From Today, Motorists will be able to pay for their parking from their mobile phone in a new service launched by Westminster City Council.
This service means motorists will no longer need to carry around bagfuls of change to pay for their parking as now they can now make a simple telephone call or text, from the comfort and safety of their vehicle, to pay for their parking on the street. Also, once they have parked, if they find themselves stuck in a meeting or delayed they can top up their parking fee remotely (up to the maximum time allowed) without having to return to their vehicle.
For the Council, this service will help eliminate theft, fraud and vandalism to parking meters. It will reduce the cost of cash collection and the maintenance of machines which means that Westminster Council can re-invest savings in other transport improvements across the City.
Motorists can now easily set themselves up with a pay by phone parking account, either via a secure website at home, or via a touchtone phone or SMS text on the street. They will thereafter simply be able to pay for their parking with a quick phone call or text.
There is no need to display any proof of purchase in the vehicle as a Parking Attendant can check if payment has been received using their hand held computers, which are automatically updated once a phone payment has been made. The customer has proof of payment with an optional SMS confirmation or can check all their parking transactions online.
Westminster Council have launched this six month pilot scheme across two trial areas, including the West End and the Harrow Road, in response to customers demands for more flexible ways to pay for parking, before rolling out pay by phone parking across the borough.
Alastair Gilchrist, Director of Parking at Westminster Council said:
‘We are running this pilot to validate the benefits we expect will offer significant improvements in our parking service for motorists and the Council alike.
‘For motorists it gives coin-free convenience when paying for parking, and the ability to pay for longer from elsewhere if you’re running late. For business, it means great accountability and control.
‘We’re trying really hard to make sure the benefits of this service are communicated to residents, businesses and regular visitors with an email and letter campaign. We will also be on the streets encouraging people to sign up to the service there-and-then.
‘This new initiative again demonstrates that Westminster is providing a ‘blueprint’ service for other Council’s to follow.’
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:For further information please see the Q&As below or contact Andrew Hadfield on 02076412259 or email ahadfield@westminster.gov.uk
This scheme is part of the innovative Partnership in Parking project. This is a cross London venture set up to achieve procurement efficiencies across the capital. This means that Westminster will be sharing the data gained through the trial with the other boroughs (Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea, City of London) as well as Transport for London who are also considering the roll-out of Pay by Phone Parking.
For the past eighteen months, Westminster has introduced different methods of cashless parking including the UKs first Chip & PIN pay and display machines.
What are the customer benefits?
- Convenience - no need to leave the comfort of your car (e.g. when it’s raining, late at night) or you can pay whilst on the move.
- No more hunting for change.
- Increased choice about how to pay.
- Proof of payment in case it is required
- Easy top up payments* from wherever you are without the need to return to your vehicle (*up to the maximum stay period).
- No more lost money in broken equipment.
- You can pay in a number of different UK locations once you have set up an account
What are the additional benefits for businesses?
- No need to carry large bags of coins for maximum stay parking.
- More efficient expense accounting.
- Ability to manage any number of vehicles on one account.
- Lower risk of a parking ticket (PCN) when obtaining change or when a job takes longer than anticipated.
Westminster Council believes that many businesses will find great benefit from this service, for example, tradesmen and estate agents. Tradesmen may be working on a job that was only due to last 2 hours, but it over runs. Our new service will mean they don't have to go back to their vehicle to pay for more parking - they can top-up using their phone whilst still on the job. Estate agents on the other hand are moving constantly and may only wish to park for a small amount of time in any one session - this system makes it very convenient for them to pay a small amount and top up as required.
What’s in it for Westminster City Council?
- Provides a better customer experience in parking, encouraging more people to visit and do business in Westminster.
- Helps to ensure safety and security by reducing cash levels on-street
- Reduces street furniture and clutter
- Reduces costs of collecting and processing cash from machines
- Helps to eliminate theft, fraud and vandalism of on-street equipment
- Fewer capital costs for replacing and maintaining parking equipment
- Helps meet e-government targets
- More efficient means for our Parking Attendants to check for valid payment
- Fewer parking tickets (PCNs) issued due to faulty machines or incorrectly displayed Pay and Display tickets
Why is the City Council introducing Pay by Phone Parking as a pilot only?
In September 2005 a survey into cashless payment methods was carried out in and around the West End. Of the 456 customers asked, 49% said that they would be "very likely" to use mobile phone as their preferred payment option if it was available. Although this shows that there is a demand for Pay by Phone Parking, it is important for the Council to test any new payment system before implementing it on a permanent basis. This allows for customers to try out the new system and provide their feedback so that the system can be improved.
Where is the Pay by Phone trial taking place?
The trial is taking place in two different parking zones of Westminster: G1 zone, which comprises a large part of the West End including Covent Garden and Soho; C2 zone, which is the area of Westminster around Harrow Road and Queens Park. In both zones Pay by Phone will be offered as an alternative payment method at all of the current parking spaces where you can use a meter or Pay & Display machine.
What happens at the end of the trial period?
The Pay by Phone system will be evaluated during the trial period. If it has been a success, both for the public and the Council, it will remain in place in the trial area and will be considered for extension to the rest of the borough. If the trial proves unsuccessful, then the service will be modified accordingly or removed entirely and replaced with new Chip & PIN Pay and Display equipment.
Isn’t Pay by Phone discriminatory against people who don’t own or use a mobile phone?
Pay by Phone Parking is being offered as a complementary payment method in meter and Pay & Display bays, therefore motorists without a mobile phone can still pay for their parking either by coins or by credit or debit card (where available).
What does it cost to park and is it more to pay by phone?
The parking rates for Pay by Phone parking are no different from paying into a meter or Pay and Display machine.
- Parking charges in zone G1 (including the West End, Soho, Covent Garden) = £4.00 per hour.
- Parking charges in zone C2 (area around Harrow Road, Queens Park) = £1.00 per hour.
However, service charges do apply – see below.
What is the service charge and why do I have to pay it?
The service charge is a small fee we charge for the benefits and extra convenience that paying by phone provides. It also makes the service more cost effective for the council to operate without the need for the investment of public monies. Service charges are applied as follows:
- 10p on each parking transaction of £2 or less
- 20p on each parking transaction in excess of £2
- 10p per text for any confirmation texts requested (Touch tone payments only. SMS Text payments receive free confirmations by SMS text.)
- 10p for any extension ("top up") to parking time.
Is it safe to make payments like this via a mobile phone?
Yes - you only have to enter your credit or debit card details when you first set up an account. These details are encrypted and do not have to be entered, displayed, or spoken during a transaction. Your Pay by Phone Parking account can also be protected by a PIN of your choice. In addition, Pay by Phone Parking enables you to pay for your parking from the comfort and safety of your vehicle.
How will the Parking Attendant know that I have paid?
With the handheld devices currently used by Parking Attendants (PAs), they can access the Pay by Phone system and enter the location number where they are patrolling. The PA then automatically receives a list of all of the vehicle registration numbers that are parked in that location and have paid by phone.