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Scummed!

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Not a typo, but my feeling after a, so far, near miss scam. I hate bloody car parking via app. Add in a car park that, pre-app, has always been out to annoy, namely the one in central Keswick, and I’m angrier still.
Trying to park yesterday, I saw they now use a “ MiPermit” system, necessitating downloading the app. In so trying to do, I later encountered numerous websites claiming to be, which should have been warning sufficient. But, first time in, mindful of not wasting time, I dove in the first. It seemed kosher, my bad, going as far as details etc. Then it “crashed”. Trying again, I did then get the app up and running, but my bank declined the fee. I gave up and went to the Booths car park, where they have a far simpler system.
On return to our holiday let, I checked my account, as I always do, lest any jiggery pokers had ensued. Nil and phew. However, an e Mail soon announced my 3 day trial in some travel webpage was now running, to be followed by £60 subs per month. I unsubscribed stat and received acknowledgement. Today I have a 1 day trial for a beauty website and that, too, has been cancelled. As has my bank card, by me, lest further shenanigans unfold.
It seems MiPermit are used by many councils, and it seems this scam is well known and well practised. Be warned. I have lost no money but a fair bit of pride.

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Comments

  1. I was in Manchester this week and the open air NCP had a sign warning against QR codes. You can only pay by card or the app as so many scam codes are put up. NCP app via App Store rather than a website.

  2. We parked up the other day in a local car park and I noticed on the sign that it said no QR codes are attached to the sign.
    I imagine that it’s another scam in use by fraudsters attaching fake QR codes to catch people out.

  3. It’s also a growing concern that fake QR codes are stuck over the top of genuine ones.
    I’m fairly IT literate but often struggle to park a car these days. If you have the App already installed and have used it before then it’s usually workable (assuming there’s enough 4G), but arrive somewhere with a very local council arrangement then all bets are off.
    There must be people less IT literate who have no bloody chance.

  4. I was in Aberdeen last summer, parked where I’ve always parked since the combustion engine was invented. No ticket machine, just a sign saying “Use the app or ring this number”. No app of course and, guess what, no phone signal this far underground. Gave up in disgust and drove into Union Street. “Doesn’t seem many cars here” I mutter “and why is that bus driver making obscene gestures at me?”.
    A week later, an email from the car hire company ” Thirty quid fine for driving in a bus lane and another forty five smackers admin costs.”
    Sums up the modern world if you ask me. Instead of apps and phone calls to India, what’s wrong with paying some bitter & twisted chappie who’s always wanted to wear a uniform to patrol the car parks and slap penalty notices on heinous offenders? Eh, eh ?

  5. I don’t believe it’s legal to oblige the user of any car park to use an app to pay for the parking fee. There has to be a cash or card option in all cases.

    Personally I refuse to use my phone for ANY financial transaction at all, and firmly believe that’s the best policy for anyone to adopt.

  7. Of the many (5 or 6) Car Parks in the Town Centre, 2 are ticket pay as you leave at the machine, another couple are scan QR code/pay on the app, only 1 is scan card on way In/Out.
    That’s the one I go for – no hassle, no QR code, no chance of scam

    note:
    “no hassle” – except for some reason the machine refuses to recognise my NatWest Debit Card
    “no chance of scam” – unless someone rigs up one those card readers that were used on cash machines (unlikely as the car park is behind solid gates and controlled entry)

  8. I hate QR codes. I had a similar experience to the OP when I needed to have been somewhere 5 minutes ago, and HAD to get there. Spotted, and no money lost, had to talk to the bank when that’s hard enough, and on a difficult day. Bastards (the QR fraudsters). I also leave restaurants that require you to access a menu from them. Gimmicky enshittification.

  9. I like parking apps. The days of having to queue to feed pound coins into a machine at the railway station and one would fall through as your train time gets closer a long gone.

    The technology is fine. I get a countdown on my phone and watch and it’s pretty simple to extend without having to go back.

    The issue is with scammers taking advantage of people who are in a hurry and preoccupied. QR codes in an outside space are best avoided.

