Parking should be straightforward but sometimes it doesn’t goas smoothly as it ought to. From QR code scams to parking fines, the pitfalls are real, so PayByPhone has put together some tips to help avoid things going wrong.

Poor Internet connectivity  

Some parking locations may have poor Internet connectivity, which can cause problems when paying by app. The good news is the car park operator usually sets a grace period - the time between parking and when you must start your parking session. So you have a little time to find a better connection or uncover a work around.

If you find yourself in a car park with slow or patchy Internet connection - your train station car park for example - you may be able to pay for your parking before you get to the station, or after you are on the train. In multistorey car parks, which can have patchy Internet, we suggest walking outside the structure to initiate payment.

We always suggest you check the car park’s Ts and Cs as it’s important to know how long you have to make the payment. There are other options available, too. You can pay via one of 28,000 PayPoint stores.

QR scams

These scams - where fake QR code stickers are placed over genuine stickers to direct you to bogus websites to capture payment details fraudulently - are sadly part of our everyday lives. Our advice is never to pay for your parking by scanning a QR code. Instead you should:

- Download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play Store (not navigated to via a QR code) and pay using the app

- Pay via the payment provider’s website that you have navigated to yourself not via a QR code

- Call the automated payment phone line and pay that way.

But what happens if you don’t already have the right payment app downloaded? You might feel you have little option but to download it via the QR code on the machine.  On the rare occasion the QR code is the only option, you should:

- Check the QR sticker very carefully

- Does it look like there is an additional sticker on top?

- Does the URL it goes to match the official provider’s URL? It may look similar!

If you are in any doubt, do not provide any details and use another option to pay.

Time running out

It's ok if your plans run over, what’s not ok is a parking ticket! You can extend your parking session anytime - inline with the car park’s Ts and Cs - by going back into the PayByPhone app, adding more time and paying for it. This saves you from having to return to your car to top up the session, or risking a parking ticket by letting your parking session expire.

Getting details wrong

Double-check your details. Motorists most easily make mistakes that lead to fines because their details don’t match. Take care:

- Entering vehicle registration numbers correctly

- Selecting the correct vehicle for a parking session where there is more than one registered in your app

- Entering the correct parking location code. Ensure you look at the signage on the same side of the road as you have parked as location numbers may differ and an incorrect location number will invalidate your session.