Worldwide Parking Assoc Inc

09/09/09

A disgrace to Freedom Trail

by TayMA

On labor day wkend a bunch of friends visited Boston. Parking within the city at lots typically run around $12.00 at most $17.00 a day (Copley Square, Boylston, Kenmore, Harvard). When entering this lot I noticed the price table but could not read it as it was below the car level and there was another car waiting behind me to get in. I later found out it's $31.00 for any time above 2.5 hrs and cash only. Come on! The airport is not even that much.

On one hand, though very poorly and inconveniently to the driver price is posted. On the other hand the amount is outrageous. Why? Because they are the only lot around there.

Shame on all of those that can justify this price, if they have any. I will be filing a complaint with the city for the price gouging that's happening here. This is monopoly pricing and yet price table should be more conspicuously posted.

People are paying this not because they don't have an alternative, it's because most don't even know it'll be $31.00 after 2.5 hrs. Had I known, I would've parked at the convention center or at Beacon Hill and walk or take the T or a taxi and it still would've been far cheaper.

Never again!

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Monopoly pricing

01/02/09

Shame on Boston

by DonKona

Shame on Boston!

There are some truly outrageous things that seem to go unnoticed by the mayor?s office in Boston. The garage parking situation is one of them. I (we!) implore you to find a way to either bring their usury pricing in line with today?s monetary reality, or to close down these establishments and jail their thieving owners!

On New Year?s Day (January 1st, 2009), my wife and I drove into Boston from the western suburbs (Natick) to take in a show on Hanover Street at the Improv Asylum. We drove around the North End for 15+ minutes looking for safe parking when, because we had limited time before the show, we drove back across the surface artery to park at the (seemingly) only available parking facility ? the Dock Square Garage. Shame on us.

2 hours later, when we came back from the show to claim our car, we were treated to an incredibly rude attendant who told us our parking fee was $31.00! On New Year?s Day, at night, for just 2 hours? $31.00! How could this be? This was nearly as much as two seats at the wonderful show had cost us. And, he very clearly took pleasure in our discomfort . He was loud, mocking, and generally obnoxious.

Allowing this kind of practice to go on is no way to demonstrate the benefits of life in Boston. It?s an insult to those of us who love Boston but who cannot live in the city. And, we would think, a huge embarrassment to the mayor?s office.

Other examples from Google Maps follow. My wife and I are not the only ones who have been violated.

• Pros: North End Location
• Cons: Highway Robbery

03/17/08

worst garage ever - would rate 0 stars if possible

by annoyedbostonian

I had the misfortune of parking at this garage on Saturday night - BIG MISTAKE. I arrived at the garage around 6:30pm after searching for street parking for a good 20 mins. I saw a huge sign out front that advertised $17 for parking so I thought to myself, "okay, its kinda steep, but I just want to park and meet my friends for dinner" so I decided to park and pay the outrageous fare. I returned to my car at 10pm with a $20 bill in my wallet (just enough for parking and the pike toll). WRONG. I hand the cashier my $20 and he asks me for the remaining $9 - umm, excuse me? Keep in mind that this garage accepts CASH ONLY. I asked the cashier politely if I could pull my car through, park outside and run to the ATM so as not to hold up the long line of cars waiting to exit the garage. The cashier told me that I cannot get through without paying and that there is an ATM inside. I put on the hazards and run to the ATM, all the while throwing apologetic looks to the cars behind me. After a few attempts with my debit card and no dispensed cash, I determine that the ATM doesn't have any cash left in it! I run back to the cashier and explain the situation calmly and ask him, again, if it would be possible to pull my car through, park right outside, run to another ATM and get him the balance. Again, he responds that he cannot let me leave without paying. WTF!? There are only two cashiers checking people out so you can imagine the long line of cars, the expletives and honking - hell, I would be upset if I was in their situation, too. Frantic now, I run to an ATM in Faneuil Hall, type in my pin and the ATM informs me that I have exceeded the number of pin attempts. I am at a loss of what to do at this point and I begin to cry due to an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. I return to this cashier and he finally accepts my license and provides me with a bill for $9. I have never before felt so angry and will never return to this garage. STAY AWAY.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Service, price gouging