Unusual payment system at Manchester T2 short stay/Arrivals

[philcray]

Having picked up my son from Manchester T2 on Sunday I went on the website to pay. I had parked in the short stay car park rather than the Arrivals as it was chaotic and you are restricted to 15 minutes maximum.

I entered car reg but, instead of being recognised by anpr and told how much I owe, it asks what time you left and then says you owe £5.50.

Now, assuming that the car park does not operate on an honesty box approach where you pay what you think it was worth, they obviously know exactly what time you arrive and leave and what you should pay.

If you look at the payment website you will see it is very minimal as far as information goes. I actually have an account set up which has paid automatically for a few drop offs, payment taken within 10 hours of parking, but nothing taken for this parking.

I rang the customer service number and after about 20 minutes spoke to somebody who claimed he could see our car on the anpr and the system must have got confused, so just say you left at 09,00 and pay the £5.50. He assured me this would be ok.

This seems like a Kaska'esque development of car parking payment where they cannot lose

a) you have to remember to go online and pay rather than paying at the barrier as it used to be - quite common now but easily forgotten if you have along journey and the stress that car park generates.

b) you then have to guestimate what time you left with no clue given by the anpr even though they clearly know - the call centre guy said that if you get it wrong you will be sent a fine, even if you have paid

c) the website does not email to confirm payment even though it has my details

I wonder when other car parks will cotton on to this wheeze, looks like a revenue stream too good to be ignored....

[Nicetobenice]

The great thing about Manchester Airport parking charge notices is that they are unenforceable so you can use a polite form of words to tell them to FRO.

[vikingaero]

Nicetobenice said:

The great thing about Manchester Airport parking charge notices is that they are unenforceable so you can use a polite form of words to tell them to FRO.

Exactly this. I think they tried to rely on bylaws to fine the RK, bylaws that have no legal right to charge the RK. I've paid for drop off parking whenever I drop off as morally this is right. But if I forget or my elderly parents forget then they can as you say, FRO. You've created a system that relies on fining people.