Dirty tricks, location tracking and no Apple Pay
The app has a switch to turn of constant tracking. They call it iMoved. However, the switch is off and the app still tracks me. When I force close the app it even complains that this would stop iMoved (all I wanted).
Secondly, the app makes it easy to upgrade to premium with well placed banner components. You don’t need it to work. Downgrading then only works on their website and not within the app.
Lastly, you have to hand over your credit card. No integration with Apple Pay. I hope that Apple finds this app and forces the developers to integrate that payment option. I don’t think that these developers are able to keep my details secure in the long term.
Secondly, the app makes it easy to upgrade to premium with well placed banner components. You don’t need it to work. Downgrading then only works on their website and not within the app.
Lastly, you have to hand over your credit card. No integration with Apple Pay. I hope that Apple finds this app and forces the developers to integrate that payment option. I don’t think that these developers are able to keep my details secure in the long term.
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Shitest APP - WARNING, DO NOT DOWNLOAD!!
I’ve gotten multiple fines because of this app. Try to “book” your parking in advance and it doesn’t resulting in a fine every time. Don’t even risk or waste your time with this app as I have tried to contact to company and they think they are always right and believe that they would know if it happened. NEWS FLASH - it doesn’t. Anyways still have to pay the fines regardless as they don’t want to take and blame just ur money for using the app every Time you use it, just thought I would write this review to give everyone a heads up to stay away! Technology isn’t always the better option. Seems like it won’t be resolved either as they believe they know all. Better to walk up to the metre and pay it. Thanks for reading! Cheers.
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Over charging occurred
I parked the car there yesterday for less than 2 hours, but I got charged for a few more hours — reaching $8.8, while it should have been less than $4. I chose “ always allow” the detection of the location and I thought it should detect the car has been moved. What is the point if it detects my motion and fitness and does not have the basic function of turning off the parking meter when I move the car and have traveled many kilometers away. Would be good if it beeps every 15/30 minutes (user can choose) to remind the driver. I only found out it was still on by accident after I got home. Don’t know how to get the overcharged amount back. To avoid over paying I might avoid using the app next time.
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SHADY TACTICS
Looks like I was signed up to a premium service that checks the clock for me. This mysterious subscription seems to be linked to the tick box “I would like to receive SMS reminders” that you are given when signing up. It’s really shady because it says “fees may apply see T&C’s” in brackets beside the option. If you were like me and set up your account in a hurry after realising that you hadn’t paid, you will miss it. These terms then go in to say that to receive the SMS notifications you will have to pay for it. I highly doubt this would meet ACCC requirements and if CellOPark truly cared for its users it would make this subscription more clear, hence the 1 star I am giving it today. I have asked 3 times for my account and card details to be removed from the service (twice on the phone) and have been told that I need to email my details, yet on the website it says I can opt out “orally”, so unless this means I need to record my voice on email I’m confused why that’s on there. Would not recommend this to anybody, have zero trust in the app with my card, and BE CAREFUL when signing up to this money snatching corporation.
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Premium charges ridiculous
Can’t deactivate premium from the app, you can only disable the service so it won’t be useful but you’ll still be charged unless you log in to the website - not good enough Cellopark!
If you help your friend with parking once, don’t forget to remove them or you will be charged premium fees for their car every month too even though you didn’t activate any parking for that car in a month and every time you use parking it is for a specific car rego.
Please update your “premium” warning to make it explicitly clear about the total the user will be charged if they have more than 1 vehicle on the account, that it is not charged per vehicle that is used per month - ?don’t use don’t pay?.
Please remove the hideous red warning that is appears after you downgrade the app from premium.
Please allow a user to downgrade the account within the app - if they can upgrade it they should be able to downgrade it. Making them go to a website is just trying to make it harder for them.
Questionable tactics to charge customers more rather than running efficient and user friendly systems that help residents. BCC should be choosing a better service than this one.
If you help your friend with parking once, don’t forget to remove them or you will be charged premium fees for their car every month too even though you didn’t activate any parking for that car in a month and every time you use parking it is for a specific car rego.
Please update your “premium” warning to make it explicitly clear about the total the user will be charged if they have more than 1 vehicle on the account, that it is not charged per vehicle that is used per month - ?don’t use don’t pay?.
Please remove the hideous red warning that is appears after you downgrade the app from premium.
Please allow a user to downgrade the account within the app - if they can upgrade it they should be able to downgrade it. Making them go to a website is just trying to make it harder for them.
Questionable tactics to charge customers more rather than running efficient and user friendly systems that help residents. BCC should be choosing a better service than this one.
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it's functional
The app is alright and does the job. I have an iPhone X so it's kinda annoying that it isn't optimised. I have no idea how much I'm getting charged for my parking without going through multiple screens and that too how do I know if I'm getting charged the student rate or visitor rate till after I've paid? I signed up to premium by accident due to the horribly placed banner right in the middle of the screen, if you want to make your app offer premium don't make it that easy to misclick. At macq I have no idea whether I'm getting a fine or not as there is no cell O park signs anywhere. The most annoying thing however is the responses to the reviews, instead of trying to fix the problems from the feedback the company is defending their app quite rudely. If you have to defend your app from feedback you know should know that there is sth wrong. Take this as stuff you can fix cause mobile app parking is a lot easier and I'd hate to see it fail.
