The Roads Service (!!)...

[abstibus]

...has, in its wisdom, decided to replace the 'pay on exit' car parks with 'pay in advance'.
Four men have lost their jobs (probably minimum wage).
Two badly-sited machines for a large and dark car park.
Shoppers are stressed trying not to overrun their time.
Traffic wardens are lurking.
Shop footfall is down.
A relaxed shopping experience is out of the question.
Roads Service profit is probably up.
Such is progress.

[tonyav]

Similar thing in my town as well annemollie, instead of trying to attract shoppers they seem hell bent on deterring them.

[factor-fiction]

The comment "Roads Service profit is probably up" probably explains it. If people still use it they will say it was a good idea. If people don't like it they have the option to go elsewhere. If enough customers write and complain AND boycott the car park they may rethink the decision.
I prefer to pay on exit too.

[abstibus]

Yes, factor.
Pay in advance, leave early; someone else pays in advance for the empty space, leaves early and so on...

[vulcan]

A problem with the pay in advance is if you have a problem, eg no ticket after you've put the money in,there is nobody there to sort it out,consequently people continue to lose their money.Recently this happened to me and there just happened to be a traffic warden checking tickets, I complained and she said that happens sometimes. There was no question of a refund and perhaps worse, she didn't put a warning notice on the machine.

[gness]

Kettering is the worst shopping place with huge pay in advance car park charges. Had to go in last week to the opticians. It all took longer than expected so I had to nip out to put another ticket on the car. A stupid idea.

[DTCwordfan]

So how much for two hours in your park? £2-60 here, £4-10 for three hours.

[Psybbo]

When ours changed with no notice or warning, we were nearly caught out, then we saw a traffic warden strolling about so checked and found the pay machines, one of which wasn't working

[abstibus]

sibton
You must have been in the same car park at the same time as me. I was nearly caught out too. I thought when I arrived to see the barriers up, 'Goody, goody. They're giving us a free parking day'. Then I saw the lurker in the red uniform.

[Hopkirk]

What I don't understand is that many of these car parks have it in their T&Cs that you can't return and pay for a bit longer.

Why?

[dotty.]

we have a newish system in chorley where you have to put the last 3 letters of your reg number in and it prints it on the ticket and so if you have paid the £1 for 3 hours and leave early you can't pass it on. still i guess a £1 for 3 hours is not as bad as some places. I try to park at the back of the RBS tho as it is free

[paddywak]

In Worksop you even have to type in your registration number so if you have any time left on your ticket you can't pass it on.

[dotty.]

lol yes paddy, it's annoying

[sunny-dave]

The "no transferring" rule is just penny-pinching, tight-wadded crap from the Polyester Suited Hitlers who run parking in this country - I'd cheerfully make every single one of the bastards redundant if I had the chance.

[travelling_lite]

Thank you anne for reminding me why I emigrated from England :)