Hidden Fees Plague Council Parking Apps

Many councils across England have eliminated traditional ticket machines in favor of app-only parking payments, inadvertently increasing costs for drivers. These app-based systems, while intended to reduce council expenses, often pass on additional service or convenience fees to users. These surcharges, typically between 10p and 30p, are not always clearly advertised on parking signs, leading drivers to pay unexpectedly higher tariffs. For example, a 30p service charge in Harrogate increased an 80p tariff by 38%, and a 20p fee in Chester raised a 50p tariff by 40%.

App providers state that their fees are disclosed during the payment process, but testing revealed that these charges are often hidden behind information symbols or require users to navigate through multiple screens. Some apps only reveal these extra costs on the final payment page, and some even add further charges for optional text alerts. While the Advertising Standards Authority suggests quoted prices must include all mandatory fees, app fees may not legally require display on council signage as they form a separate contract between the driver and the app provider.