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From today (Tuesday 22 September 2009), motorists parking in Heathside Crescent Car Park in Woking will have a new and more convenient way of paying for parking - by mobile phone, using their debit or credit card. This car park has been launched in advance of the main rollout to the rest of the Borough which will take place during October. Operating alongside existing coin-operated pay and display cash machines, the cashless payment system, known as 'RingGo', will provide motorists who do not have the right amount of change to pay for their parking, or who would prefer to pay by debit or credit card, with an alternative method of payment. After parking, motorists simply dial the local number, 01483 342266, which is displayed on all pay and display machines in the car park. A driver will need to provide the location code 7000, also shown on the signs, their car registration number and the length of time they wish to stay. Payment will then be taken from the driver's debit or credit card. First time users of the service will need to give their full payment card details, but will only need to quote the last four-digits of their payment card the next time they use the service, as the state-of-the-art technology is able to identify the mobile phone being used. The system is totally paperless, with no need for parking tickets, as parking attendants can accurately check which vehicles have paid using RingGo through special mobile phones, which link directly to RingGo's central data system. The RingGo system may also spell the end of having to rush back to the car park in fear of receiving a Penalty Charge Notice, as motorists can extend their stay by mobile phone. To use the service, motorists will be charged a flat rate of 20p in addition to the car park's normal parking fee. For an extra 10p, motorists can request a text reminder sent to their mobile phone to advise them that their parking period is about to expire. Cllr John Kingsbury, Woking Borough Council's Leader of the Executive and Portfolio Holder for Parking Services, said: "We anticipate that the introduction of the RingGo cashless payment system will bring significant benefits to motorists who use Heathside Crescent Car Park. It will mean no more hunting for loose change when they park, and motorists will have the convenience of knowing that they can extend their stay by mobile phone without having the inconvenience of returning to the car park." |
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