Wellington - The simplified parking app experience that takes more of your money

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Wellington - The simplified parking app experience that takes more of your money

lchiu7

6478 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#304000 27-Mar-2023 16:48

I must admit this article resonated with me

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/131545829/the-simplified-parking-app-experience-that-takes-more-of-your-money

Firstly if you pay for your parking with a credit card, they sock with 50c. But if you use the app they charge even more just for topping it up and while I do realise there is a charge for using a credit card, they also charge you for a debit from your bank account since they are using Account2Account which does have some transaction charges also.

Then I read the article further and it appears the council is paying a commission to the app operator on top.

Given the amount of money the council makes from parking already, surely they can eat this cost?

Also since you have your own account, why can't the council allow you to top up your account using something like PoliPay or direct depositing your account from Internet banking.

1 | 2

8339 posts

Uber Geek

#3055439 27-Mar-2023 17:11

It baffles me that its still apparently cheaper to have people wander around the city and empty these machines of coins, than it is to make the payments electronically.....

The Rest of the World seems have found ways of making payments using option 2 easier and cheaper for pretty much every product or service, but this power apparently eludes the City Council...

Dratsab

3946 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3055441 27-Mar-2023 17:15

At the end of the day Wellington City Council is only interested in people's money - not their opinions.

richms

28196 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3055443 27-Mar-2023 17:18

They are just like Auckland transport. Anti-car so to make it harder is part of their goals.

Richard rich.ms

Deanonzl

51 posts

Master Geek

#3055475 27-Mar-2023 19:33

richms:

They are just like Auckland transport. Anti-car so to make it harder is part of their goals.

Never a truer word spoken! 😬

Stu

Hammered
8347 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3055477 27-Mar-2023 19:48

The app shouldn't be using Account2Account OR POLi. Pretty sure both are in violation of your banks terms and conditions.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

lchiu7

6478 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3055482 27-Mar-2023 19:58

Stu: The app shouldn't be using Account2Account OR POLi. Pretty sure both are in violation of your banks terms and conditions.

They use Account2Account. Not sure why what is a violation of the banks terms and conditions. AirNZ use Poli.

A2A is a standard payment mechanism offered by Windcave and is completely legal.

https://www.windcave.com/merchant-ecommerce-account2account.html

Poli is a bit dodgier since it does screen scraping rather than call a bank's published API

timmmay

20591 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3055483 27-Mar-2023 20:07

I overpaid for my parking by at least an hour today because I didn't know how long I'd be, which is a somewhat regular occurrence, so this would save me money. I signed up for it today.

Do you not just do something sensible like give them your credit card number, once your parking is done they bill your card? I see a "top up" feature in the app... do you have to top up a set amount then use that to pay your parking, rather than just bill your card after you've finished? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of it, having to top up and maintain a credit balance.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

lchiu7

6478 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3055486 27-Mar-2023 20:15

timmmay:

I overpaid for my parking by at least an hour today because I didn't know how long I'd be, which is a somewhat regular occurrence, so this would save me money. I signed up for it today.

Do you not just do something sensible like give them your credit card number, once your parking is done they bill your card? I see a "top up" feature in the app... do you have to top up a set amount then use that to pay your parking, rather than just bill your card after you've finished? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of it, having to top up and maintain a credit balance.

You maintain a balance in the app which you consume against each time. The complaint in the article which I agree with is, to top up $20 they charge you an additional $1.72 for using a credit card. That is almost 9%. That is outrageous. If you buy $10 parking (max in Wellington at the moment) using a credit card at the meter, they charge 50cents or if you parked twice, then $1. So if you want to leave a balance on the cardl say $50, then it costs $4.12

Contrast that with Snapper where you also maintain a balance on your card (of course) and top up with a credit card for which there is no surcharge. And both parking and buses are council run or contracted services.

timmmay

20591 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3055487 27-Mar-2023 20:18

Ah. Well bugger than then.

Bung

6498 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3055498 27-Mar-2023 20:30

lchiu7:
Stu: The app shouldn't be using Account2Account OR POLi. Pretty sure both are in violation of your banks terms and conditions.

They use Account2Account. Not sure why what is a violation of the banks terms and conditions. AirNZ use Poli.

A2A is a standard payment mechanism offered by Windcave and is completely legal.

https://www.windcave.com/merchant-ecommerce-account2account.html

Poli is a bit dodgier since it does screen scraping rather than call a bank's published API

There's a gap between legal and complying with the bank's t&c.

ANZ as an example

"Does ANZ support Third Party payments (POLi, Account2Account, PaymentExpress)?
No. ANZ does not support the current approach that these providers take to facilitate payments.

Why am I able to use Third Party payments?

It is difficult to block these companies without a significant impact to both our consumer customers and our business customers who are expecting to be paid. We never recommend disclosing your password to any other person or website other than anz.co.nz."

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3055893 28-Mar-2023 16:33

I've used it in Dunedin for years and the convinience of extended stay without having to go back is worth it for me. Ie if I'm stuck and cant get back to my car before the meter runs out then I cant the put more money on meter either.

Previously I had tenancy to overpay the meter with coins to avoid tickets and must have driven away from with credit on machine lots of times under old system

I never carry coins so the alternative is pay waving each time

mdf

3518 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3055909 28-Mar-2023 16:54

I thought the article was a bit overhyped to be honest with you. PayMyPark (including transaction fees) has been around for ages; its nothing new and the cynic in me suspects either a slow news day or someone trying to manufacture outrage.

Electronic transaction fees apply to all electronic transactions. If they're not added on top, they're bundled in to the purchase price. I would be happy if they were less, but if you don't like the system, there are other alternatives (though all the electronic ones have their own transaction fees). Personally I value the ability to start and stop parking more than the transaction fees. And the per park transaction fees are miniscule compared to the actual cost of parking.

That said, the car horn honking sound the PayMyPark app makes when your parking runs out has startled me more than once.

tchart

2380 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3055926 28-Mar-2023 18:21

wellygary:
It baffles me that its still apparently cheaper to have people wander around the EMPTY city

Fixed

I actively avoid the CBD unless I have no choice. I’d rather drive to Lower Hutt or Porirua. There is really little draw (ie good stores) left in the city. WCC are literally shooting themselves in the foot - if there’s no people then the stores leave…

tchart

2380 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3055929 28-Mar-2023 18:29

In other news I recently parked on Hollywood Boulevard for US$3 ($4.80) for an hour sans transaction fee.

floydbloke

3523 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3055952 28-Mar-2023 19:52

richms:

They are just like Auckland transport. Anti-car so to make it harder is part of their goals.

Yep, and they now need to be careful what they wish for because it's starting to 'hit them in the pocket'.

Don't think ratepayers will be too chuffed with having to make up any revenue shortfalls.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/131564199/call-for-lower-fees-with-54-of-wellingtons-onstreet-car-parks-in-use

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

1 | 2