Oh, the illustrious Parksmart in Walnut Creek, CA! They possess a truly uncanny knack for doling out parking tickets with unparalleled zest. On a busy day, their eagerness surges akin to an enthusiast suddenly discovering a newfound hobby. A whopping 75% of the time, their tickets seem to materialize out of thin air, taking many by surprise. But, lo and behold, the remaining 25%! If you chance upon their stealthy parking attendants pre-ticket-printing, a miraculous change of heart occurs! One must appreciate their whimsical approach to parking regulation, oscillating between overzealous ticketing frenzies and moments of unexpected leniency. Truly, a parking enigma. Parksmart in Walnut Creek? More like "Park-not-so-smart." Their affinity for ticketing is legendary; if only they were as consistent with logic as they are with their ticketing sprees! Imagine, if they channeled that fervor into, say, knitting or birdwatching? Walnut Creek would have the world's coziest sweaters or a birders' paradise by now! read more

I was going to pick up my Doordash order, that was already ready, from Burma 2. There is a small parking alley that has about 8-10 stalls that is adjacent to their business. Perfect. I went to grab a quarter from my car and dropped it in. Hmm. The parking meter took the quarter, but there was an issue with the meter itself - definitely needed repair. The light wasn't flashing red or green, but generally parking meters that do not have a light wouldn't charge even if a parking maid walked by... right? I ran to the front of the restaurant and asked for my order. The manager had just finished a call where he helped another Kevin book his reservation for 2 at 7:30pm before helping me-Kevin. He grabbed the doordash order and passed it to me. Boom 1 minute max. I ran back to vehicle (1-2 minute MAX) and there was Jack printing out a ticket. He recognized that it was my car and said "sorry, I already printed it", before cowardly fleeing back to a WHITE PERSONAL SEDAN with no company logos or anything. He locked his doors and started his vehicle. That's when it dawned on me. That car was parked there before. He was waiting the whole time and may have witnessed me putting in money and having difficulty, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get to my vehicle within that 1-2 minute time period as the lot was 60-70% occupied. Beware of Jack (others described him as an Indian Man) hiding in his vehicle and waiting to "surprise" others. read more

ParkSmart customer service team showed remarkable professionalism and exceeded my expectations, going above and beyond to ensure the issue was resolved to my complete satisfaction. read more

fantastic customer service. I did not know what the charge was. But I called, they called me back promptly and explained what the charge was. read more

Meters are difficult to read. Thought we had enough time for an hour and a half. I park all over the Bay Area. The meters in SF, Oakland and Berkeley are much easier to deal with. Punitive fines if the meter expires; $25. We were fined for being a minute or two late. The city of Lafayette should be ashamed for being associated with this company. read more

There are no signs where you park that give the address for the web site. Signs say pay by mobile but don't give any information as to what is the app or web site to pay. If you are running late for something and don't have the time to walk all over the lot to try and find the information you need you will get a ticket. I am a senior and not as tech savvy as the younger generation. So I paid my ticket which was time stamped prior to my arrival at the lot by the way. This will be the last time I use their lots. I did not arrive until 12:22 and my ticket was stamped at 12:08. Never use this parking! read more

So I parked today, Sunday morning, at the Mechanics Bank in WC to use the ATM and get a Starbucks. I come out to find a "Private company" Parksmart "ticket" for $35 on my window that reads. "This invoice is NOT issued by the city of Walnut Creek" What the heck is this scam? I was a customer of the local businesses. My guess is that a lot of people pay these out of fear. Just seems like a terrible practice that will only serve to discourage people from patronizing downtown businesses. In legal terminology, they have no standing. "Standing is the legal authority to levy to "asses a fine" or "to impose a fine", that is for a court or other legal authority to require a person (or a business or organization) to pay a sum of money as a penalty. Come on Walnut Creek!! read more

I hadn't been to Bay Street Mall Emeryville, and basically, unless there is some extremely compelling reason, I'm never going back. Is there clear signage saying pay before you park? No. Did I and the friends who had met to go to PF Chang come out to $30 parking tickets? Yes. Did I let the restaurant and the two stores I dropped by know I'm never going back? You Betcha. PUT UP CLEAR SIGNAGE read more

Absolute scam and trash. Paid for parking at Bay St and received a ticket. The dispute process requires you to "write-in" like what ancient people would do, thanks but no thanks. read more

I walked around the corner to get change for the parking meter as I only had cash on me came back ticket. I won't be going to city's that use this company. I will support free on weekend city's but not Walnut Creek or Lafayette. If I find more city's using this company I will boycott them as well. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

