New online parking permit: IT shambles Post Reply

[SouthLondonDaddy]

Well, Chorister, I understand that the new system went live on May 16th, so I am not surprised that applications submitted before then were less painful. For reference, have you dealt with Wandsworth parking at all since May 16th? Do you have a gmail address? The fact that they have even recorded a message mentioning the high number of calls about being locked out of the system suggests mine is not an isolated case.

Good tip about calling the main switchboard - I hadn't thought of that, thanks!
 

[chorister]

SouthLondonDaddy - I can't remember the exact dates, but it was around then, and I do know it was a new system because I was familiar with the old one and it was different.  May be I was lucky, at the very beginning before they were swamped and built up a backlog.  I used the visitor permit system a few days ago with no trouble.

I don't use gmail - I have a private domain and email address (which doesn't cost much), so may be it is something to do with that.

I have an IT background, and have no idea why they release these systems without stress testing them - basically they use the users as guinea pigs.  Right now I'm wrestling with a Skype update that I never asked for and which is pretty obviously only half finished.

Good luck …. a stiff drink may help!

[SouthLondonDaddy]

Got an email from the council that the issue with gmail addresses is now resolved.

So it takes more than 2 months and a half since the system went live to get it to work with the email system most widely sued in this galaxy.

Parking permits are not exactly a life or death matter (even though wasting hours on the phone is never pleasant); to be honest, what worries me is that, if the council has shown this level of sloppiness and incompetence with something that's supposed to be so easy and straightforward, I don't even want to imagine how badly a botched IT transition could mess up more vital services, like those to protect the children or the elderly.

[tryingtodoboth]

Completely agree with all these comments . A total shambles . We have been locked out for a month , permit application keeps getting rejected for ridiculous silly reasons , deadline for submission of further supporting documents has passed as access impossible .
The customer service person ( when I eventually got through after a 15 min wait ) was charming but didn’t have any answers. I expect more from our council and I hope some of those with responsibility for this system are reading these forums. An appalling incompetent mess .

[hal]

Our car was stolen in February, and we've been trying to change our residents' permit to our new car since then. It's now August and despite 7 calls to the council, multiple emails with proofs of identity and ownership and theft (at the council's request), and 2 attempted applications to change vehicle on their portal (I say attempted, because each time the council has told me the system has lost the application), and 1 parking ticket, still nothing has happened.

We've persisted politely, and have been told repeatedly we would get a call back (sometimes even "urgently"...) and yet not once has the council replied to an email or followed through with its promises. It's a very shambolic and terrible system compared to the ParkMobile run scheme they used to use.

Our existing permit expired today so we've just applied afresh - I am not holding my breath that we will have any better luck, and the council doesn't appear interested. I called this morning to try to ensure we don't get another parking ticket while our application to renew is pending (you shouldn't, as the system is supposed to give you a temporary reprieve, but I have little trust in it now), and they can't even field the volume of angry calls any more -- it used to be a 30 - 60 minute wait to get through. Now they're not even taking calls any more.

Pretty poor....

[sloaney donkey]

I just hope the council can claim damages from someone

To clear this jazz will result in £000s of our money

[onerachel]

I’m having similar issues. Has anyone tried to do it in person and had better luck?

[SouthLondonDaddy]

In the end, I managed to apply for a full one-year permit more than 3 weeks ago. No reply yet. My one-month temporary permit is about to expire. It's not clear if the car is still covered while our efficient council processes applications. Tried to call multiple times, to no avail. WTF???

[swbean]

Hello all

sorry to dredge up this post again, but I wanted to check whether anyone had any success contesting tickets they may have received during the shambles?? I have been contesting one with the Council since last August, and have been refused multiple times.  The only avenue now available is to appeal via the London tribunal, but to go via that route requires an appeal on specific grounds.. none of which fit the case of the IT disaster!! 
I've been digging my heels in as a point of principle, but wondering if I've now hit the end of the road! 

[hal]

I wrote by way of appeal when I received our original ticket setting out the basis on which we had been in discussions with the council. Never heard back and ticket was never pursued.

[jingo_x]

I did eventually 'win' and get my parking ticket waived.  Months of wasted time but for me the principal was important!  This is the link to my tedious story:

viewtopic.php?f=115&t=98672&p=231840&hi ... nt#p231840
 

[Charlie82]

I've been waiting for my parking permit for nearly 4 months! Why can't they get it right?? Absolutely shocking.