Tunbridge Wells launches RingGo parking

Aside from the existing pay and display system, motorists will be given the option to use the cashless parking system 'RingGo'. Motorists will be able to park and dial the local rate number shown on signs and payment machines around the car parks and pay for their parking over the phone with a credit or debit card. They will need to provide the location code, shown on signs, their vehicle details and length of time they wish to park. First time users will need to give full credit/debit card details but the next time they use the service, they will only need to provide the last four digits as RingGo will be able to confirm the identity of the mobile phone that is being used. There is no need to display any proof of payment in the vehicle as parking attendants can check if the fee has been received using their hand held computers. These are automatically updated once a phone payment has been received.

Motorists will no longer have to worry about having the right amount of change and will be able to pay for their parking securely over the phone. They will be safe in the knowledge that once parked, they can extend their stay if necessary without going back to the car park and without running the risk of getting a parking fine or Penalty Charge Notice. For this service, RingGo users will be charged a flat rate of 20p in addition to the normal parking fee and for an extra cost of 10p, the motorist can request a text reminder to advise them that their parking period is due to expire.

Cllr Paul Barrington-King says 'RingGo is simple and easy to use and may well be the future of parking. We are piloting the service to assist motorists who do not carry the correct change for our ticket machines - with RingGo this isn't an issue. We are certain that the scheme will offer significant improvements to parking services we provide for motorists. This initiative provides a welcome alternative to the existing pay-and-display machines; it also offers a cashless convenience when paying for parking and an easy option to extend the period by a simple 'top-up' payment. Theft, fraud and vandalism to parking meters should decline and the reduction in routine maintenance coupled with the need to collect cash means that TWBC can reallocate this income to service improvements'.