People's Park Centre carpark hikes hourly rate by 75% for CNY, prompts outrage
People's Park Centre in Chinatown has imposed Chinese New Year (CNY) surcharges on parking fees, sparking outrage among users.
According to Shin Min Daily News, daytime hourly rates on weekdays have jumped from $2.40 to $4.20, an increase of 75 per cent.
Evening per-entry fees have also risen to $5.80 on weekdays and $6.80 on Fridays and weekends.
Carpark hikes hourly rate by 75%, lasts until Feb 22
A notice at the carpark entrance, seen by Shin Min reporters on Feb 4, showed hourly fees between 7am and 4.59pm to be $4.20 across all days of the week.
Pre-hike carpark rates displayed on People's Park Centre's website showed that hourly rates from Monday to Saturday were $2.40, and $3 per entry on Sundays and public holidays.
Following the price adjustment, car drivers will be charged on a per-entry basis from 5pm to 6.59am the following day — $5.80 from Monday to Thursday and $6.80 from Friday to Sunday.
The revised per-entry fees on weekdays represented an increase of 190 per cent. Before the fee hike, drivers were charged $2 per entry from 5pm to 7am the following day, from Monday to Saturday.
Responding to queries, Wilson Parking, the carpark's management company, confirmed that the fee hike was due to CNY.
A spokesperson said the new rates were imposed on Jan 23 and will remain in effect until Feb 22, after which the fees will revert to the original rate of $1.20 per half an hour.
'Outrageous'
A man, who wished to be known as Terry, told Mothership that he had parked at People's Park Centre on Jan 26 and was shocked to be charged $10 upon exiting. He had entered the carpark at 4.48pm and left at 5.18pm — a duration of 30 minutes.
When Terry contacted Wilson Parking, a customer service officer broke down the hiked fees and informed him that they were due to a CNY surcharge.
The semi-retiree added that he was told not to refer to the website. "You can refer to the rates reflected on the carpark signage, which are placed near to the entry gantries. It's 100 per cent accurate," Terry recounted the officer as saying.
Most interviewees that Shin Min Daily spoke to were unaware of the parking fee increase, but most expressed concern that the surcharge could deter customers and affect business.
A luggage vendor at People's Park Centre, who wished to be known only as Mr Ke (transliterated), noted that parking fees at the building typically increase as CNY approaches, though he was unsure of previous rates.
The 71-year-old added that the mall has already become quieter and worries that the higher parking fees would further impact business.
"There are other cheaper carparks nearby. Customers might park there and spend their money there instead, and won't make the effort to walk over," he said.
A watch shop owner, who declined to be named, said most of his customers arrive via public transport.
However, he stressed that any increase in parking fees should be transparent, otherwise, customers may feel "cheated".
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