I am so sorry to read other people's negative experiences, but I have just had the nicest one with ParkSmart and want to share it. Yesterday, the machine at the lot at my doctor's office wasn't printing slips. I paid, my transaction showed "Complete", but no slip printed for me to place on my dash. Thinking I'd make a mistake, I tried it a second time. Same. Obviously, the machine was out of paper, jammed, or otherwise not working properly. But I'd paid $8 for my 2 hours and was worried I'd come out of my appointment to find an expensive ticket. I didn't get a ticket but thought I should get a refund for the extra I'd paid. I wrote down the number posted for ParkSmart and called, not expecting anything. Instead, the nicest person picked up the phone right away even though it was after hours, and listened to my story. He told me that my money could definitely be refunded, not to worry, and to call the next day when the accounting person was back in. My refund for the extra $4 happened easily today, with the friendly and very helpful accounting person. It was the most pleasant experience that I certainly never expected to have with a parking company. Again, I am so sorry to hear of other people's experiences but mine was very positive today. Thank you, ParkSmart! read more

My order at Slice House Pizza in Walnut Creek was ready for a pick up at 2:43pm. Pre -ordered and prepaid, I figured it would only take a minute or two to collect it and be on my way. This meter guy was waiting in the blind. Time on my meter ticket was exactly 2:43 pm. It took me only two minutes to walk in and to collect my pizza order. A ticket was on my windshield. What a scam!!! read more

So 2 things. Parked in Lafayette and used the park app and lot number provided on the machine. 4 minutes after leaving my car a ticket was issued according to the ticket itself. What is the point of having an app? Second, app charged me 3 dollars for 2 hours of parking but the parking ticket is for 25 dollars of apparently 4 minutes of park time. read more

ParkSmart - Seriously 4 minutes later - Parking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Spent $215.00 dollars at Tutu's in Lafayette Circle. Lovely experience. Walked out to our vehicle the side lot that was occupied by our car and 6 others. Bordered by 71 Lafayette Circle and La Fiesta Square. WE SAW A RED SIGN ON A METER THAT STATED " EMPLOYEE PARKING MONDAY- FRIDAY" We understood that to mean we could park there. WE ARE PATRONS. PLEASE POST BETTER AND CLEAR SIGNAGE. Since parking is a such headache, we will not be spending another nickel in this area. Is this a scam? We can spend hundreds of dollars elsewhere that provides convenient free parking. read more

It doesn't work via text messages or via the app. Why are they even in business? I couldn't even get it to work from a second parking lot and had to use coins instead. read more

Awful company. I received two "invoices" two days in a row. For one instance, I was parked in a bank parking spot with NO meter on a Sunday (banks are closed on Sundays). Is this justified? I don't think so. I'm unsure what the real purpose of this company is. It's hard enough parking in Walnut Creek and there are hundreds of open spots with time restrictions make it impossible. This is extremely frustrating. Thanks Jeannie(she got me two days in a row). You are VERY good at your job but I am not paying these Side note: many times I've fed the meeter only for it to go down in time! WTH. The company are full of crooks and it's shocking to me Walnut Creek allows this. What a unnecessary stressor! read more

So I paid for my parking before my amazing hair appointment with Erin Connors at Salon 955, and yet, I've been ticketed. It's not the 1st time one of their machines has not worked about 8 weeks ago it would not accept my credit card payment so I had to go find change. Now, today the change was putting in did not register on the machine but I put in enough to cover my 2 hour hair appointment, but I came back to my car to find a ticket on it!!! WTF!!! So I took a video of myself putting in more money, (what a waste!!) which also does not register. This company is a scam and I believe they are out to make as much money on broken machines as possible. 8 weeks later: same problem on a different machine and this hasn't been fixed?? Seems like a pattern, but their true problem is what happens when you call to tell them it's broken. I was told when I called and spoke with their company that I can submit the video I have, pay to provide the USB or printed pictures, and I have to pay for postage to prove that they are stealing money from people who have paid their parking fees by ticketing meters that are actually broken. I think they should be reported to any entity that oversees parking violations and I think Better Business Bureau should get involved because this is not right, nor ethical. Now I will be spending my time submitting my letter as required in order to get out of this Parking fee that they have incorrectly assessed. But at least my hair looks amazing! read more

Your employee jack was fraudulently ticketing cars today as their owners stood next to them in the parking lot across from montecatini. The lot is closed off to incoming traffic on one side taking up parking spaces and this is what you do to the patrons of the struggling small businesses?????? read more

ParkSmart - This private company is notorious for ticketing cars against the law - Parking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Scammers! Before Called the number on the ticket, receptionist was rude and combative.

