Street parking payment app EasyPark under fire for skyrocketing usage fees

Customers of the parking app EasyPark are voicing strong dissatisfaction over a significant price hike in service fees set to take effect on May 1. The company, which allows users to pay for parking via mobile, will increase its service fees by up to 18 times the current cost, a move that has sparked widespread criticism, according to RTL.

Currently, EasyPark charges a fixed 39-cent service fee per transaction, regardless of the parking duration. However, starting in May, this will change. The new service fee will be 15 percent of the total parking cost per session, with a minimum charge of 0.19 euros per transaction and a maximum of 0.70 euros per hour. In the case of long-term parking, the service fee will cap at 7 euros per day.

Under the new pricing model, users could find themselves paying significantly more for parking. For example, parking for two hours at a location with an hourly rate of 4 euros will result in an extra 1.20 euros in service fees, a sharp rise from the previous 39 cents. For full-day parking, the service charges could reach up to 7 euros—18 times more than the previous fixed fee. Customers have expressed frustration on social media platforms, with one user calling it "complete idiocy" and another accusing the company of price gouging.

EasyPark, which entered the Dutch market in 2017, explained that the price increase aligns with its model used in over 20 other countries in Europe. The company has expanded its presence in the Netherlands by acquiring the American parking app ParkMobile in 2023, integrating its Dutch customer base into the EasyPark platform.

In a statement, EasyPark said that the revised pricing model, which replaces the fixed fee with a variable one, is intended to offer lower costs for short-term parking. For longer durations, the maximum service fee will not exceed 7 euros. The company further explained that the service fee covers the convenience of features like flexible parking durations, access to customer support, and ongoing app development.

"EasyPark provides a service that is easy to use and available in most cities across Europe," the company stated, justifying the fee increase. "The service fee covers the features we provide, including the ability to start, stop, and extend parking, access to customer care, and the continuous development of new features."

The backlash follows EasyPark's growth in the European market, with the company recently being named one of Europe's fastest-growing companies by Financial Times and Statista. In addition to acquiring ParkMobile, EasyPark also acquired Parkopedia and Flowbird last year, further expanding its portfolio.