SmartParking is an absolute disgrace. I parked to help my Ukrainian refugees with their visas. I entered my car details into the system but SmartParking claims never to have seen them. So I have a £100 fine, which they upheld when I appealed! Something seriously wrong with the leadership of this company. Should not be licensed.
AT
ATrollz
'SMART' PARKING? - WHAT A JOKE, NOTHING SMART ABOUT IT!!
My 18 year old son was looking for somewhere to watch football with his friends. He arrived at a pub with Smart Parking (big mistake!) - he did what everyone would do, looked at the signs and attempted to download the app because that was the only way to pay. He spent just over 10 minutes trying to download the app but failed due to bad internet connection so he left the car park having never parked and having never actually left his car. Shortly afterwards, he receives a parking ticket. When he called me to tell me, I said "don't worry, they will understand, we'll write an appeal later, you were only there a few minutes........" so that evening, he gave me a copy of the PCN and immediately, I could see it wasn't a local council parking ticket and I thought maybe we would have a problem here as I've heard about these kind of parking 'companies' before and how they don't care what the circumstances are as they are only in it for the money..... however, we wrote an appeal explaining the situation and any normal person would think that that was fair and that he hadn't actually parked as he wasn't there long enough but no, the appeal failed and their letter which stated that they were within their rights blah blah blah just ranted on about signage and how there was plenty of it and he should have taken note before he drove in but that wasn't even the issue - he couldn't download the app! they never even acknowledged that fact and who downloads the app before they drive in?! My son is in the middle of A levels and isn't currently earning so that fine is now down to yours truly. Anyway, he's learnt a lesson there - never go in a car park if you see the words 'Smart Parking' anywhere near it because they don't give 2 shiny sh***s about anyone. I am currently spreading the word and telling everyone I know in the local area to avoid that car park and any other car park related to this poor excuse for a company. If they ever bother to read this review (which they won't obviously), they would probably find it highly amusing - they probably get some sort of a kick out of upsetting people. I agree with all the other reviews - one star is way too much for these rip off merchants but alas there is not an option for no stars (there should be) - what a great way to make money if you have no decent morals! Maybe I could do that too? No, I couldn't live with myself - I'd rather go and get a proper job.....
AS
Atan S.
disgusting company no ethics
disgusting company no ethics. I got the relevant evidence to show that I was permitted to park and still got a fine.
FYI this is company in new zeland according to their 2018 accounts are looking to grow their market and revenue. Public information- the ceo is Paul Gillespie based in New Zealand and accountant is Richard Ludbrrok who according to his LinkedIn profile wants to make a difference - by ripping people and lining his pockets.
Pete wishart mp had to have one person employed to help residents with appeals. Company number in Scotland is sci38255. Accounts in 2018 made £25M. That’s lots of £170. They don’t care. Firm believer in what goes around comes around.
CU
Customer
As awful as they come
As awful as they come. Unable to do their job properly, borderline scam. They'll try to charge you parking fines even after you provide the evidence that you should not be charged as you were a customer of the pub on that day. Their online appeal system conveniently doesn't work most of the time, so your only option would be to call a 0845 number at your expense. Don't do that though, because first of all the wait is ridiculous and secondly they don't actually care what you have to say and what evidence you have. It's a joke that smartparking is member of any official parking body, and their status should be reviewed immediately.
MH
Miss H.
Absolutely disgraceful company
Absolutely disgraceful company, I parked in my doctor surgery car park or so I thought as I was experiencing very bad ear infection, I have only just received this parking ticket and the 14 days are almost up, I have paid now because I don't have time to look into this,I will never use the smart parking car parks,everyone please don't use them.
NK
NK
Dishonest and Dreadful
Automated parking and website was not working and would not take the £5 payment at the time. We provided full photo evidence of that to Smart Parking and POPLA (appeals). Later that day we successfully paid over £7.00 - providing full credit card evidence of payment. Despite full proof of their sytems not workingf and us paying £7.00 (for a £5.00 charge) our appeal was refused with no explanation. We should go to court but the time and stress of appealing is already too much, so we are having to stomach being £107 worse off due to severe malpractices and a complete lack of any integrity or accountability. Try to avoid anywhere that uses Smart Parking and never trust their systems or them in any way.
AN
Angela
Disingenuous and inappropriate practices
2 hours free parking is offered at Westway Square Botley, Oxford. We needed to stay longer so before the free 2 hours was up, we paid for extra time. We paid for a little more time than we needed and ultimately left the carpark in advance of using the extra time we had paid for. Smart parking sent a £60 fine. We sent evidence of this payment. In response Smart parking state we still have pay. We have worked out (it wasn’t specified in their reply), that they think we should have also paid for the “free” 2 hours. There was absolutely no clear signage in the carpark to explain this apparent rule/requirement - if there had been we would have paid - we didn’t want to be fined as demonstrated by our payment for extra time. Smart parking do not want to hear this however- they do not allow us to reply to their “decision” and state we must now go to appeal via an independent appeals service, incurring a great deal of time and admin for us, or pay - threatening that the fine will be increased if we appeal.
WI
Wiktoria
Have stress with this company.
Have stress with this company.
Yesterday received parking charge notice for nothing. I have paid for my parking, and been only 5 minutes late. Wrote email with attached payment but no answer in the moment. Will never use this carpark again.