MOTORISTS have been left frustrated after being caught out by a “technical fault” with a new parking system.

Drivers claim they have attempted to pay for parking at Southend car parks via the text option of the new Mobon system but say the system did not log the attempt leaving them with parking fines from the council.

Daryl Peagram, 47, of Larke Rise, Southend, parked his car in the University car park for five hours earlier this month.

He said: “I saw the sign saying you can pay online, by phone or text and chose the text option, which said just text your registration as I am already registered with the company.

“I expected to get replies asking for hours and location code. They never came so I texted Mobon with my concerns asking them to chase up whatever they need to.

“They ignored that. I came back to my car late that afternoon to find a ticket on my windscreen.

“I mentioned it to the council security guard who said he has had hundreds of customers have the same happen to them. I went straight home and lodged an appeal online.”

Sam Leslie, 22, had a similar experience. The student, who lives in Billericay, said: “I parked in the Beecroft Gallery car park, had no change and my phone needed to update to use the app.

“I was in a really big rush so I thought I’ll just call the number on the sign to pay.

“I had to go through this really long process of giving all my details, setting up an account and then it asked me to say my registration number, which it didn’t understand despite saying it clearly three times.

“Suddenly the call hung up and I got a text asking me to type it in.

“It then told me to call the number again and asked my card details, it accepted all my payment details, said thanks for using the service and then again, the call suddenly hung up.

“I thought it was all fine and I headed out, thinking I’d paid for three hours parking without a problem. I arrive back at my car an hour and a half later with a parking fine for £50. I don’t understand what more I could have done - it was so unclear whether anything was correct and despite accepting I had paid, no money was taken out of my account.

“If it takes this long to pay for the parking, I don’t see any point in wasting my time challenging the fine, it’s really frustrating.” Mobon did not respond.