Gold Coast parking app’s technological issue, man claims he paid for parking but was still fined by council

A Gold Coast driver who paid for all-day parking has been slammed with a fine despite using council’s own app.

A FURIOUS Gold Coast worker wants council to waive an $80 parking fine he received last week, because he has a receipt that shows he paid for an all-day spot.

The trouble is David Henderson parked on Cloyne Road, Southport, and he claims the new EasyPark app registered it for nearby Marshall Lane.

The app is endorsed by council and is used in spots around the city where parking meters have been removed.

Mr Henderson alleges he parked on Cloyne Road last Thursday about 9am and paid the full-day parking fee of $6.60 via the EasyPark app.

However, when he returned at 2.30pm after work, he says he found an $80 ticket for failing to pay for a parking spot.

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David Henderson was fined $80 by Gold Coast council despite paying for a full day on Cloyne Road in Southport. Picture: David Henderson

The EasyApp Park app automatically chose the wrong neighbouring carpark on Marshall Lane instead. Picture: David Henderson

He claims instead of the app choosing his Cloyne Road carpark, the app automatically chose a parking spot at Marshall Lane. The carparks are metres away from each other.

The app, launched on the Gold Coast on August 1, automatically detects where someone has parked.

The user just needs to click on a yellow circle surrounding their location and the app will deduct the money and confirm the spot.

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Mr Henderson thought he was paying for a full day on Cloyne Road (green) in Southport, but the EasyApp Park app automatically chose the wrong neighbouring carpark on Marshall Lane (red) instead. Picture: Supplied

Mr Henderson alleges that when he complained to council he was told it was “unlikely” the fine would be waived.

“They know that I paid for parking, but still continued to give me the infringement. It’s ridiculous … obviously the app is inefficient and can’t identify where you are.”

Mr Henderson says he took photos of his online receipt, which confirms he paid for parking until 9.20pm, but for Marshall Lane.

“I believe they should at least look at the situation and get back to the people that have made the app to refine it, there’s an issue there,” he said.

“If I had done the wrong thing, I would have (happily) copped it.”

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A City spokesman said “it would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases”.

“All parking fine appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis and in line with the City’s Penalty Infringement Review Policy.

“The City introduced the new parking technology to make it easier to find and pay for parking and people still have the choice to pay with cash or credit card if they wish.

“We continue to work very closely with EasyPark to resolve any issues related to the app but have received very few complaints in the past two months since it began.”