Parking Meter at University of Sydney Not Giving Change

hj0809 on 27/06/2018 - 00:36
Last edited 27/06/2018 - 08:49 by 1 other user

Hi all.

Today I parked my car at the University of Sydney car park. Only one parking meter was working, and the credit card feature on it was faulty. The parking cost was $6.

The meter could take $5, $10 and $20 notes, I was in a bit of a rush so I put in $10. Immediately afterwards I noticed that there was a message that change is not provided (despite a coin return chute). The meter didn't allow me to cancel after I put in my note, and nor did it produce $4 in change. After calling the after hours hotline, I was told tough luck.

Should I just accept that this is the norm? Is there a place to raise a formal complaint? I would expect that there should be an option to cancel at the very least…

Automotive

Comments

  • tsunamisurfer on 27/06/2018 - 00:39
    -4

    Wouldn't one normally mitigate such risks by having a small bag of coins in the car?

    Yes by all means spend an hour to raise a formal complaint over $4.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2018 - 01:15
      +5

      What garbage!

      What are people with large bags of coins supposed to do?

      • HighAndDry on 28/06/2018 - 11:30

        Buy a smaller bag?

    • kerfuffle on 27/06/2018 - 06:16
      +2

      Who carries coins around in 2018?

      • Almost Banned on 27/06/2018 - 11:15

        And who would keep them in a car for meth-heads to break in and steal?

      • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2018 - 18:39

        I didn't even think you could physically carry a coin? I have it stored on a micro SD but it isn't considered part of my wallet.

        • bobbified on 27/06/2018 - 23:22

          I didn't even think you could physically carry a coin?

          You just reminded me of a video I saw on YouTube about a TSA agent wanting to search a bag because he "saw a bitcoin in there". lol

        • HighAndDry on 28/06/2018 - 11:29

          @bobbified: Holy smokes…. I mean I knew the TSA didn't recruit from the cream of the crop, but that's some special-ed territory right there.

  • p1 ama on 27/06/2018 - 00:49

    I was in a bit of a rush so I put in $10. Immediately afterwards I noticed that there was a message that change is not provided

    By your own logic, you stuffed up. Obvious solution would be to have a coin box in the car or to read before putting your money in things.

  • garetz on 27/06/2018 - 00:53

    How do you prove it, is it really worth your time ?I would say learn from it and move on.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2018 - 01:05
    +25

    Take it to the high court and have in integrated into the constitution. It's mabo, it's justice, it's law, it's the vibe.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2018 - 01:16
    +9

    It's a clear petty money grab, a few dollars from each person adds up for hundreds every day, could rack up $100k over a year rather easily.

    • Nugs on 27/06/2018 - 06:18

      yes, that is true.

      all the more reason to be prepared for such circumstances.

      .

      • HighAndDry on 28/06/2018 - 11:31

        I think the real take away lesson is - go into the paid parking business…….

  • lost in transit on 27/06/2018 - 06:50

    A tough bunch, being ripped off 40% isn't the ozbargain way.We come on here to save a buck where we can only to be screwed by thieves like this.

  • bobbified on 27/06/2018 - 07:23
    +1

    The meter could take $5, $10 and $20 notes

    Geez, once upon a time, the machines only took loose change. The centre console of everyone's car was a quasi piggybank.

    Nowadays, we get screwed with such high parking prices that they've had to build machines to take notes!

    • mskeggs on 27/06/2018 - 09:13
      +3

      That is what the ash tray was for when we all gave up smoking.
      Young people must find it hard to believe people would routinely smoke in a car with non-smokers in the same vehicle.
      Nobody in my house smoked when I was a kid, but if a smoker visited, they would sit puffing away on the lounge, ashing in our fancy crystal ash tray.

      • bobbified on 27/06/2018 - 10:26

        ah yes! the ashtray!

        I regularly smoked in my car, but never actually used the ash tray. I had a half-filled bottle of water stowed in the storage space on the door to make sure the cigarette is completely out when I finished.

