Text Charges
Optional SMS Alerts & Fees (Applicable to consumers only)
PayByPhone offers optional SMS alerts to help you stayinformed and in control of your parking. These alerts are not mandatory, you can enable or disable them within your account settings at any time.
Available SMS Services
- SMS Receipt
Sent immediately after your parking session is started to confirm successful completion. - SMS Reminder
Sent up to 10 minutes before your parking expires, reminding you to extend or move your vehicle in time.
SMS Charges
- Each SMS you receive incurs a fee ranging between £0.10 and £0.25, depending on the parking operator.
- All charges are clearly displayed before payment is confirmed.
- You’ll only be charged for SMS alerts you’ve opted into.
- Fees may vary from time to time and are subject to change.
Business User SMS Notifications
From 5th December 2025, we will introduce SMS confirmations and reminders for PayByPhone Business Customer accounts to help ensure smooth parking management.
- Automatic Notifications
Business drivers will automatically receive an SMS confirmation when a business parking session is started, confirming the booking was successful. They will also receive a reminder before the session expires.
- Purpose
These notifications help prevent parking mistakes, such as missed expirations or unconfirmed bookings, which can lead to fines.
Important Information for Business Accounts
- Personal vs. Business Parking
If drivers use PayByPhone for both personal and business parking, SMS notifications will only be sent automatically for business sessions. - Fees Apply
Each SMS notification incurs a fee of £0.10–£0.25, depending on the parking operator. These fees are included automatically in the parking payment transaction and full details of these are shown in the fee schedule. - Driver Phone Numbers
SMS delivery depends on a valid mobile number being provided. If an incorrect number is entered, drivers may not receive notifications but you may still be charged for the SMS service associated to the parking activity. - Stopping SMS Alerts
Business customers and their drivers, who have joined the service prior to 5th December 2025, can opt out of receiving future SMS notifications at any time by replying “STOP” to any PayByPhone SMS message.
Once opted out, PayByPhone cannot reinstate SMS alerts forthat number unless the driver re-enables them. - Business Customers joining post 5th December will not be able to opt out of SMS as these are part of the new service.
Transparency & Consumer Rights (non business customers and business customers who joined prior to 5th December 2025)
- All SMS charges are shown before payment confirmation.
- You have full control over whether to enable or disable these notifications in a personal account.
- SMS alerts are optional as a consumer and do not affect your ability to park or pay.
- Disabling SMS alerts will prevent further reminders but won’t impact any existing parking sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I still park without using SMS alerts?
A: Yes. SMS alerts are entirely optional for personal parking and can be turned off in your account settings.
Q: How do I know what I’ll be charged?
A: All SMS fees are shown before you pay. Fees range between 10p and 25p per SMS, depending on your parking operator.
Q: How can I stop receiving SMS alerts as a personal user (consumer)?
A: Reply “STOP” to any PayByPhone SMS message or update your preferences in your account.
Q: Can I stop receiving SMS as a Business user?
A: Only those business customers who joined the service prior to 5th December will be able to opt out of SMS services.