Pay-By-Phone Parking Problem
Decatur Metro | October 6, 2010Paula writes in…
I’m so irritated about this, that I couldn’t hold back until FFAF!
I just got a expired meter ticket while I was parked in front of Little Shop of Stories, even though I had dutifully paid-by-phone for my parking time. I have a text message from 10:33 a.m. telling me my space was authorized until 11:05, but I received a ticket at 10:39 am. I now will have to appear in court to dispute a $15 ticket. Grrr. Now I’m wondering if anyone else has had issues with the pay-by-phone system.
Latest from Decaturish
YES! It does not work for me. I did it once and paid the $10 or whatever it was to get started. But every time I tried to use it afterward, I couldn’t. The parking system does not recognize the # sign from my phone, required in order to enter the space #. The last time I called the 800 # listed, I was on hold for several minutes, and then spent several minutes spelling and respelling my name, only to be told that they didn’t have an account in my name or linked to my phone. So they conned me. I just didn’t have the time to fight it.
They charge you $10 just to register?! Sounds a lot like the MARTA cards that cost $1.50 or something and then you have to add the actual $$ for rides, but the $$ expires after 90 days or so. A total scam to capitalize on lost cards/infrequent riders. Just give me my roll of quarters or tokens (but you cannot even do token on MARTA anymore)!!!
Wow, I have had trouble with getting that system to work, but, on the occasions that it’s worked for me, I have assumed that I would not get a ticket. Maybe I was just lucky. I’d see if this could be fixed without going to court. Did you forward that text message to the City Manager?
According to http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citygov_commissioners.aspx, the City of Decatur attorney is Bryan Downs. Per the Georgia Bar website, Bryan Downs is with the Wilson, Morton & Downs law firm (http://www.gabar.org/public/directory/MemberSearchDetail.php?ID=MjI4NDM3). The City Manager is Peggy Merriss (http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_cmo.aspx). Unless you like to go to court, I’d see if they can get rid of the ticket for you before the hearing/fine deadline.
I tried a couple of times when they were first installed, and couldn’t get the system to answer. Life is short, I’l just keep stockpiling quarters.
In your shoes, I would have been very tempted to walk that ticket right over to City Hall and let them deal with it. You certainly have no business spending your valuable time going to court about it.
Call or visit city hall and show them the information you have, don’t waste your time in court. Also, write an email to the department over the parking. I haven’t use the pay by cell as of yet.
What was wrong with the old system? I swear, not everything has to be digital in this world. Soon we won’t even need quarters.
Paula if you will give me a call at Decatur City Hall I’ll be happy to work with you to resolve the problem. We can access the records here and can work to resolve the problem without you having to appear in court. I’m sorry to hear that folks have been having a problem with the cell phone payment option. I’ve contacted the company to make sure the problems are corrected.
Thank you, Lyn! I will try to call tomorrow during business hours.
Thanks for being so pro-active Lyn.
Hints from Heloise: a stack of quarters fits nicely into an old prescription canister. I keep mine in the side pocket of my driver’s side door.
PLEASE get rid of meters! Who carries change these days?? NO ONE!!! The solar powered kiosks in use at the 315 W Ponce parking lot (Wachovia) are way better. So much easier to swipe a card and put a sticker in your windshield than rummage around for quarters. Install these like the forward-thinking city we are.
When I am running late, the time it takes to go to the kiosk and back to the car to place the sticker on the dashboard makes me later… Travelled to California recently, noticed that the parking meters take plastic.
Recent I visited a place with the kiosks that specifically did not require the slip to be placed in the car. Instead, the attendant wirelessly downloaded the payment info from the kiosk and then checked the list to see who was overtime.
Incorrect, spoon. I carry change. And I don’t find it to be a monumental hardship.
A big thank you to Lyn Menne for being so helpful with this issue! It’s all taken care of, and I don’t have to go to court. Hooray for City Hall employees!
Paula,
Too bad you didn’t think of your friendly city hall before your original petulant post.
i don’t think trying to find out if others had the same problem she encountered “petulant”– this post has provided a forum to discuss use of the e-meters, and to show off how great our city management is in responding to citizen issues!
Hi Ramona,
Actually, it never occurred to me to complain to City Hall, because marching into City Hall to complain about a parking ticket would have seemed “petulant” (“insolent or rude in speech or behavior”) to me. I was fully prepared to go to court, and use the “regular” channels to solve this problem, like an ordinary citizen. I’m fully aware that a $15 ticket is not a big deal in the scheme of things, but it was one of those things that just really got my goat. I’m sorry you found my email to DM to be petulant, but I thought it was the best way to vent my frustration without making a specific city employee an inappropriate target. I think Lyn Menne acted above and beyond the call of duty in reaching out to me, and I am really delighted to live in a City that has such friendly and helpful employees.
Paula
I have used the pay by phone service and it has always worked well and easily for me. Yes I had to pay $10 but it gave me $10 of parking time. I rarely have change but it is nice to be able to use change as well. I haven’t recharged my account recently and I will have to remind myself how to do that of course…
I wish that people would realize that it isn’t the fault of the parking enforcement employees. The machines are not always reliable, but the employees are.