A family visiting from Ontario has expressed deep disappointment over their recent experience at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, citing issues with the park’s pay parking system that left them with a $98 ticket.
In a letter to the West Vancouver Council, the family described their frustrating ordeal on August 8, when they visited the popular hiking destination. According to the letter, multiple attempts to pay for parking via the park’s posted QR code and the PayByPhone service failed, despite their best efforts.
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“We tried to pay by scanning the posted QR code, but the app would not load on our phones,” the letter reads. “We then tried the PayByPhone option, but that didn’t work either.” The family stated they spent 30 minutes attempting to complete the payment, but both methods repeatedly malfunctioned. “It rejected my phone number, saying it was invalid,” they explained, noting that other visitors in the parking lot were facing similar issues.
After giving up on the faulty payment system, the family embarked on a short hike, only to return and find a $98 parking ticket on their vehicle. They immediately contacted the parking enforcement company, IMPARK, to dispute the charge. However, their efforts to resolve the issue only added to their frustration.
“I told them we had tried to pay, but the options provided at the park were not working,” the letter continues. “The agent was completely inflexible, telling me that since there was no payment record from us, they had to issue the ticket.”
Despite the family’s offer to pay the standard parking fee over the phone, the IMPARK agent reduced the charge only slightly to $81. The family expressed outrage at the inflexibility and the fact that they were penalized for a malfunctioning system. “It does not seem right that honest people who try to follow the rules are punished with exorbitant charges when the parking system is faulty,” they wrote.
The experience, which the family described as an “unpleasant ordeal,” has left them feeling “extremely annoyed and exploited.” They hope that the District of West Vancouver will review and improve the parking system to prevent similar situations for future visitors.
The sensible thing to do would have been to leave an explanatory note on the windscreen with a cell phone number.
Impark would not care at all that you left a note on the windshield.
The system is not right and if you have ever tried to get through to Impark you would know. The WVD should have a number to call in these situations so you can actually prove you tried every other means. It’s disgraceful.
You make a good point. I bet they receive 100 or complaints a day at IMPARK. I noticed your name pop up with your comments but not even a first name of the person who is angry. The North Shore Daily News could be telling us a story, so where is the rest of the story. Did they contact IMPARK? Did they contact the District of West Vancouver? Anybody can tell us a story, or a half one.
Similar issues at Whytecliff Park in early summer. What was supposed to be a fun relaxing nature visit, turned into a big problem wasting time to pay when no signal was available. Ridiculous that there is no cash or card option….and $5 an hour. I wont be back.
I had the exact same experience recently. If the DWV and Impark intend to continue with online or phone payment options, the onus should be on them to ensure there is adequate cell/internet service, which there currently is not. A physical pay station should be installed to allow for a more user friendly experience.
You do NOT have to pay it. Just make sure you don’t park in an Impark lot without a valid parking ticket or you’ll get towed.
Don’t pay it. Impark has no clout. They will threaten you and eventually send it to a collections company. You have no contract with the collections company so tell them to pound sand ir ignore there demands.