I’ve Seen The Future And It’s ***

[Hymie]

Last week I was working at a client’s premises where they had limited parking spaces for staff and visitors. On Thursday they had a group of VIPs visiting, and instructed all staff and other visitors to park in a public car park nearby.

On arrival at the car park, the only way to pay for the parking was via the parking company’s app on a mobile phone. My works mobile has no payment method loaded, even if I did download the app. There was no phone number to ring to pay by bank/credit card, so despite having cash and bank/credit cards there was no way I could pay to park.

I would be interested in NJ view on this – if I was to park and not pay for the parking and the company took legal action to claim the penalty charges for not paying; would a court accept my excuse that they did not provide a reasonable method for me to pay for the parking?

If I were a judge in such a case, I would rule that it was unacceptable not to allow some other payment method (other than on their mobile app) – and dismiss the case.

[ToraToraTora]

You'll probably find that by parking there you accept their terms and conditions which will be displayed somewhere. In those TOCs will be the payment method you must accept to park there.

[New Judge]

I think it's a bit like going into a shop which accepts cards only (no cash). You cannot walk out with goods without paying simply because you do not agree with the shop's terms.

[david small]

Murder. This dictatorial attitude is totally unacceptable. The common man is being shepherded into obedience by corporate and governmental arrogance. What is the recourse?

[sandra4444]

I've no need to answer david small you've said it all for me. :)

[Hymie]

But I could offer to pay for the goods in the shop (with cash) and I would imagine a court would be sympathetic with my situation; not having deliberately taken the goods with no intention of paying.

[drmorgans]

A lot of entertainment and sports venues are going cashless; no card, no burger and fries.

[davebro]

damn savages...

[Hymie]

Companies are legally required to pay staff in ‘the coin of the realm’ (albeit acceptable that that money is paid into a bank account), anyone running a business and wanting payment for services or goods – should be legally required to similarly accept the coin of the realm.

[davebro]

BTW - what did you do?

[Zacs-Master]

You’ve a bit of an outdated view on these things, Hymie. The world has changed.

And yes, what did happen?

[ToraToraTora]

12:13, no, the basic tennet of all retail is that the management reserve the right to refuse service that means they don't have to serve you, they don't have to accept your method of payment. Now if you plonk cash on the counter and walk out with the goods, that is not theft and you'd probably get away with it, perhaps the judge can clarify.

[Hymie]

What did I do?
The person I was visiting kindly paid for the parking; but he had to download the parking app and then make the payment from his phone.

[ToraToraTora]

I used to know a newsagent, who like many others, would not accept £50 notes. Time and again people would claim he must but they were wrong.

[Zacs-Master]

Ah, well, All sorted then.

[THECORBYLOON]

Retailers offer goods for sale and it's up to them to decide if your offer is acceptable or no and retailers need not accept legal tender if there is no debt involved.

[Hymie]

The reason the future is ***, is that we are being forced to use a mobile phone for everyday transactions (parking/travel tickets/entry tickets/general payments/proof of who we are etc) – so we will reach a cashless/credit cardless society and be forced to have numerous payment apps on our phones.
Once we reach this point, scammers will be having a field day, taking money from everyone’s mobile.

[ToraToraTora]

you on the electric yet hymie!

[Zacs-Master]

‘ forced to use a mobile phone for everyday transactions ’
Bless. It’s already here, Hymie. You not seen people paying for things with their phones via contactless payment?

[Zacs-Master]

He’s on the Internet, Tora so…..

[ToraToraTora]

hymie: "Once we reach this point, scammers will be having a field day, taking money from everyone’s mobile" - There will always be scammers, mostly enabled by the clueless. It is much easier to scam people that are not tech aware, especially their bank accounts.