Disgust at phone parking charges

11:36am Thursday 1st May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

I AM writing to express disgust at the parking fees for the bays in Knoll Rise, Orpington.

In the past I've scoffed at others' comments on why drivers should ring up and pay a fee to park, thinking it might actually be easier to pay by credit card than look for loose change.

However, my experience in trying to do this has astounded me.

I read the sign saying 50p per hour and called the number.

Of course, I had to pay a fee to make the call on my mobile phone.

First I had to register my customer details, and was advised each time I used this parking system I would be charged 20p to "activate" my account, plus parking charges. What is this for? Pressing a button on the keyboard?

In disgust, I ended the call and drove elsewhere.

No wonder these seemed to be the only empty parking bays in the High Street area.

It is difficult enough to park anyway, with roadworks and the loss of the multi-storey car park.

CHRISTINA O'REILLY

Hilda Vale Road

Farnborough