A DRIVER says a confusing parking app meant he paid for the wrong car park and ended up getting a ticket, putting him off returning to the city centre.

John Tenace says he used the RingGo app on his phone to pay for parking, the app suggesting he was in the car park behind Benedicto's (King Street).

However, he was actually parked in Clare Street and, as a result, he received a penalty charge notice which he successfully appealed against. 

Worcester News: FEES: The small print lets people know about the 'small convenience fee'FEES: The small print lets people know about the 'small convenience fee' (Image: Supplied)

The app does warn drivers to 'check the location code above matches the signage in the location you're parking in' before paying for parking. 

The 54-year-old was parking in Clare Street (a RingGo only car park) when he used the app to purchase a ticket about a week and a half ago.

However, after he challenged the decision to impose the penalty charge, he says the ticket was cancelled but he was warned he would be charged next time.

He is concerned older people may not be able to challenge fines online or use the app.

He said: "I was in Clare Street and the app wrongly placed me in the car park behind Benedicto’s restaurant.

"I was issued a parking ticket and had to go through the appeal process which I could have done without. This is driving people away from the city. It definitely has put me off parking in the city."

Cllr Jill Desayrah has also raised concerns about Worcester's car parks, arguing there is a misapprehension many car parks in the city centre do not accept cash and that you require a smartphone app to pay.

The councillor has suggested a pre-paid card you can top up at the post office may be the answer for some. 

Mr Tenace also wanted to make other drivers aware of the charges which are in the 'small print' when drivers use the app.

Mr Tenace said: "RingGo charge a small fee which on a £1.50 park is 40 pence that’s 26.5% (small it is not).

"So not only is Worcester council pushing drivers to use that RingGo app. They are also exploiting us. It's extortionate."

According to Worcester City Council, you can pay by card, cash or RingGo at many city car parks including Cattlemarket, Copenhagen Street, Cornmarket, Croft Road, King Street, Pitchcroft, Newport Street, Providence Street and St Martin's Gate Car Park.

The following car parks are listed as RingGo only: Clare Street, Commandery Road, Tallow Hill, Moors and Tybridge Street.

A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “All City Council car parks have a RingGo location number prominently displayed, and we would recommend that customers use that when paying by either the app or the phoneline, to make certain they are paying to use the correct car park.

“RingGo do charge a courtesy fee of 20p for each booking; this is standard practice with the majority of app payment systems. There are also options to receive a text message confirming your booking for 10p and another option to receive a text alerting you to the end of your car parking period for another 10p. Information about these charges is displayed in all our car parks.

“It is important to say that we have only introduced RingGo-only payments in five of our smallest car parks, covering just 359 spaces out of the total 2,316 car spaces available across the City Council’s estate of 14 car parks.

“Cash and card payments continue to be available at our other nine car parks. Signs are prominently displayed at the entrances to the five car parks that are now app-only, giving clear information on where the nearest car park that accepts cash and card payments is. This information can also be found at www.worcester.gov.uk/parking.”