Always appeal - they profit on people not appealing!
Incorrect PCN issued stating that I was in breach of the displayed signs. Was parked for 11 minutes into 2hr free parking period (signs clearly state no ticket required for free period). PCN arrived stating I did not display ticket.
LESSON: always appeal incorrect PCNs as the POPLA team were fair and upheld my appeal (avoiding spending £100). Now waiting for 2nd appeal to go through - similar outcome expected as exact same issue just a month later even though no PCNs issued for all the other times (weekly) I parked with them.
Given the number of reviews scoring 1 (probably because you cannot issue a score of ZERO) I would advise anyone to always take a picture of the signs with this company especially if further away from your usual route or home. It could save you a few ££.
CM
C M C.
Absolutely rubbish company
Was sent a Parking Charge Notice for Standard Quay, Faversham. As an elderly couple we were panicked and although we knew we had never been to that destination we didn't know how to prove it wasn't us. Turned out it wasn't our car but a completely different make with a similar numberplate. Sent photographs of our car and details from the Gov.UK website regarding the other vehicle. Parking charge was eventually cancelled by brief email without one word of apology for THEIR mistake.
AM
Amos M.
No understanding - hard to communicate with - very slow
I appealed a parking ticket with a good bases and the rejected it. You don't really have the option to appeal again because you then have to pay the full amount because their communication is so slow.
DM
Dear Mr B.
Joke parking nothing smart about them…
Joke parking nothing smart about them ripping people of I am a diabetic on Insulin I was forced to park behind some shops because my blood sugar had gone very low and it was unsafe for me to drive. I was parked there for 40 minutes so my blood sugar could come up I got a parking ticket because I had parked there. I have appealed against the decision. They have totally ignored everything I have said and they still wanted me to drive my car out of the car park even though I would’ve been breaking the law by doing so there’s nothing smart about that parking company rip-off parking not smart.
SC
SC
£60 fine for a 12 min stay after…
£60 fine for a 12 min stay after driving into a wrong car park. Appealed fine but obviously not a company who is willing to use common sense on appeal!
WI
Will
A Company Built on Exploitation
A Company Built on Exploitation
Avoid Smart Parking at All Costs – A Predatory Business Model Designed to Extort
My recent experience with Smart Parking has been nothing short of appalling. During a family day out in Margate, I used one of their car parks and purchased 4 hours of parking for less than £10. Unfortunately, time flew by, and we ended up overstaying by 24 minutes. It was already late in the evening (past 6 PM), the car park was almost empty, and it's clear we weren't occupying a spot needed by anyone else. Despite this, Smart Parking has decided to charge me an outrageous £100, or £60 if paid within 14 days.
Let's break this down:
Absurd Charges: Charging £100 for a 24-minute overstay is nothing short of highway robbery. It's a blatant attempt to exploit honest mistakes for profit. The so-called "discount" of £60 if paid within 14 days is merely a cynical ploy to pressure people into paying quickly without contesting the fine.
Empty Car Park: The car park was nearly empty by the time we left. It's clear that our brief overstay had zero impact on their operations or on other potential customers. This demonstrates that their penalty system is not about managing space but about maximizing revenue through punitive measures.
Predatory Practices: Smart Parking’s business model seems built on preying on customers who make minor mistakes. Instead of a reasonable approach to overstay charges, they opt for draconian fines that are disproportionate to the supposed offense. This kind of predatory practice should be illegal.
Customer Exploitation: The entire experience has left a bitter taste. Rather than fostering a sense of customer service and goodwill, Smart Parking chooses to treat its customers as cash cows to be milked dry. This is not just poor business practice; it's unethical and exploitative.
Lack of Remote Payment Options: To make matters worse, Smart Parking does not even offer the convenience of remote payment through an app. In an age where technology makes it easy to manage parking time remotely, their refusal to provide such options is inexcusable. This forces customers to rush back to their cars and cuts off any flexibility, further proving that their priority is not customer convenience but financial gain through penalties.
In conclusion, Smart Parking epitomizes everything wrong with modern-day parking management. Their punitive charges for minor overstay periods are excessive and unjustifiable. I can only hope that they spend the money they extort from people like me on something useful, like medicine, because they’re certainly not spending it on providing a fair and reasonable service.
Avoid this company at all costs. They don't deserve your business, your money, or your patience.
SP
Spring P.
Jesus would lose faith if he delt with…
Jesus would lose faith if he delt with this company.
They make the ticket machines so hard to use *put in reg* but your only allowed to put 2 digits on the display??? Then there is the pay vs time option that "applies automatically so it looks like your paying for the day.
BEWARE OF THE BRADGATE PARK MACHINES.
Honestly I would like to commend the person that took the photos of my car with a VALID ticket.......
OS
oscar S.
Absolute joke of a company
Absolute joke of a company. I got a fine for being in the car park for 14 minutes while trying to pay. The card machine wasn’t working and I don’t carry cash. They have an “app” supposedly and after signing in it sits on a loading wheel for 2 mins before taking you back to the very same loading screen. I didn’t leave the car park premesis during the mere 14 minutes I stayed there. I apeaked and It was denied. Then when I pay the fine the third party payment website crashes as I hit pay. The money leaves my account and when I refresh the page it says the payment is STILL outstanding 🤬 this whole system is a joke. Will never be parking here again and will advise people to avoid there car parks as to save their hard earned money from these incompetent tech virgins.