University implements cashless parking service
Florida International University will now be offering PayByPhone, a product of The PayPoint Group, to students as a means to accept cashless parking payments at the university’s campus parking lots.
The PayByPhone smart phone app and accompanying dial-in service offer drivers a convenient alternative to paying with cash at a parking meter. The solution also includes the option to receive a text message reminder before a parking meter expires, enabling the driver to extend their parking time from anywhere.
PayByPhone is already being used in the greater Miami area for public parking and has thus far proven to be a success for local citizens. Now, the Fort Mill Times is reporting that the mobile payment solution will be rolled out to FIU’s some 4,500 parking spaces in the coming weeks.
The Miami Parking Authority was one of the first to adopt the mobile payment solution, accepting payments as far back as 2008. In the time since, PayByPhone has grown in popularity, spreading to other South Florida cities including Coral Gables, South Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
FIU will be leveraging a proven mobile payment solution when the system is made available to students later this summer. It’s estimated that more than 118,000 drivers use PayByPhone to pay for their parking in the aforementioned cities, with some 3 million PayByPhone payments processed each year in South Florida alone.
PayByPhone payments are made by entering the parking lot location number and the length of parking time desired. Instructions will be posted on parking signs and pay stations. Drivers can sign up for a free account with their credit card and license plate by downloading the smartphone app or by visiting the PayByPhone website.
The system doesn’t require a smart phone, however, as users can also dial the toll-free number posted on the meters and follow the voice prompts to set up an account.
