App maker EasyPark to add surcharge to fees for Hobart CBD’s new parking meters

HOBART motorists will be slugged up to 10 per cent commission on top of their parking fees when they use the app linked to the CBD’s already unpopular new parking machines.

A Hobart City Council employee helps a motorist figure out one of the new parking meters. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

HOBART motorists will be slugged up to 10 per cent commission on top of their parking fees when they use the mobile phone app linked to the CBD’s already unpopular new parking machines.

As the machines hit yet another glitch of Friday — blamed on a nationwide Telstra outage affecting all electronic transactions — it came to light that the app provider, EasyPark, will be getting a cut from users.

HOBART’S NEW PARKING METERS DOWN AND OUT

But the app maker argues that, because users pay only for the parking time used, they will save money in the long run.

EasyPark offers two pricing models: a pay-as-you-go price option called EasyPark Casual, which attracts the 10 per cent commission; and an EasyPark Saver, where customers pay $1.99 a month and are charged 2.25 per cent for each transaction on the app

EasyPark argues that typically people overpay for parking by about 30 per cent just to be on the safe side.

Since users clock on and off with the app — and pay only for the time used — the company claims the app has the potential to provide users with a 20 per cent saving.

There is no minimum parking fee, unlike with cards which are charged a minimum of $3 regardless of the parking time required or used.

Motorists have complained about numerous problems with the new parking meters in Hobart’s CBD. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Peter Carr, director of innovation and technology for Hobart City Council, said the app was an opt-in service and the council would not receive any of the commission.

“The only revenue we will receive is for the parking tariff,” he said.

Many Hobartians have already complained the new parking meters, finding them slow and cumbersome to use and suffering from horrible screen glare.

MOTORISTS COMPLAIN ABOUT NEW PARKING METERS

Mr Carr said the council was working with technicians to fix the issues, particularly the slow speed.

Mr Carr said they were looking at brightness and contrast controls to mitigate the screen glare problems and conceded the council could have done better communicating the instructions.

“We do need the public to learn a new system,” he said.

“We certainly apologise for putting the city through that but we’re also pretty confident of overcoming some of these initial challenges and of winning back the confidence of the city.”

“We are actively working on campaigns at the moment so within the next week you’ll see something from us,” he said.