 Pay-by-phone parking has begun!!
A new payment option
Drivers parking in pay & display and shared use bays on-street throughout the borough now have a new way of paying for parking. Instead of feeding coins into a pay and display machine you can now pay by using your mobile phone. You don't have to predict how long you will be staying and you only pay for the time your car is parked. The service is open to anyone who needs to pay to park in a Controlled Parking Zone in Wandsworth.
The service can also be used in the car parks within Battersea Park and adjacent to the Wandle Leisure Centre in Mapleton Road. In the Battersea Park car parks, a stepped tariff operates and motorists will be charged the rate applicable to their length of stay. You do not need to live in the borough to qualify. The service is operated for the council by parking specialists Parkmobile.
Getting started
Motorists need to register their details with Parkmobile either by phone or online. This can be done in advance or when parking on-street and only takes a few minutes. When you sign up you will be asked to choose your preferred payment arrangement - this could be through your bank or on a debit or credit card. You can choose to pay a monthly membership fee or a small surcharge on top of each parking transaction. To register please call 0871 221 2369 or visit Parkmobile.
Paying on the street
When you arrive at a parking space call the pre-set Parkmobile number on your phone. You don't need to speak - just key in the three or five digit location code corresponding to the section of road or car park where you are parking. The location codes will be clearly displayed on the side of each pay and display machine. When you get back - make one more very short call to end your parking transaction. The system will calculate your parking charge and add it your personal account. Both calls will be less than 1 minute in duration, but mobile phone providers rates to 0871 numbers do vary and customers should check with their provider. For most users the two calls should cost between 30p and 70p.
Saving you money
Paying by mobile phone from your parking space means you only pay for the time you use. You can make the two very short calls from the safety of your car. You can even get a text message reminder when you are approaching the maximum stay for the bay.
It could mean never having to pay a parking fine again!
Paying for membership
You can choose to pay a membership fee of £1 per month or a surcharge of 20p on top of each parking transaction. These charges appear on your monthly account all registered users receive from Parkmobile. Members have online access to their own personal pages and can check their parking transations, invoices, set up text alerts and update their personal details.
The service was launched in Putney on February 2, 2004 and extended to include the car parks in Battersea Park on 20 December 2004. It was extended to other London boroughs later in 2004/early 2005 and from 3rd December 2007 is available in all Controlled Parking Zones in Wandsworth. The scheme allows you to park in other parts of the UK wherever you see the Parkmobile signs. The pay-by-phone parking charges are the same as paying with coins and if your vehicle has a valid annual resident parking permit, you will automatically receive the 20p discount in the hourly charge every time you park.
Security and enforcement
The Parkmobile service is already running in eight European cities. It has proved to be a safe and secure method of paying for parking. The payment systems are operated by HSBC and audited by accountants Deloitte and Touche. Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) make sure a driver has paid for his or her space by an electronic check of the vehicles registration number. You can still pay by cash if you wish - the pay and display machines will continue to operate.
More about Parkmobile
Parkmobile UK is a London-based company specialising in the development of advanced parking systems. It is part of the Parkmobile group and also has offices in Barcelona, Paris and Cologne. The Parkmobile pay-by-phone system was launched in 2000 and is now used in all the major cities in the Netherlands.
Parkmobile.com |
