Paying for Parking - Cash is not good enough?

Doublespresso

As many of you would be aware, there are parts of central London, where it is virtually impossible to pay for parking in good old cash. And now even the Credit Card machines are being gradually removed and the only way to pay is via Mobile Phone.

This assumes that all users have a) a Mobile Phone and b) a Credit/Debit card

I know people who have neither.

But in any event I thought that cash is a legal tender, and therefore should be accepted as a valid form of payment especially by Governement or Local Authorities. I think the Council is not within its right to remove this option (of paying cash) form the public, which I suspect, is solely designed to make their collection/admin easier.

My friend who is Disabled just got a PCN as she was looking for a "cash" Pay and Display machine and could not find one. By the time she got back (8min later) she got a ticket, despite the Blue Badge displayed.

Any advice?

Andy_L

Nobody "has" to accept cash
http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/LegalTenderGuidelines.aspx

"Legal tender has a very narrow and technical meaning in the settlement of debts. It means that a debtor cannot successfully be sued for non-payment if he pays into court in legal tender. It does not mean that any ordinary transaction has to take place in legal tender or only within the amount denominated by the legislation. Both parties are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes"

tamarto

What a joke, so in theory someone who has no phone could have a pocket full of cash but because their debitcard wont swipe, they'll get a ticket?:eek:

moonrakerz

Doublespresso wrote: »

the only way to pay is via Mobile Phone.

With a 20p "convenience" fee !

Doublespresso

Andy_L wrote: »

Nobody "has" to accept cash
http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/LegalTenderGuidelines.aspx

"Legal tender has a very narrow and technical meaning in the settlement of debts. It means that a debtor cannot successfully be sued for non-payment if he pays into court in legal tender. It does not mean that any ordinary transaction has to take place in legal tender or only within the amount denominated by the legislation. Both parties are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes"

Hmm.... but:
"Both parties are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes."

dzug

Doublespresso wrote: »

Hmm.... but:
"Both parties are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes."

Yep both parties have to agree to the same thing. Different wishes = no agreement, no transaction, no parking.

Doublespresso

dzug wrote: »

Yep both parties have to agree to the same thing. Different wishes = no agreement, no transaction, no parking.

I think they mean that the agreement here is about the method of payment (i.e. legal tender vs other methods), not about the actual parking "contract".