Which Parking App to use

Victor_Delta

I'm sure there is a simple answer to this question but I can't find it anywhere.

When parking in any car park, the notices usually mention the App you should use. However, I often find that RingGo, which I tend to use most, correctly identifies the parking location and offers to let me use the app for that car park, even though it is not listed on the notice. Is this ok, or must you use the specific app listed?

Finally, anyone have any recommendations for the best parking app to use please?

fisherjim

The one on the signs!

pramsay13

Usually a car park or landowner will sign up to one parking app so you can't just pick and choose as the driver, you have to use the one they are signed up to. This will be on the signs and parking meters. 
If Ringo is showing the parking location but isn't listed it's probably just picking up a nearby, separate parking spot so it can't be used instead.

Victor_Delta

pramsay13 said:

If Ringo is showing the parking location but isn't listed it's probably just picking up a nearby, separate parking spot so it can't be used instead.

No, that's the funny thing. Ringo often comes up with the correct 4 or 5 digit code for the car park or street, regardless of whether its name appears on the notices or not.

yetneveragain

If at all possible, use common sense and boycott any car park operated by an unregulated private parking company. Let the businesses that stupidly contract these ex-clampers suffer the consequences of their poor decisions by suffering reduced turnover.

KeithP

Could it be that the car park operator has signed up to RingGo, but all the signs in the car park suggest another payment process is used?

When an unsuspecting motorist arrives at the car park, the RingGo app offers itself as a payment provider. The motorist then pays via RingGo and goes on their way.

The next thing to happen is a PCN arrives suggesting no payment has been made.

If there is nothing on the signs about using RingGo to pay at that car park, the motorist has been fooled.
Fooled by a devious parking company into paying the wrong payment handler.

The parking company then bleats on about the motorist not adhering to the terms of the contract.

Coupon-mad

Don't use these car parks unless run by a Council.   Preferably, always park on street.

Private car parks are not fair (safe from PCN scams) places to park, if run by a private firm using ANPR.  The current situation with private parking ANPR operators is worse and more predatory - and potentially more life damaging - than clamping was.  Avoid avoid avoid.

Big big difference.  Never mind the app!

Victor_Delta

KeithP said:

Could it be that the car park operator has signed up to RingGo, but all the signs in the car park suggest another payment process is used?

So do legitimate car park operators (eg local authorities) only sign up with one app provider or do they often sign up with several? If the latter is possible then the notices may not be updated for some time.

fisherjim

Victor_Delta said:

KeithP said:

Could it be that the car park operator has signed up to RingGo, but all the signs in the car park suggest another payment process is used?

So do legitimate car park operators (eg local authorities) only sign up with one app provider or do they often sign up with several? If the latter is possible then the notices may not be updated for some time.

Where I live Dorset use Just Park and East Devon use Ringo and that's it.

We had a thread on here a couple of weeks ago where someone put in a four digit reference off a sign into Ringo app and got a PCN because although the code worked it was for a completely different car park as the one they were in was not covered by Ringo.

You should also be aware that the land owner, the app, and the PPC are all different entities.

Victor_Delta

Thanks to all. So it appears that you can only use the App named on the car park notices, despite what the other apps might indicate. Or at least, if you do this, you shouldn't be caught out.

fisherjim

Victor_Delta said:

Thanks to all. So it appears that you can only use the App named on the car park notices, despite what the other apps might indicate. Or at least, if you do this, you shouldn't be caught out.

Exactly it.