Parking Lots and Parking Garages

Online comments: 1

• Karl Beecher

  Thank you for the opportunity to share my testimony. I’m Karl Beecher.

  Pursuant to Section 1. Subchapter Q of Chapter 2 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York.

  I support this proposed rule amendment with some suggested addendum/tweaking.

  I’m in agreement that parking lots and garages are permitted to charge customers different rates based on method of payment. However, I do not know the particulars as to how this is played out but if there is one specific price respective to a particular day/ time duration and vehicle; the conversion in charge should only be diminished but never increased.

  In other words the conversion should only be made as a discount and not a penalty. If the licensee is charging $50.00 and indicates a discount for cash payment to $47.00 then that’s fine.

  On the other hand, if the licensee was charging the same service at a rate of $47.00 for cash patrons and an extra $3.00 totalling $50.00 for a credit card payment; that would be unjust and unacceptable.

  Secondly, rate changes should be allowed with a proviso of sufficient notification of a time span no less than 6 months instead of 2 months allowing the patrons ample time to acquire more funds to address the impending rate change as well as to seek out a competitive price from other establishments that is comparable to said rate prior to the rate change/increase.

  Thirdly, addressing the certificate of occupancy relative to maximum vehicle capacity. Considering the relatively recent news in the media confirming particular garages all over the city have collapsed from weak internal structural integrity causing much destruction.

  I propose prior to any certificate being approved. All clients must be provided a copy of the certificate from the fire department and/or the structural integrity inspectors; whoever those individuals might be, ensuring that the structural integrity of said garage can accommodate a higher level for maximum capacity safely.

  Allow clients the opportunity to decide if they want to still maintain their service relative to the extra intended weight and risk.

  Fourth issue: I noticed only in Manhattan the licensee needs to provide a 12-in by 18-in signage. I’m in the Bronx and I’m a little jealous I want our signs to also be 12 inches by 18 inches.😄 I’m curious to know why the discrepancy. I also suggest parenthetically, within the rule a clear distinction what is considered the “width” numerals and what’s considered the “height” numerals. For example 12 inches wide and 18 inches high. For the lay person that might not be easily understood.

  My final insight and suggestion pertains to licensee ensuring there is personnel on the premises at all times and not simply an access to someone’s voice over an intercom. The law must specify a physically live person as opposed to communicating with someone via intercom.

  There are certain garages that have a intercom system whereby there is no physical person at the location and I think that’s unacceptable and deleterious.

  I have attached a review that I wrote to share an ordeal I experienced with a less than user friendly garage. I literally felt like I was being held hostage because there was no physical person there to raise the boom barrier. That’s definitely a safety violation.

  The garage and location that I utilized for parking was at the

  Concourse Plaza Garage, located at 200 E 161 Street, Bronx, NY 10451.

  # 1-800-836-6666

  On Sunday Dec 4 2023 at approximately 1:00am I attempted to pay my parking fee with cash and the machine would not receive the bills. I then tried to utilize my credit card and it wouldn’t receive my credit card as well.

  There was a security guy there but the security guy ( and no shade to him) was unable to help because he was only there to secure the property and he was not authorized for making any transactions with payment to exit the location 🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

  However, he was helpful in directing me to press a particular button which would connect me to an intercom system, where someone was able to direct me on how to exit the location.

  The gentleman over the intercom system told me to insert my credit card, which I did. I tried three times and their system was still not working and it wasn’t because my credit card was invalid. Their system was inoperative.

  He apologized but I made it clear that this was taking way too long and I had to go( luckily i didn’t have the go to the bathroom but I just imagine if I did or or if someone really had to get home in a hurry, which I did. It was already 1:00am.

  To tell you the truth, if I wasn’t living for Jesus the one and only true God and King of Heaven’s Armies…and if I had a big SUV with some bull bars on the front, I would have plowed right through it😄) this guy had me wait there for at least 15-20 minutes🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️.

  Eventually he asked for my phone number so that he could send me a notification code to confirm my phone number. Once my phone number was confirmed, a payment link was sent to my phone for payment.

  The voice over the intercom system eventually indicated that I would be able to exit and raised the boom barrier. He allowed me to exit without paying with the mutual understanding and anticipation that payment would be made at a later time(within a few days, no longer than a month)

  What’s interesting is… what if a customer did not have a phone or the phone’s battery was dead and was unable to access the information he sent. I’m sure the exit process would have probably been another 20 minutes worth of waiting. This is so ridiculous. I felt like I was being kidnapped and held hostage.

  The correct customer service process should have simply been to allow me an immediate exit once the system was down and inoperable. It should not have taken me 15 to 20 minutes to exit that location. Again if someone had to use the bathroom or a personal emergency this would have been a horrible situation.

  Needless to say I had a horrible experience and I doubt I will ever utilize this garage again. I’d rather park it out in the street, risk my car being vandalized, and walk the distance to the movie theater, rather than being held hostage in this creepy “Saw”( the movie😄) garage.🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️😡

  I would advise any management that’s reading this, please…for future customers who are stuck behind the boom guard when the payment system is not working, allow the customer immediate exit

  Comment added September 19, 2024 9:13pm