Driven round the bend by parking machines
I’d like to share a story that really upset me. Last week I parked my car at a paid parking zone in front of my yoga studio to attend a class.
I tried to pay my parking fee in both machines in this area but the machines would not accept the coins. There were other people walking around with the same issue. I went into the studio and ask the receptionist to report to the RTA that the machines in the area do not work, which he did. Sure enough I left the yoga studio an hour-and-a-half later to find a fine on my car.
I even still saw the gentlemen who issued it who wasn’t at all interested to respond to my query about the machine not working. Instead he suggested I would have to keep searching for a machine that works! I then called the RTA parking department to complain about the fine just to be told I would have to go RTA main customer service office, which is located at the other end of town, to raise my complaint.
-
After questioning for several minutes if it could not be resolved on the phone she indicated that only if I could prove that another person’s fine got waived my case could be considered or else I could have looked for a machine that is working.. seriously? What is the whole “customer service blah blah” worth if all the communication is geared towards wasting the customer’s time, money and nerves.
Upset parker, Dubai
Comments
by Divya Ned
Monday, July 30 2012, 11:07AM
“I totally agree. I have received a few parking fines my self and so have other people I know. Sometimes you put in coins and it falls back down, or you sms and it says error. That's just horrible, one can never count on being for a meeting or something important on time.
However the RTA is there right on time to fine you, cause lets face it they have to make their pocket money. Most of them have no common courtesy or respect to even listen to what you have to say. It's unfair like that. You need to know English for them to understand which I agree with, but seriously have some concern for others who have to pay this heavy fine!”
by ashley
Thursday, July 26 2012, 7:24PM
“why dont u try to use sms parking or NOL card to deal with your parking issue instead of wasting your time with coins, money, and your time ito write a letter??? those will do the job perfectly if you know how to deal with parking machine properly....”
by desertdaisy
Thursday, July 26 2012, 12:03PM
“While I'm not saying that their attitude is right (it is one that I've come to expect from any organisation here though) did you know you can pay for your parking via text? It costs 30 fils to do so on top of the payment fee and they will send you a reminder when the expiry time is approaching. Might save you some hassle in the future?
They don't care that the meters don't work, you have to park there so you have to pay. Who cares how you do it seems to be their attitude. What goes around comes around!”
by JKS
Thursday, July 26 2012, 11:14AM
“Lets hope the customer service academy due to launch will do the trick”
by Chocs01
Thursday, July 26 2012, 9:01AM
“Seems to be an ongoing issue with most parking meters. I went through 20dhs worth of coins to find 2 that would be accepted. What's wrong with them?”