Parking in Günzburg: Chaos without barriers and high fines!

Parking in Günzburg: Chaos without barriers and high fines!

Parking without barriers in Günzburg – an innovation that was supposed to make life easier for drivers is now causing anger and discontent among users. In the city's three parking garages, including the "Altstadt" underground car park, the "Am Stadtberg" parking garage and the train station parking garage, drivers report sometimes serious problems with the new system, which is operated by Mobility Hub Parkservice GmbH.  Augsburger Allgemeine reports that many users report unclear rules and high contractual penalties.

The matter seems particularly piquant when you consider the hefty fines: Anyone who exceeds the parking time by even one minute must expect a fee of 47 euros. Such stories cause resentment, and many would like to return to the old barrier systems. An example is the case of Christian Götz, who received a fine because he entered his license plate incorrectly despite making the correct payment. Christa Hege had a similar experience and received several contractual penalties due to an input error, but was able to get help from the municipal utilities. 

Mistakes and frustration

However, the problems don't seem to be limited to input errors. Drivers repeatedly report difficulties paying with EC cards, and the machines give error messages without any helpful information about the cause. Barbara Hellenthal and Ms. John also complain about the poor accessibility of the Mobility Hub service, which doesn't make things any easier. These frustrations are further compounded by the company's negative reviews found on platforms such as Trustpilot - an average rating of just 1.7 out of 5 stars. Taxi Bavaria speaks of some unexpected claims that drivers receive even if they have paid their fees on time and correctly.

Nevertheless, Mobility Hub highlights the positive sides of the system. Digitalization should enable faster entries and exits and reduce maintenance costs. In addition, the system is ecologically advantageous because the physical barriers are eliminated. But if users don't inform themselves about the conditions and keep their payment receipts, this can quickly lead to unexpected costs.

Final thoughts

The experiences of drivers in Günzburg clearly show that what is touted as a modern parking system can turn out to be problematic in practice. Users want clear information and better customer service to avoid inconveniences in the future. The question remains: If problems persist, will the city bring back the barriers, or will it encourage Mobility Hub to improve the system to regain citizens' trust? A good hand in customer communication would certainly be required here.