Wilson's Car Park - When Free is not free

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nzkiwiman

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#206028 7-Dec-2016 11:31

I had a situation on Monday where I pulled into the car park, pressed the button to get the ticket and nothing happened.
I pressed the button again and this time looked at the display of the ticket machine - at this point I read "free parking" and noticed that the barrier was up. Since the machine was not giving a ticket, and I needed to park I drove in.

I forgot about the issue until coming back to the car I went to grab my ticket and had a small panic attack after not finding the ticket.
Checking the exit barrier arm, I saw it was down and then wondered how I would get out of the car park.

Rang the 0800 number and spoke to someone who organised a lost ticket to be printed from the ticket machine - I had to pay the fee of $9.50 (what I would have paid for the day parking) and when enquiring with the person on the phone as to why I was paying when I had free parking, he said it was an "error" (a fob off answer if ever I had heard).

Just wondering if anyone had had the same situation and actually managed to get free parking?
I assume that in one of the many Wilson Parking T&C's, they have a clause that specifically relates to this situation.

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#1683782 7-Dec-2016 11:35

Free?? from Wilson's. I don't think so Batman!

networkn

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#1683787 7-Dec-2016 11:43

I'd query it with Head Office if you can be bothered for $10.

Wilson (and to a lesser degree in my experience) have a long history of unsavoury behaviour. I have never paid a late fee because I have a letter pre-made which basically asks then to send me proof of their liquidated losses, which of course they could never prove (cost effectively).

Linux

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#1683791 7-Dec-2016 11:49

Wilson parking and free bahahahaha

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tripp

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#1683794 7-Dec-2016 11:53

Next time you see this from any parking company take a photo or short movie with time and date on it.

I would not be surprised if it wasn't an error and they were just doing it to get people to park there

Batman

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#1683796 7-Dec-2016 11:58

wow the the best bait for a while yet! free entry, upon exit pay a lost ticket fee!

sbiddle

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#1683797 7-Dec-2016 11:58

Linux: Wilson parking and free bahahahaha

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jaymz

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#1683815 7-Dec-2016 12:10

We had a similar issue with the car park at Middlemore Hospital. When we arrived the arms were up and the machine was offline. Sometimes when we left the arms were still up, but on the odd occasion when they were down we called through and said that the arms were up and machines were 'broken' when we arrived and the operator opened the arms for us.

They were having lots of trouble that couple of weeks, but saved us lots on parking!

xpd

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#1683825 7-Dec-2016 12:32

My wife had a prepaid ticket given to her by Nth Shore hospital, which she didn't use for some reason, so on next visit (couple weeks later) went to leave and the guy in the box refused to accept the prepaid ticket, because they had changed the system since her last visit. He point blank refused to open the barrier arm until she paid (which she refused to do) - he had to open the barrier eventually due to the queue of cars behind wanting to leave......

Any parking company are just out for a quick buck - I got charged an extra 30mins for an hour long park once - I arrived at say 10am and on leaving, by the time I got to my car (at 10.55am) and finally got to the exit, it was 11:01 and the system automatically dumped another 30mins onto the fee.

XPD / Gavin

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sonyxperiageek

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#1683838 7-Dec-2016 12:58

xpd:

My wife had a prepaid ticket given to her by Nth Shore hospital, which she didn't use for some reason, so on next visit (couple weeks later) went to leave and the guy in the box refused to accept the prepaid ticket, because they had changed the system since her last visit. He point blank refused to open the barrier arm until she paid (which she refused to do) - he had to open the barrier eventually due to the queue of cars behind wanting to leave......

Any parking company are just out for a quick buck - I got charged an extra 30mins for an hour long park once - I arrived at say 10am and on leaving, by the time I got to my car (at 10.55am) and finally got to the exit, it was 11:01 and the system automatically dumped another 30mins onto the fee.

Don't you pay at the machine before you get to your car?

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timmmay

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#1683868 7-Dec-2016 13:17

networkn:

I have never paid a late fee because I have a letter pre-made which basically asks then to send me proof of their liquidated losses, which of course they could never prove (cost effectively).

Can you share that, perhaps via Google Docs or similar? Would be interested to see what it says.

mattwnz

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#1683871 7-Dec-2016 13:20

Based on what you have said, you could contact the commerce commission to see what they have to say about it. The problem is it is a small amount so is it worth your time. Although a photo would have helped, they should have a recording of the call you made, where they said it was an error, as it seem standard for call centres to make recordings. You shouldn't have to pay for an error they made IMO, as you parked there in good faith, as they were advertising it was free parking. But wouldn't there be other people in the parking lot who were having the same problem?

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sonyxperiageek

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#1683873 7-Dec-2016 13:21

mattwnz:

You could contact the commerce commission to see what they have to say about it. The problem is it is a small amount so is it worth your time. Although a photo would have helped, they should have a recording of the call you made, where they said it was an error. You shouldn't have to pay for an error they made IMO, as you parked there in good faith, as they were advertising it was free parking.

IMO I think everybody should complain even if it's a "small amount". Because if everyone keeps thinking "Oh it's just a small amount" and not do anything about it, the company is eventually making quite a bit of money based on this thinking...

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mattwnz

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#1683876 7-Dec-2016 13:24

sonyxperiageek:

mattwnz:

You could contact the commerce commission to see what they have to say about it. The problem is it is a small amount so is it worth your time. Although a photo would have helped, they should have a recording of the call you made, where they said it was an error. You shouldn't have to pay for an error they made IMO, as you parked there in good faith, as they were advertising it was free parking.

IMO I think everybody should complain even if it's a "small amount". Because if everyone keeps thinking "Oh it's just a small amount" and not do anything about it, the company is eventually making quite a bit of money based on this thinking...

I agree, but at the end of the day the majority of people don't. Personally I probably would, but would make sure I didn't spend too much time on it, as there are more important things in life.

timmmay

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#1683877 7-Dec-2016 13:26

I pay for permanent parking in a parking building, unallocated parking. One day I got back to my car and it had an $80 ticket. There was a reserved sign in the space I parked in, which I'm 95% sure wasn't there when I parked in the morning. I get in really early, when there are plenty of spaces free, so why would I park in a reserved spot? They did waive the fee, but it took a bit of effort.

The point of my post though is I don't trust parking companies at all. These days I'll even take a photo of the space after I park, if it's a spot I don't park in regularly. If I went in and a barrier was open I'd take a photo. If a machine said "free" I'd take a photo.

sonyxperiageek

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#1683880 7-Dec-2016 13:28

timmmay:

I pay for permanent parking in a parking building, unallocated parking. One day I got back to my car and it had an $80 ticket. There was a reserved sign in the space I parked in, which I'm 95% sure wasn't there when I parked in the morning. I get in really early, when there are plenty of spaces free, so why would I park in a reserved spot? They did waive the fee, but it took a bit of effort.

The point of my post though is I don't trust parking companies at all. These days I'll even take a photo of the space after I park, if it's a spot I don't park in regularly. If I went in and a barrier was open I'd take a photo. If a machine said "free" I'd take a photo.

Bahaha just walk/drive in with a headcam lol

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