RingGo is a pay by phone parking service, based in the UK owned by EasyPark Group.
Technology edit
The system is used by local authorities for on-street parking and public car parks.[1][2]
Criticisms edit
It has been suggested that councils that use RingGo are unfairly penalising users who find the technology difficult to use or do not own a smart phone.[3] This has meant reduced customer numbers in some shopping centres that switched to smartphone-only parking.[4]
Some car parks use the app's "Start-Stop" system that requires that users log both their arrival and departure time and failure to remember to sign out can lead to an overcharge.[5] Not all car parks operate using this system.
Incidents edit
On the 10th of December 2023 RingGo’s parent company, EasyPark Group, suffered a breach of customer names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and partial payment card information. Over two weeks later on the 26th of December EasyPark informed the UK’s ICO and other data protection authorities. [6]
References edit
- ^ "Town gets phone-and-park scheme". BBC News. 15 July 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ Jones, Lindsay (20 May 2019). "Gravesham car park vistors must use RingGo from today". Gravesend Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019.
- ^ Gausden, Grace (17 August 2022). "Digital car parking apps are penalising elderly who don't have smartphones, campaigners say". i. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Lennon, Sam (7 September 2022). "De Bradelei Wharf in Dover revenues down 40% since RingGo-only payments introduced at shopping centre car park". kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Bagley, James (4 August 2022). "Furious driver used RingGo to park at Windsor Leisure Centre and 'paid ten times more'". getreading.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Hackers steal customer data from Europe's largest parking app operator". The Guardian. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.