Complete scam. Absolute nightmare to deal with and the companies who employ them don't care for their consumers. Worst experience using their convoluted and confusing registration process. No support options on the phone or elsewhere. read more

DO NOT PAY.  They are not with the city. This company only makes all of the official businesses around them look bad. ***UPDATE*** It's now 2021 and I never received anything after ignoring this. Scam. Don't pay these low lives. read more

Dam Jack.. First time visiting Walnut Creek and got a parking ticket minutes after my meter expired..

I like the convenience of being able to add money through the app instead of having to run out to the car.

I met a business associate at Teleferic Barcelona an excellent Spanish tapas restaurant and parked to the west adjacent to the building. I assumed incorrectly it was a Walnut Creek lot. It is operated by ParkSmart, Inc. as I was to find out below. I paid for parking on 11/17, 2022 the meter told me the time of expiration 1:54PM I returned at 1:50 and found a ticket for $35 issued at 13:22 (1:22pm). I called the number listed on the ticket 3 times, asked for dispute dept, and left 2 messages as they do not staff or answer the calls. They never called me back as promised. One must go online, download a form, fill it out and send it in. Then one is at their mercy. Seems like something is wrong with this system and this company. read more

I circled around a parking lot for a while and then saw a spot across in a bank. My credit card was showing an error, no one picks up the number. I went to look for someone to help with credit card error and within minutes there was a ticket on the dashboard. It didn't feel fair. Shouldn't the city make it easy for people to get more business! Definitely never going back. I'm not paying them. It doesn't seem like city issued it. Are there any consequences? read more

Don't pay these invoices! The more people that refuse to pay these fake tickets the faster ParkSmart goes out of business. Stop patronizing business that would allow this company to patrol their parking lots. Looking at you Bay Street Emeryville. read more

I wish there would be an option to give a negative star. Total crooks. Gave me a ticket for a ridiculous reason... thanks a lot Omid you money, grabbing punk and then because of their delay charge me an additional $10. They are difficult to reach and basically just add to make money. read more

I wish I remembered the name of the gentleman who assisted me but I am so appreciative of his assistance with getting a ticket dismissed for my elderly father. My dad is 86 years old and accidentally parked in a metered space, although located in a parking lot. I'm thankful that Park Smart took it easy on us this time and was able to excuse it. Thank you for being kind and human! read more

Like most others I'm not a fan of paying parking fees especially with 2 hour limits however I live in WC and I'm constantly downtown. So I do pay them. Annually the cost is pretty ridiculous how much I spend on parking but bottom line is I'm accustomed to it. I often over pay just in case I'm not back by time after receiving tickets in the past for barely going over time and learning this way is less costly. I've ALWAYS paid my parking tickets received from time to time. I've also learned that if the meter isn't working there is usually a number on it to report it so you don't end up with a ticket. So when I was parked in one of ParkSmarts lots recently and started receiving the error messages shown in the pics of this post, I immediately looked for contact info on it. There was nothing! Which upset me because I had to get to an appointment and I'd likely come back with a ticket unfairly when I just wanted to be able to pay the darn thing and move on with my day. Had there been other parking spots nearby I would've just moved the vehicle and avoid the hassle. Sure enough I came back with a ticket and I knew I'd have to go down some kind of dispute process or just pay it. I didn't want to be bullied into paying when I knew I made every effort to avoid the ticket in the first place. I tried calling ParkSmart to tell them the situation and ask if I could send evidence of the meter acting up. Surely (in my mind) that would immediately clear this all up. I was rejected and told I must complete their dispute letter and mail it in. Frustrated with being subjected to this process I followed along and sent a dispute letter with a note that I could send pictures as evidence. Nobody ever bothered to contact me to see them. I got a letter back saying I was denied and had more time to pay. Reason stated was others were able to use the machine that day and no card transactions show attempted. Well duh if you read my letter I tried swiping my card multiple times and I kept getting errors on the screen I've never seen before. At this point, it's not even the $27 fee or the $30 deposit they are asking for in order to take this to the next step for a level II review by a "Certified Hearing Examiner".....it's the PRINCIPLE! ParkSmart continues to disregard actually looking into the matter and wants to scare people with these letters so they just end up paying. This is a scam. Not sure how you can do business like this. I will report to 7 on your side and BBB. I've seen your parking guy pull up into a handicap parking spot just to give out tickets. I was shocked he parked there. I asked how is that fair that you can park there, he responded that there was nowhere else to park, to which I replied... what an irony that is. When there is nowhere else for the rest of us to park we are penalized for doing the exact thing you guys are doing and giving tickets for. Again it's not about the money here. It's business ethics and greed. read more

