To think the new outrageous 'pay by phone' parking shiz will obliterate the high street?

[Proudnscary]

In one of London suburbs near me they've installed these pay by phone parking systems. So you cannot pay for parking unless you have your mobile on you. There are no other options.

I had no idea til I got there so was standing in the pissing rain with 2 dc trying to work out who to text and what. Got two fucking texts back telling me I'd done it wrong and to log on and register with a Phoneparking website!!! FFS!!

I also noticed that there were several parking spaces free when usually there are none. So I googled it when I got home and the local shopkeepers are absolutely desperate - takings are down 40% since they installed these stupid things and hiked the prices. This isn't even a particularly affluent area!! There shouldn't be parking fees anyway, it's notbloody central London.

What about older people without phones or who are even less phone literate than me?

Isn't this illegal, that this is the only method of payment?

Doesn't the council realise this is driving people away from small businesses and into the supermarkets or shopping centres, even more than before??

So angry, am I BU, missing something??

[Proudnscaryvirginmary]

Alex - that is beyond infuriating.

[SardineQueen]

alextasha that's got to be one for the local paper surely. And someone upthread said MP. You have paid the parking fee FGS that is just outrageous.

[Haziedoll]

How annoying. Not everybody has phones and like you found the system fails and then you are stuck.

[Insomnia11]

I find them quite convenient but it shouldn't be the only option. There needs to be a backup for not having change. To park in London you practically need to hand over your first born son anyway.