  10. I’ve only ever used RingGo, which seems to be used pretty much everywhere round here, no problems whatsoever with it. But I loathe paying to park anywhere, and it does niggle that there is now seemingly zero choice. I bet less able folks really struggle to park these days.

  11. Southend has an app for all its council-owned car parks. Pay a yearly sub and parking anywhere is free for 6 hours a day. Book via the app in advance, no waiting around. It’s ace.

  12. Here in Horsham, the main council car parks are ANPR driven; drive in, park, check the machine and pay prior to exit. Straightforward enough, you might think, but ’tis rarely so. Confused visitors abound and delays ensue.

    However, for residents, there is a wrinkle. If you sign up on the council website – no QR codes to be seen – then the whole thing is automated. Drive in, park, drive out and the appropriate charge appears on your credit card. Zero hassle of any kind and a boon to the hurrying motorist – often me!

    QR codes are, of course, the work of Beelzebub.

  13. When my mum was in hospital I installed my first parking app, seething with irritation at the bollocks of it all, but…. but…. it worked really well. No more finding a working machine, searching for change etc, you get a reminder text to top up the payment etc. You do have to be careful with the location code – a typo meant I once bought a day’s parking in the West Country when I was parking in Hertford but fortunately I spotted it and didn’t also get a parking ticket. I also once bought parking for 3 hours for my motorbike (at home in the garage) rather than the car (in the actual car park). I now have five bloody parking apps on my phone and the thrill is wearing off somewhat.

    One of the many pleasures of riding a motorbike is that parking is generally free as there is nowhere to put your little paper ticket. Parking apps remove this modest benefit which is annoying.

    • I think parking apps are on that list of things that people are suspicious of becasue its another thing on their phone. I have distant memories of having to go and get cash out to park, buying bottles of water to get change and getting parking tickets becasue I was a few minutes late returning.

      Too many niche apps is a pain. I group the apps in one folder and search by the appp name and its pretty straightforward. RingGo is King(Go) with MiiPermit an honourable second. Also, most of them allow me to use Apple Pay so I don’t need to set accounts/cards up for each one.

      And they make the act of claiming expenses for parking super easy as well.

      • I find Paybyphone works well but they all have their quirks. Apcoa is the one which seems to be the most hassle which is stressful as that’s the one at the station when you are inevitably under time pressure. Handy too that I can put time on Mrs. T’s car when she’s out shopping.

        Folder tip now implemented, ta.

      • In my last employment before I retired (Hooray!), it was necessary to drive between jobs in various London boroughs. At first we had to pay for street parking ourselves and claim parking fees back, but then the firm got their act together and opened accounts with both (or was it all 3?) of the major parking companies used by the various boroughs. Didn’t use QR codes back then (2016), you had your work phone and vehicle reg. pre-registered with the parking company and you just had to enter the correct numerical location code (on a sticker on the parking machines) for the set of parking bays that you parked in.
        At a few off-road parking spots on private land we were obliged to use, it was necessary to call the parking company and state your company, vehicle registration and location or a fine would be issued, which our firm would deduct from your wages.

        • Westminster run a trade parking permit scheme: book online for the correct zone, find space, park. Have to be careful of resident bays as they finish at 5pm but otherwise it allows all day parking on metered bays in some very central spots.

    • I can drive, but for such reasons as well as congestion everywhere I mainly use the train when I am in the UK these days. Will have to drive next time though for a few days 🙁

      • I had to get a bus the other day and was astonished when it actually turned up and went where it was supposed to! Who knew?

        When I lived in Paris I got the bus all the time but they work there.

        My father in law can no longer get a bus to the shops, 2 miles away along a straight road. He has to get a bus in a different direction then change. Don’t even think about him getting a bus to the train station. Crazy talk!

  15. Talking car parking, here in Exmouth we have the absurd situation on the sea front where the parking meters on one side of the road are run by Devon County Council and on the other side by East Devon District Council. Woe betide you if you pay at the wrong meter for the other side…if you see what I mean. Bonkers.

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