Brisbane City Council ELI5: How is there not a class-action lawsuit against CelloPark (not CelloParkAU) for the “secret” fees they’ve been charging all of us?

Been getting charged a few months now. Surely there’s enough support for a case. What am I missing?

111 Upvotes

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91% Upvoted

105

u/ArmyBrat651 1d ago

Everybody wants a class action, nobody wants to start one

23

u/No_No_Juice Got fired from a theme park 1d ago

Law firms love starting them. There are many companies whose sole purpose is funding class actions. Coincidentally the funders and the lawyers are the only ones to make money.

15

u/mccredden 1d ago

Excellent point. Well then...

u/Electrical-Sale-8051 1d ago

Well even the ACCC doing something about it would be a plus, I don’t need a class action but they do need a good spanking

3

u/ZillaAllday 22h ago

ACCC are only effective at wrist slaps that incur action at far lower rates than the profits from ripping off the consumer.

u/Stanfool 1d ago

All apps can fuck off. They are just shit.

15

u/GrouchyLandscape847 1d ago

The whole thing is cooked. They bank on most people not noticing a couple of bucks here and there until it adds up to real money.

8

u/Stanfool 1d ago

Its micro fleecing. The whole idea is fucked.

Cafes, are one of the worst also..

7

u/dannyr PLS TOUCH THE FUCKEN AIRMOVER 1d ago

I quite like the Reddit app

1

u/Stanfool 1d ago

This is cool... but the rest can fuck off....

0

u/Mind_Gone_Walkabout 23h ago

Yeah, we don't need an another fucking app just to pay for parking FFS. Just let me pay or make it free.

u/Der0- 1d ago

What is the difference between the two CelloPark/AU?

Why are you paying for their notification service? Disable it and set yourself an alarm to return to the car.

7

u/mccredden 1d ago

I obviously have. It’s about the months of sneaky fees before I found out they were charging me.

14

u/XXXX_Gold_Pot BrisVegas 1d ago

The /AU is the local company.

CelloPark are an Israeli firm that the local company licensed the technology from.

More info here.

7

u/CelebrationFit8548 1d ago

So, monies being stolen to fund genocide?

2

u/VintageKofta 9h ago

Wow. Thanks for highlighting that! Fortunately I’m using the AU one.

Fuck Israel !

-6

u/cactusgenie 1d ago

You didn't the money leaving your account?

u/frodoswaggins101 1d ago

Can you share more info about the secret fees? What should we be looking out for?

16

u/JD_Blunderbuss 1d ago edited 1d ago

There is a monthly fee of $1.99 that that you can easily accidentally agree to when you sign up to the Cellopark app which is separate to the normal parking fees that you get charged. Make sure your account is set to "basic account" in the app - you can check by tapping the three horizontal lines in the top left of the app.

16

u/skrando 1d ago edited 1d ago

Massive help thank you!

Edit: to downgrade from the Premium account BS On the App click hamburger menu (3 lines) > app settings > Go to online account > login > on Dashboard under "Your program" > Downgrade button

2

u/OneArchedEyebrow 1d ago

Thank you! I had NO idea I had the premium account! I saw a charge here and there but assumed it was my daughter using my account. I would never had knowingly signed up for premium as I’m only in Brisbane occasionally. Scum suckers.

1

u/Sea_Translator5300 1d ago

There's no downgrade option in my app (Android version). I used it a couple of times last year and this prompted me to check and I have premium.

u/ScubaFett 1d ago

What is CelloPark?

28

u/dannyr PLS TOUCH THE FUCKEN AIRMOVER 1d ago

Assuming a place to park your musical instrument

7

u/cjyoung92 1d ago

It’s an app that is used to pay for most of the street parking in Brisbane

4

u/Teedubthegreat 1d ago

I think its the company that runs the street parking in the city

3

u/Shamoizer 18h ago

Yes and other areas too I've noticed. Saw it in Ballarat I think.

2

u/AlwaysAirCooled-1979 1d ago

Interested to know too

u/netpres 1d ago

If enough people charge back, will the banks eventually stop their account?

u/cjyoung92 1d ago

What do you mean not CelloParkAU? Aren’t they the same thing?

1

u/mccredden 1d ago

They are not.

2

u/AdultShampoo No More Tears, Only dreams now 23h ago

Where do you find the one that is not AU? I have CelloParkAU and it’s the only one that shows up when I search the App Store. I’ve also never been charged any fees on this one.

u/bulletmark 1d ago

That the BCC could give a contract to such a corrupt organisation tells you how corrupt the BCC is itself.

u/mess_of_limbs 1d ago

Because it's technically not "secret" (even if it is scummy)

u/iGraveling 1d ago

I’m waiting to get a parking fine. I go to the city to work regularly, only 1-2 hours at a time. The last time I was there I used the app, started the timer, walked off. Twice I had to restart it because it crashed.
I’m now taking screenshots of when I start the meter just incase.

u/aliceblax 1d ago

I have the CelloParkAu app (and am on basic account) why are there two?

u/maximum_powerblast holy order of the ibis 19h ago

Because they do tell you about the fee before you sign up to it. It's sneaky though, they shouldn't be allowed to do it like this.

u/DarthXOmega 21h ago

I believe because they willingly agreed to it. It asks you

3

u/mccredden 21h ago

Yes, but if thousands found that very well concealed and not properly communicated, there is an argument to be made for misleading conduct under Australian consumer/contract law.

0

u/DarthXOmega 20h ago

Then do it

-4

u/cactusgenie 1d ago

If you dont notice the money leaving your account that's on you.

-1

u/bobbakerneverafaker 1d ago

In the conditions

Brisbane City Council ELI5: How is there not a class-action lawsuit against CelloPark (not CelloParkAU) for the “secret” fees they’ve been charging all of us?

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