A new parking system rolled out across several ritzy Sydney suburbs has come under fire with drivers claiming it invades their privacy.
North Sydney Council has introduced a cashless system that requires drivers to download an app and create an account which demands personal details, all just to park their car.
Drivers have lashed out at the system since it was introduced in July claiming it is overcomplicated and intrusive.
Among the details required to create an account are their full name, phone number, email, postcode, car registration, and credit card details.
An 8.25 per cent surcharge is added on top of every transaction when drivers pay through the new Touch N Go boxes or PayStay app.
2GB host Ben Fordham ripped into the system on Wednesday saying it had caused a flurry of confusion as the old parking meters were still around.
‘The old parking meters are still there with garbage bags over the top of them and masking tape going around them,’ he said.
‘There are some people pulling up and parking and thinking, alright well, the parking meters aren’t working so I won’t bother.
A new parking system rolled out across several ritzy Sydney suburbs has come under fire with drivers claiming it invades their privacy
‘Then you’ll get back to the car and discover, no, you’re supposed to know about this other system where you download the app and give all of your details across and try and work the thing out.’
Annoyed listener Jody wrote in to the station and labelled the payment system a ‘complete joke’ and particularly hard on older people not used to navigating apps and downloads.
‘What happened to anonymously chucking a coin in a meter and getting on with your day?’ she wrote.
‘When did it become so complicated and time consuming just to park the car?
‘Will this become the norm? Everywhere I’ve parked in Crows Nest there’s no physical meter, just a sign saying pay by phone and directing you to a website.
‘When you get to the website, it tells you to download an app. When you download the app, you need to then create an account and sign up.’
Jody was required to share her name, phone number, email, postcode, car registration and credit card to use the app.
Another local vented on social media at how parking had become an ‘absolute nightmare’.
‘Whatever happened to just dropping a few coins in the meter? The whole system is a joke – and we’re the punchline,’ he wrote.
Northy Sydney Council rolled out the new parking system in July – with the
‘North Sydney Council is happy to crow about them being solar-powered and environmentally friendly, but you can’t navigate them – it’s almost impossible.’
Liberal candidate for North Sydney Council Jessica Keen said she also tried to use the new parking system but ‘couldn’t work it out’.
‘I was on council for four years and I sat on traffic committee, so I’m very across parking meters and I was also like Jody trying to work it out,’ she said.
Other listeners told Fordham they would not be able to park their cars as they do not carry mobile phones.
A North Sydney Council spokesman said drivers could pay for parking through three options: meters, Touch N Go boxes, and the PayStay App.
The surcharge is only applied when using the Touch N Go boxes or PayStay app.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted North Sydney Council for comment.
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