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This ripoff unofficial company with tickets dispensed 15 minutes before time is up at multiple locations ... because the son shown here works for daddy. Keep feeding your fam by ripping off the Ross employees and being eager to unlawfully ticket in your creepmobile. read more

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Danny is awesome.. He helped me with updating my credit card information so I wouldn't loss my monthly parking space. He's very helpful!! Thank you Danny. read more

Struck again. Ran in quickly to a local Lafayette business and forgot about the odd parking meter set-up in the parking lot. BTW since my last review, I have still never run into another standard parking lot like this with meters in it. Picture pulling into a grocery store or Target parking lot and every spot has a meter in front of it. It should be banned. Reminding you that this is an outside business and the city of Lafayette gets no revenue from it. I'm not sure why they're installed then? Maybe someone in local government is connected to it? Since local business is a shrinking market - due to online shopping - I have no idea why the city is okay discouraging local shopping with an outside organization profiting? Another thumbs down..... read more

ParkSmart - Parking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

okay so I paid $3 for an hour in downtown Walnut Creek literally 1 hour and 5 minutes later I return to my car to find a $30 "invoice parking fee imposed". This is not a ticket so I am not paying it. And Downtown Walnut Creek is losing business because of Parksmart and their unscrupulous tactics! read more

I went to the Emeryville location. How can their system possibly be good for encouraging customers to come to the mall and spend money? Charging paying customers the full day parking fee of $30 if they are a minute late without any warning that this could happen can't be a good way to get repeat customers. read more

I believe this is a scam. I paid for three hours of parking and have the transaction on my credit card. Yet 30 minutes after parking I received a ticket as determined by time in ticket. I am going to write in to say their machine is faulty but after reading other posts there seems to be a pattern of broken machines and mischarges here read more

I parked in a metered space across from the Coop in Lafayette. The meter didn't register my quarters, so I thought it was broken. The meter next to mine registered time left, so I could compare. I couldn't find where it said how much to put in, so I put in 5 quarters. When I got back to my car, I had a ticket for an expired meter. It was for three minutes before seven which is when money is no longer needed. How did she know time had run out? She called the office and was told when it expired, which was three minutes to seven. In fact she probably targeted broken meters which are not actually broken, to give that unsuspecting parking space a ticket. What a scam! read more

I parked in the lot at La Fiesta Square in Lafayette which was full except for one spot that was open. The meters in the lot have a 2 hour max limit and whoever parked in that spot before me apparently paid the max amount and left with 12 minutes on the meter. I had a meeting to get to that would be at least one hour and guess what? I wasn't able to add any money to the meter because it was already maxed out by the person before. I couldn't wait around for 12 minutes or come back when the meter expired because I was in a meeting. So of course I was issued a $25 ticket. What a scam setup that is when you have no way of paying. I love supporting the businesses in that area, but this meter company makes me hesitant to park around there. I did call the company and sent in a dispute letter, but they of course denied my request stating the meters were working as intended. I could request a "Level 2 Hearing" conducted by a 3rd party "objective person" by filling out another form and pay a $25 deposit to none other than ParkSmart, Inc. Come on. We need to do better, even on these smaller levels. This type of stuff is petty and ultimately affects small businesses. read more

So I've been parking in the same exact spot since October of last year at my job in Pleasant Hill and a few days ago, all of a sudden this parking company decided to give me a ticket just because I was parked passed the "2 hour limit". Mind you where I park my car, there isn't a sign that says it's 2 hour parking only, however the rest of the parking lot has the sign. If you're going to give a ticket -- there should at least be the same sign in the two sections where the rest of us park and think it isn't 2 hours only. Not only are they an unprofessional company but they're also very rude customer service wise. read more

This business is a scam. Left a parking ticket on my own car in my own driveway! Ridiculous.

These folks have no legal authority. Simply don't pay it. Ignore it. The ticket is simply an invoice. They're hoping that by making it look like it is an official city document 95% of folks will simply pay the fee. Don't fall for it. There are zero consequences to ignoring this ticket read more