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Threw $200 down the drain on that app-based parking scam in downtown Portland
I don't know how many of you park in the city often, but I got burned hard last month by one of those parking apps where you pay through your phone. Figured it was convenient, paid $18 for two hours near Powell's Books, and then when I went to extend my time, the app froze and said my session was expired and I'd get a ticket. Called the number on the sign, some automated voice, no real person. Ended up with a $65 ticket anyway. Then I check my bank statement and see the app charged me a $4.99 'service fee' every single time I used it that month. I used it like 30 times because I didn't notice. That's almost $150 in fees for nothing. Plus the $65 ticket. I was so mad I wanted to drive my car into the river. Does anyone else just carry quarters now for the old school meters or am I alone here?
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jakeb812mo ago
Paid $12 for two hours" - did you check if your credit card has a grace period for parking disputes like mine did?
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hannah3202mo ago
Oh man, that stings just reading it. I got hit with a similar thing from that same app near the Pearl District. Paid $12 for two hours, app crashed when I tried to add time, got a $55 ticket. Then I realized they'd been siphoning that $4.99 fee every single time for months. I checked my bank and it was over $100 just in fees. I keep a roll of quarters in my glovebox now and only use the metal meters when I can find one. At least when the machine eats your quarter you know right away it's a scam.
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