In Stockholm, the city’s joint parking app Pay P will soon disappear. Several other cities have seen the same development. Instead, a number of parking companies are tasked with providing parking apps. Something that makes motorists see red.
It is important to download a number of apps, enter your information correctly and understand how the apps work. Which not everyone does.
Especially difficult for the elderly
– It’s a big frustration, not least for the elderly who don’t have a smart phone, and for people who visit other cities where you might have other parking apps, says Olle Haglund, lawyer M Sweden, formerly Motormännen, who advises members on these issues .
Criticism of the apps has increased recently, according to M Sweden.
– We receive more complaints. This may be due to more people using the apps, but also because there are more apps, which brings more complaints. It is difficult to say what is a handling error or a technical error. But it’s about not making it work, says Olle Haglund.
What do people complain about the most?
– That there will be errors in the zoning. That they are considered to have parked in a zone, although they have not. Then you get a parking fine for registering the wrong zone, says Olle Haglund.
Hard to get right
Other common complaints concern the lack of accurate and clear information about which parking rules apply.
Accidentally choosing the wrong car in the app, at the same time as money is deducted for parking and then getting fined, is a situation that motorists can recognize themselves in. But it is difficult to get justice against the companies. As a motorist, you have a far-reaching responsibility to avoid fines for incorrect parking, points out M Sweden.
– You cannot refer to the fact that you are stressed, or entered the wrong registration number in the app because you, for example, have two cars, says Olle Haglund, who, however, believes that the parking companies are often irresponsible.
– We think that you should listen more to consumers, and have a dialogue about each individual parking situation. The companies often only refer to the rules, that it is the motorist’s responsibility to follow the rules and pay the fee, but rarely want to discuss the individual case.
The Swedish Consumer Agency has not noted any increase in complaints about the parking apps.
– Most of the people who call in have received a parking fine and want help with it, says Tim Andersson, supervisor of the Swedish Consumer Agency.