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Response from developer
Hi tm200001, Thank you for your detailed feedback. Kindly note that CellOPark does not set the rules, rates and/or parking limitations. We display those in the app (next to each zone there's a '$' sign that will show you the tariff) for reference only. Signage is also out of our hands and is up to MQ. A new updated version will be released very soon that addresses many of the feedback provided over the last year and we would be happy to hear from you once you try it.
Premium service doesn’t work
I tried the premium imoved service as I have previously forgotten to stop parking when I left the car park and faced a massive $20 plus bill for 2 hours parking......imoved has not worked once, I have contacted the support team several times and get brushed off with the t&c’s. I have requested a refund on the monthly fees as their service does not work and instead they cancelled the service. I have also asked that they look into the times that I have left the car park early, as they should have this data with the imoved service, and I have requested a refund, but they say they cannot help with this. I am now over $60 out of pocket, mostly my own fault for relying on a service that I paid which is faulty, but developers are not helpful. If I made this mistake on iTunes for example, they would refund out of good faith. I will be deleting the app and going back to the old way of paying.
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What about the motorbikes?
Review for a dyslexic friend.
This app cost me a fine.
As I have multiple personalised number plates (with the same letters) for cars and motorbikes, I mistook the motorbike rego for a car purely because of the car symbol.
I recommend that for motorbikes there is a bike symbol instead of a car symbol to help identify the different vehicles for dyslexic members using the app.
I love using the app as it’s convenient and easy to use. I can enter my details for the vehicle, and end the timer when I return. I don’t have to worry about cash or being charged the maximum on my credit card from the street vendors. I also am not risking my credit card details being used against my knowledge from card skimmers placed on the vendors.
This app cost me a fine.
As I have multiple personalised number plates (with the same letters) for cars and motorbikes, I mistook the motorbike rego for a car purely because of the car symbol.
I recommend that for motorbikes there is a bike symbol instead of a car symbol to help identify the different vehicles for dyslexic members using the app.
I love using the app as it’s convenient and easy to use. I can enter my details for the vehicle, and end the timer when I return. I don’t have to worry about cash or being charged the maximum on my credit card from the street vendors. I also am not risking my credit card details being used against my knowledge from card skimmers placed on the vendors.
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Response from developer
Hi katrina_rachael, Thank you so much for your feedback on behalf of you friend. Please note that there is an option to take a photo of your vehicle to include with the registration and this should help in making sure the correct vehicle is selected (as it's also shown in the background). We hope this helps and if you have any questions or further suggestions, we'd love to hear from you.
Great App
Having find parking a pay is a chore for everyone but this app makes it really easy.
Simple to setup and then it’s as easy as scanning the code on the parking meter and your space is booked.
You get reminders about the time left and even if you move without telling the app.
No need to find money as you get a monthly invoice.
This app makes my life a bit easier.
Simple to setup and then it’s as easy as scanning the code on the parking meter and your space is booked.
You get reminders about the time left and even if you move without telling the app.
No need to find money as you get a monthly invoice.
This app makes my life a bit easier.
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Worst app I have ever used.
Worst app I have ever used.
Why Brisbane City Council switched from in-house to these incompetent app designers I’ll never know.
Seriously the sms service the Council used to do was WAY better!
It takes ages to use the app, finding the car park meter! Yeah right good luck!
Then they say it stops charging if you leave the location. The funny thing is, is I had a feeling it wouldn’t work, but decided to try the feature. Nope it charged me for all the time after until I decided I couldn’t wait any longer and stopped it manually.
So don’t get caught by that!
Over all it really is a disgrace of an app.
Cellopark: In relation to your response to this Review.. I don’t think you understand how bad the app is. You say you use it in the exact same manner as SMS?! That’s the most incorrect statement in the world to compliment the worst app in the world! You do not simply enter the 4 digit meter number like in the past. You first have to find you location in Australia then then the associated meter! After you’ve finally reached that stage then there is also a selection of about 100 odd ones that come up under making it an even more confusing and lengthy process.
Why Brisbane City Council switched from in-house to these incompetent app designers I’ll never know.
Seriously the sms service the Council used to do was WAY better!
It takes ages to use the app, finding the car park meter! Yeah right good luck!
Then they say it stops charging if you leave the location. The funny thing is, is I had a feeling it wouldn’t work, but decided to try the feature. Nope it charged me for all the time after until I decided I couldn’t wait any longer and stopped it manually.
So don’t get caught by that!
Over all it really is a disgrace of an app.
Cellopark: In relation to your response to this Review.. I don’t think you understand how bad the app is. You say you use it in the exact same manner as SMS?! That’s the most incorrect statement in the world to compliment the worst app in the world! You do not simply enter the 4 digit meter number like in the past. You first have to find you location in Australia then then the associated meter! After you’ve finally reached that stage then there is also a selection of about 100 odd ones that come up under making it an even more confusing and lengthy process.
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Response from developer
Hi ReviewAvatar, Thank you for your feedback. The reason Brisbane stopped using the SMS option was that it is not secure and can easily be spoofed. Having said that - in the same exact manner you used to use the SMS (i.e. - you had to know the meter ID) - you can use that to find your parking zone and start a session. You can scan the QR, search, scroll, type, use the map or add to favourites. Please note that iMoved does NOT stop your session, it only reminded you to do so IF you did not block the relevant permissions. iMoved Bluetooth CAN be set to stop your session. If you like further information or assistance in doing so - please do not hesitate to contact our support (support@cellopark.com.au). If you have any comments or suggestions on how you feel we can improve the app we'd love to hear from you.