        I keep hearing stories from the older guys at work about how they used to smoke in the office and an ashtray was a standard item in the stationery cupboard. That would've been interesting!

        • Euphemistic on 28/06/2018 - 11:21

          I remember the stench of stale cigarette smoke from when I used to visit dad's office as a kid. So glad we don't have to put up with that now.

      • onetwothreefour on 27/06/2018 - 11:42

        Young people must find it hard to believe people would routinely smoke in a car with non-smokers in the same vehicle.

        This reminds me of a time when my dad and I were driving from London to where we lived - about a 3 hour drive. I was about 10 years old.

        When we got home he said that I looked like I was going to fall asleep in the car so I told him that I felt sick when he was smoking. He said that I should have told him I was feeling sick and he would have opened the window!

        Would not happen these days.

      • cameldownunder on 27/06/2018 - 12:44

        Must be hard to imagine that some cars did not have seatbelts in the back, and being belted was optional.

        • Euphemistic on 28/06/2018 - 11:21

          Some cars did not have seatbelts at all.

  • vinni9284 on 27/06/2018 - 07:53
    +1

    I use an app called Paystay.

    It is ideal if you don't if you have any spare change/notes. The app is link to your CC like many other apps.
    Plus, it saves running back to the meter if you have entered insufficient credit and you are running late …. (for example if you have paid for 2 hours in a 4 hour parking period)

    This saves you from getting booked.
    I think there is a reminder on the app if your parking time is about to get expired.

    Tbh, I have only used it a couple of times and it's been OK.
    The reviews aren't the best for some reason.

    Cheers

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 27/06/2018 - 10:27

      I use it at the zoo. It's good not having to go and buy a ticket.

  • Randxyz123 on 27/06/2018 - 07:56
    +1

    Most parking meters don’t give change. In fact I think that’s always been a thing.

    Don’t know about Sydney but I’d say 98% in Melbourne you can use paystay (phone app) or use payWave

    • vinni9284 on 27/06/2018 - 07:57

      This! Paystay as I have mentioned above.
      Cheers

  • retiredfeline on 27/06/2018 - 08:01

    Lucky you didn't put a $20 note in then. I think you should ask USyd why they are so backward when other parks have pay by tap, ticketless parking, etc.

    • Randxyz123 on 27/06/2018 - 08:33

      You don’t know that they didn’t have tap and go

      • retiredfeline on 27/06/2018 - 08:45

        At the exit? Sounds like the old fashioned pay and display. If they do have tap on exit it's the OP's fault for not using that.

        • Randxyz123 on 27/06/2018 - 09:08

          There are heaps of parking facilities that use pay and display but also take cards.

        • retiredfeline on 27/06/2018 - 09:13

          @knick007: Yes and pay and display is old hat as I said, even if they accept cards.

      • djkelly69 on 27/06/2018 - 09:29

        They don't have tap and go, and it is pay and display. You have to insert your card and they are very sensitive about what cards they take, and also take forever to process payments.

        When I first started I did put in a $20 - that was a quick lesson.

  • pantsparty on 27/06/2018 - 09:13

    You are posting on Ozbargain about $4, when you are the one who didn't see the no change sign? Oh my. Get over it and bring correct change next time, or do what most people do and take public transport to uni. This post is a waste of time.

  • HighAndDry on 27/06/2018 - 10:44

    Only one parking meter was working, and the credit card feature on it was faulty

    Have had this happen to me (not at USYD). Is infuriating, especially since I hate parking meters to begin with.

  • altomic on 27/06/2018 - 11:24

    do the parking meter offer paypass?
    the QUT meters have it. extremely handy.

    • HighAndDry on 27/06/2018 - 11:31

      the credit card feature on it was faulty

    • djkelly69 on 27/06/2018 - 11:42

      do the parking meter offer paypass?

      No, insert card-type machines (and faulty anyway as noted above).

  • Emerald Owl on 01/08/2018 - 02:15

    Yep I put in a $20 once expecting change. Got very angry. Pm us if you get it back from them.

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