Train station parking

boardz

So I needed to go into Dublin city for an exam yesterday and I decided to get the train instead of driving. I looked up the times on Irishrail.ie and headed for the Navan Road parkway station, parked my car and then started the hunt to pay for my car parking. Could not see any machine so I went into the station and there was a sign (put up by Irish Rail!) stating that there was no way to pay for parking by cash. I went back out and looked at the sign at the car park entrance and it didn't mention that you could not pay by cash but listed 3 ways to pay
- by phone (an 0818 number)
- by downloading the app
- by website
I searched for the app but could not find it so I called the number. Lady explained that there was on Android app until next month but I could pay now with a credit card. I didn't have my card with me and I suggested that it was not really acceptable to expect everybody who wanted to use the car park to have a credit card and that an ability to pay by cash for such a small amount (€4/day) should be available just like any other car park. She said I should call somebody who had a card and get that person to call the company and pay for my parking. I said that I would not be comfortable to do that. I requested could she 'let me off' under the circumstances or I could leave the €4 under the wheel but she was having none of it. The train was due to arrive so I took a chance. The extra worry was most unwelcome but my car was not clamped. The fact that you could not pay by cash was not noted anywhere on the Irish rail website, but in any event shouldn't a company accept legal tender for a service?

goz83

Is the carpark run by irish rail, or a third party?

boardz

Third party

boardz

APCOA is the name of the company running the car park at that station.

*Kol*

Sligo train station has park by text. Limerick I think is coins. Some are free. Its all over the place.

boardz

Yeah I signed up for park by text when I used Dunboyne station but as you say it's all over the place......did somebody say joined up thinking??

ironclaw

boardz wrote: »

Shouldn't a company accept legal tender for a service?

A company should accept legal tender but they have no legal obligation to do so. No company has to offer you a service or product on your chosen terms, by utilizing their service or buying a product you agree to their terms (Provided they don't breach consumer acts etc)

However, I am with you. Its a nightmare and its very common in America actually (Credit card only machines and car parks). Personally, I blame the banks as they charge a fortune to lodge cash and coins, in addition to the issues surrounding the safety and security of collecting and leaving cash in remote car parks. Contact-less and Card will take over very soon, most companies just haven't cracked the 'ease of use' issues yet.

To their credit, I find the PayZone App very good in Dublin. One of the few initiatives I feel they got right.

goz83

Leave an angle grinder on the passenger seat. I hear, to the clamper, it's like a hawk to the pigeon.

GavMan

boardz wrote: »

Yeah I signed up for park by text when I used Dunboyne station but as you say it's all over the place......did somebody say joined up thinking??

If you signed up and used Park by Text, why couldn't you use it here? Presume you changed phone or something since then?

Anyway, I'm going to take a leap here and presume (like the majority of people) you have a debit card from your bank for your current account? Why didn't you simply go to http://www.parkbytext.ie and pay there (since there's no android app)

boardz

OSI wrote: »

Because that car park isn't set up for ParkByText

Yeah APCOA run this one....it seems you have to sign up to several companies to be able to really travel by train...and there are costs associated...for example with park by text there is a monthly charge..... hence my comment about joined up thinking, instead of being incentivised to use public transport we are actually being discouraged. Very frustrating.

GavMan

Okay, I misread the station.

I had a look at streetview and can clearly see 2 machines. Why the hell would they have gotten rid or them or not replaced them if they were faulty/damaged. Mind boggling

I've used my visa debit over the phone when just telling the other end that its a visa card. Probably would have worked for you here.

GavMan

Also, I think apcoa run all the clamping in Irish rail stations. Which makes the park by text issue even stranger.

*Kol*

I like the park by text. At least if you don't return on the day you are supposed to you can top it up remotely.