Car park scam at Thornaby station

[ThatFragranceGuy]

It's not a 24 hour rail service, the ticket office covers the vast majority of train departures. If you don't want to buy a ticket by speaking to someone you can always use the automated service.

It's not far off though, and people generally want to park well before their train is due to leave the station. We got a train from Thornaby on Sunday, the ticket office didn't open until 9.15 which was over 45 minutes after our train departed, and presume that wasn't the first train. Trains run well after 7pm also, so selling tickets via the ticket office is just going to add complexity and uncertainty and given that its operated by a third party company, theyre probably not keen in having a third party handle payments for them.

If they can't read a card number they probably shouldn't be driving.

The main problem with app only payment is that phone signal isn't always guaranteed. And the other problem is every car park needing a different app.

I am completely opposed to pay up front parking though. It's a scam designed to make you pay for more time than you need. You should only pay the cost for the time you are there.

Yep, should be the case that you can just register with an app and the ANPR knows your times and bills you, easier for everyone all round once set up. We used a car park in the lakes that you have to pay for enough time while you are there, but it starts from the second you drive in, not when you get the ticket. From TripAdvisor it often catches people out, as they get back to the car, see the ticket was from 2pm, and buy the time needed - but they actually got into the carpark at say 1:50. Designed to catch people out, especially as always a queue as some machines are broken. That's why I generally prefer an app, as I've never not been able to pay via an app but I've had several instances with machines where they tell you the machine is down so its ok, but then you get a ticket - luckily I've always gotten them to confirm it to me somehow rather than trusting of it, but cash operated parking machines are far worse than any app solution imo. - the main problem is, as you say - different apps for each company.

 

[Colgates_shaving_foam]

If they can't read a card number they probably shouldn't be driving.

The main problem with app only payment is that phone signal isn't always guaranteed. And the other problem is every car park needing a different app.

I am completely opposed to pay up front parking though. It's a scam designed to make you pay for more time than you need. You should only pay the cost for the time you are there.

I'm only reporting anecdotes that I have been told about the issues people have. I personally have no issue in using parking apps apart from them having different ones for different car parks.

I am a firm believer in being as inclusive as possible in allowing people to go about their daily lives.