot has machine which should accept money by phone, or card , or cash. Despite several attempts we cannot make the phone or card options work and now make sure we always have the right cash!

Unfortunately there are some car parks which do not accept cash, only card and/or phone payments, definitely far more than pre Covid. I have two car parking apps on my phone as it seems some work in parts of the country and not in others. I always keep some coins in the car just in case but must admit to feeling a bit anxious at having to park when I don't know an area and then if the machines don't appear to work that is even more frustrating and worrying that you will get a fine.

What area are you meeting up in? London carparks and some other cities are app only, but many have the option of using cash or card too. I dislike using the apps as you end up paying more than cash, but they do have the advantage of being able to top up from your phone to extend the parking time, which is useful. Not sure how you would pay in advance, as you don't know what time you will arrive. You would need to set up the app in advance though.

Another thought- if one of your friends has the RingGo app, they could add your car to their account and pay on your behalf, then you could give them the cash. You can have up to 5 vehicles on one account, I believe.

Yes. I have several vehicles on my app - but if I was you I'd look online what payment options are available at the parking spot you want to use. You may find it's got a cash or card option.

As for pre-booking, this can be done from your computer or tablet at home:

Internet options:
If you have a phone with mobile internet access, you can use the myRingGo site to book your parking. Simply login at www.myRingGo.co.uk/park and complete the details. Alternatively you can use the same link from a standard pc or other internet connected device.

For more information please see www.myRingGo.co.uk

This is from their website.
Why not do it on your computeror tablet or whateveryouuse at home?

I have a different gripe. One of our hospitals has no option for paying by phone, card or even notes. Nor does it give change. And it's pay in advance.

I went to Marks and Spencer in Hexham last Saturday but hadn't put my card wallet in my handbag, something I've never done before. The parking was by card only. I had cash in my purse but it was no good. A kind lady offered to pay for my parking and I gave her cash.
I am in my 80s and reasonably tech savvy whereas a friend who is 92 prefers cash and doesn't trust cards. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for her.

Our local railway station is app only. I now park in the town centre carpark and walk the half mile to the station because the town carparks are cash or card.

If you regularly go into town maybe your LA has a yearly payment scheme. That way you just park and display their notice. Much cheaper.

ask your friends if it is possible to pay at a machine when you get thereof not can they do it for you and you can pay them when you meet up. I hate doing it on apps, but I will pay using my debit card at the machine. Perhaps starting thinking about upgrading your phone if you intend going abroad, Tesco give you free roaming in most European countries, and have a wide variety of deals for about £11.00

kittylester

I have a different gripe. One of our hospitals has no option for paying by phone, card or even notes. Nor does it give change. And it's pay in advance.

Parking at my local hospital is the same.

Paying in advance when you have an appointment which might well run over time - and by how much you have no idea - is absolutely wrong. You have to make a guess and end up paying over the odds frequently. Everyone knows that appointment times are not always kept.

Sometimes, I wonder why we, the public, put up with such unfairness. It makes my blood boil.

I usually just send a photo of the parking display to my daughter and get her to do it for me! I could do it if forced though- and to be fair is was part of her job role at her last job and I like to keep her skills updated

We parked in the grounds of two hotels today to visit some gardens. Signs were everywhere that you had to pay which we were happy to do. No machines, all done by app.

We tried to load the Ringgo app. After countless attempts and wasting 40 minutes I went in the hotel and was told to ring the number on the sign. Did so and an automated voice asked for Reg No, that was fine. Then it asked for make of car. I gave this about 6 times and it just kept asking the same question so I could get no further. Steam was coming out of husband’s ears so I went back to hotel, explained and the receptionist said she could not take cash but would sort it online and would not charge me.

So fingers crossed we don’t get £100fine. We met two women who already had Ringgo app and it wouldn’t let them log in today. They went and found another car park.
What a palarver.

I use ringgo all the time - MK shopping centre and railway station and I don’t have the app. When I first registered (?) I gave my car reg and make etc (grey skoda) and my debit card number. When I ring I get an automated reply asking if I am parking this car or another (in which case say the reg and make) I am asked the number of the car park I am at, the number of hours I wish to park then finally for the last 3 digits on the back of my card. I have my phone on speaker so that I don’t have any problem hearing the automated voice and I think it might take a max total of three minutes - less if I’m in the same carpark as last time - honestly it must be foolproof if I can manage it!

It was so simple when you just put one or two coins in the machine …

RosiesMaw

I use ringgo all the time - MK shopping centre and railway station and I don’t have the app. When I first registered (?) I gave my car reg and make etc (grey skoda) and my debit card number. When I ring I get an automated reply asking if I am parking this car or another (in which case say the reg and make) I am asked the number of the car park I am at, the number of hours I wish to park then finally for the last 3 digits on the back of my card. I have my phone on speaker so that I don’t have any problem hearing the automated voice and I think it might take a max total of three minutes - less if I’m in the same carpark as last time - honestly it must be foolproof if I can manage it!

But if it sticks on one question and won’t move on you are well and truly stuffed! As I said, it wasn’t just us, two other women drove off.

Germanshepherdsmum

It was so simple when you just put one or two coins in the machine …

Tell me about it!! 😪

I don’t have a problem parking via an app . In fact parking at our local train station it’s easier as you can do it on the platform . Rather than getting a ticket and then walking back to your car to put the ticket on the windscreen .
The only gripe I have is when there’s poor wifi .

Trying to pay for parking caused more problems!

Tonight I was trying to buy some items on Ebay. I am well used to doing so. It kept declining my card over and over. Then it said to check my card and funds with Bank. I did so and had plenty in the account.

I spoke to someone at the Bank and it seems my card was stopped some time this afternoon. After going through all the security questions she asked me to confirm that 3 small transactions were genuine this afternoon. One of them was for £1 to register with RingGo. She then told me if anybody asks me to provide any passwords, numbers etc don’t do so and to ring the number on the back of my debit card. She then said she had cancelled the stop on my card and I could use it in 2 mins.

Much rather pay cash.

WARNING

Husband checked bank statement and it looks like we have been scammed. £1 payment to Register with RingGo we thought but it went elsewhere along with another payment for £60 to the same place. I googled the name and one of those stop scammers sites says they are dodgy.

Of course, Bank phone lines were closed so he will speak to them in the morning.

He said he is NEVER using a parking app again.

RingGo seems to charge about 40p more than paying with cash or card in this town, £2,20 instead of £1.80 per hour (but no change given for cash so really it's £2). And it can be a real faff logging in. I have RingGo and another parking app, but avoid using either.

I will just say that my daughter has a science PhD and I have seen her give up the unequal struggle with her parking app several times. If she can't make it work what hope is there for the rest of us?

It's a nightmare we all get caught up in and quite honestly the rules need to change.

I live in a place where all town centre parking is free. One summer some travellers camped up for a short time in one car park and to dissuade this happening again the council sold the car park.

All other car parks are free except this one and people don't always realise they have to pay. The people who own this car park live on the other side of the country and don't give a fiddlers fig about anything except raking in the fines, even from people with disabilities. It's nothing short of a scam.

The council now regret selling the car park as they get so many complaints but now can't afford to buy back the land.

I am sure this is going on all over the place and it is a disgrace.

Our council car parks are free after 3pm
That seems like a good idea.