Parking charged via phone app?

[fdcg27]

We were in Cincinnati last Sunday to see a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the new venue of our favorite company.
Parking at the old venue was great while it's less so for the new house, as nice a theatre as it is.
Now, there was ample street parking, but it required that you pay by credit card using a phone app.
This struck me as terribly insecure for the users, so we instead parked in lot for five bucks.
How common is charging for street parking via phone app linked to a credit card or other account?
I realize that this saves the cost of parking meters, but you'd still have to have some sort of enforcement personnel or nobody would bother to pay.
A bad idea IMO, but others may differ.

 

[TheKracken]

It is like that all over Seattle. I refuse to pay like that as well.

 

[Leo99]

Pretty common. I love it. No more insecure than any other transaction. Welcome to 2017.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: TheKracken
It is like that all over Seattle. I refuse to pay like that as well.


Why? Your credit card can get stolen no matter how well you guard it and it's the bank's problem if it does. I'm all for convenience.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
Originally Posted By: TheKracken
It is like that all over Seattle. I refuse to pay like that as well.


Why? Your credit card can get stolen no matter how well you guard it and it's the bank's problem if it does. I'm all for convenience.


While that was once true always and everywhere with easily cloned stripe-read cards, it may not be the case with newer chipped cards.
Let's say you card is stolen and you don't realize this so you fail to report this theft to the issuer so that they can shut it off. Let's say that days after, someone charges thousands of dollars to your unique chipped card.
Is it then the bank's problem?
Maybe not.
Welcome to 2017.

 

[TheKracken]

I am 22 and I hardly find it convenient. Id rather put in a bunch of quarters in a meter. There isn't just one website for the whole city. They are all different and you have to register each time

 

[mclasser]

Yeah screw that. It's annoying how small things these days require an app/account registration.

 

[CharlieBauer]

These services are great when you don't know how long you need parking for. You can top up remotely.

 

[simple_gifts]

Not doing that.

Cash is king for anonymity

Secure electronic transactions are something US banks CHOOSE not to implement because people whine about 2 factor authentication.

When I see chip and PIN, I'll reconsider; in fact, a bank could use that as a marketing focus for people who would like to 'move into identity confirmed based security'

 

[jaj]

I've been using the PaybyPhone product - first by phoning in, then with the app - for more than 10 years.

You get a reminder by text when you're about to go over, and the email receipts are perfect for expense accounts.

It works extremely well and it's a great way to leave the stone age behind - wait! No, I meant the bronze age!

 

[fdcg27]

Funny!
But not nearly as funny as when those fraudulent charges appear on your digital statement and you then go where?
This can't happen?
Of course not, nothing can go wrong.

 

[bullwinkle]

Unfortunately, we sold our parking system to pay for the streetcar system. Now the parking is charged at all different prices based on demand & private enforcement roams around passing out parking tickets, and I've heard they're even going to start putting boots on repeat offenders.

 

[fdcg27]

Ah yes, the troubled, useless and financially unsound streetcar project.
How many years do you think it'll be before the only remaining artifact of this venture will be the tracks installed in the streets?
I'm guessing less than ten.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Ah yes, the troubled, useless and financially unsound streetcar project.
How many years do you think it'll be before the only remaining artifact of this venture will be the tracks installed in the streets?
I'm guessing less than ten.
It'll be more like 2 or 3, it's already running well into the red, except for special events (like Oktoberfest this weekend, Bengals games, etc.). Fortunately, when I'm downtown it's usually in the Transit, and either in a loading zone or the company is paying for parking. One (maybe the only) nice features of the streetcar is it's possible to park up by Findlay Market on the street for free (daytime only) & ride the streetcar to Aronoff or the Banks/stadiums for less $.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
We were in Cincinnati last Sunday to see a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the new venue of our favorite company.
Parking at the old venue was great while it's less so for the new house, as nice a theatre as it is.
Now, there was ample street parking, but it required that you pay by credit card using a phone app.
This struck me as terribly insecure for the users, so we instead parked in lot for five bucks.
How common is charging for street parking via phone app linked to a credit card or other account?
I realize that this saves the cost of parking meters, but you'd still have to have some sort of enforcement personnel or nobody would bother to pay.
A bad idea IMO, but others may differ.


We have this in the STL as well. Most of the places just have a post with a spot number or a zone and you can use the app, or a single kiosk somewhere along the block if you don't want to use an app.

Enforcement is the same. But instead of reading a meter, I believe they have a device to read your tag and check with "the mother ship" to see if you have paid to park, still have time, etc.

I also see the enforcement van drive around, scanning tags. Don't know if it can check with the system, or is just looking for those with enough parking tickets to earn a boot or a tow.

 

[JHZR2]

They have this in many places. There's a 35c surcharge, and typically there's still machines all over to pay in person.

 

[SeaJay]

There is a parking garage at a shopping center by me that is about the only place to park if you want to go there. The $3 dollar fee for the first 4 hours is only payable by credit card at the unmanned exit with a gate.

One of these days, when I have time to kill I will stop at the exit, push the help button and tell them I do not have a credit card. Presumably they will need to come quick as no one else behind me will be able to get out otherwise.

It is turning into a strange world now days.