A 75-year-old man from Hayes has expressed frustration after having to pay 50p extra for parking since the parking meters were replaced with the RingGo app service in his area.
To park in the carpark behind Station Approach in Hayes for one hour, Michael Jenkins says the charge has gone from 70p to £1.10 since the removal of pay and display parking.
He says that there is also then an additional 10p charge from the RingGo app to receive a confirmation text - making the cost £1.20 in total.
For Michael, this is a 50p increase compared to what he would pay when using a coin metre to park before April.
The 75-year-old said: “They removed the coin machines at the beginning of April and now you have to phone or use an app.
“I don't have a smartphone, so I phoned them and it cost me £1.20 including a charge to be sent a text which I don’t know how to stop.”
Michael has said that he feels this new system of paying for parking is putting elderly people like him at added risk when having to pay with a credit card.
Michael said: “The first time I did it was in Bromley trying to park.
“I'm 75 years old, you have to get your wallet out with your credit card, the first time you do it, out in the middle of the street, so that you can give the credit card number while you're phoning them.
“It's difficult for elderly people, especially having to take your credit card out in the middle of a busy street or something, that someone's going to get robbed one day.”
For Michael, the new system has also lead him to raise questions surrounding the additional charges he now faces and why they have been put in place.
Michael said: “Once they know your number, and once they know your registration, then every time you do park and use the phone, they recognise your telephone number.
“But, most of the system is now automated, if it's by app or by phone when they recognise your phone number, why is it they've had to put the prices up?
“Surely if it's automated, then it's costing RingGo a lot less than it used to do because they used to have people emptying the coin machines”.
A spokesperson from Bromley Council has said that for some motorists who have “historically” been used to paying for parking with cash, the cost has increased from 70p to £1.10.
They also added that the parking costs, when compared with other locations “compare well.”
The full Bromley Council statement said: “For the majority of motorists who have been using the RingGo payment service for some time, the total charge for an hour of parking has increased from 90p to £1.10, which is the first price increase in parking in four years.
“For motorists who have historically been used to paying for parking with cash, then the cost has risen from 70p to £1.10, which includes the 20p RingGo convenience fee.
“The 10p text confirmations are strictly optional and can be turned on or off as needed.
“In terms of parking costs, when compared with other locations, the charges still compare well.
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“In a neighbouring borough for instance, there are charges of up to £4.40 an hour depending on the type vehicle.
“Whilst motorists may need their debit card for payment, this can be stored on a phone for some, with this payment able to take place in the safety of their car rather than cash needing to be carried, with the risks that this potentially has.”
“It is worth noting that as a regular user, rather than the first time, when you use the app or call, the only information you need is the 3 figures in the back of the card.
“Of course some banks like my own require a text to the phone to confirm payment.”
We have approached RingGo for comment.
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