CellOPark head Ori Almog responds after confusing new email issued to customers

The head of the company behind a Brisbane parking app has responded after a confusing new email was issued amid ongoing fears of a data breach that has left the city council “deeply frustrated and disappointed”.

Hayley Miller pictured on Doggett Street, Fortitude Valley using her CellOpark App to pay for parking. Picture David Clark

The head of an embattled major parking company engulfed in a mysterious internal stoush has insisted a trouble new app is “entirely legitimate”.

But thousands of Queensland users, and more across the rest of Australia, have been left in the dark on the root cause of the spat between CellOPark Australia and its replacement OPark.

CellOPark Australia Pty Ltd is the third-party mobile phone app provider contracted by Brisbane City Council to run paid parking sites across the nation’s largest local government area.

The Australian-based company, whose shareholders are based in Israel and Cyprus, also counts major universities like UNSW and Monash as customers.

Confounding emails sents by CellOPark Australia last week first told customers they would be migrated to a new platform called OPark.

A follow up email then claimed a rogue local operator had sent the initial email without permission and the transition was cancelled.

On December 23 customers then received another email claiming a “court of competent jurisdiction has a temporary injunction prohibiting transfer of users from CellOPark to O-Park”.

A new email sent to customers on Monday has added to the confusion.

“The relevant municipalities/ universities have also been notified this injunction. We are confident that this will put an end to any prohibited requests or notifications to transfer O-Park,” the statement noted.

“We assure you that CellOPark will continue to provide you with the same parking services are provided to date.”

CellOPark Australia Pty Ltd also trades as Smarter City Solutions, with O-Park also registered as a business name.

CellOPark and O-Park are owned by the same people – Ori Almog and Shmuel Kachlon – according to ASIC records. Both men are also executives at Smarter City Solutions.

Mr Almog refused to comment when contacted by the Courier-Mail and said a statement would be posted on CellOPark’s Facebook page shortly. No statement has yet been posted.

But he also insisted O-Park was an entirely legitimate entity.

Asked repeatedly if he would explain to users what was going on, Mr Almog said he could not comment at current time and hoped to be able to speak further in the New Year.

The technology behind CellOPark Australia was developed by an Israeli company, with historical news articles indicating Mr Almog brought the technology to our shores.

A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman last week said council was aware emails had been sent to CellOPark customers, including those in Brisbane.

“While there’s been no impact on Brisbane meters, we’re deeply frustrated and disappointed our residents have been caught up in this matter,” she said.

“CellOPark has advised today (December 20) the plan to transition to a new app has been halted.

“However, Council will be reviewing our future options to ensure the best outcome for ratepayers.”

Originally published as CellOPark head Ori Almog responds after confusing new email issued to customers