Parking insecurities

I find the very idea of "Secure Parking" charging anything for their services at all quite repellent, never mind the proposed doubling of their current rates.

Why? Because of this excerpt, found in the Bahasa Indonesia section on the back of every "Secure Parking" ticket stub, under Ketentuan Umum (Terms and Conditions), which can be roughly translated: "4. Insurance of the vehicle and all of its contents -- for all risks involving damage or loss -- is the responsibility of the vehicle's owner (the parking service provider will not provide reimbursement of any form)."

Funnily enough, the English section of the ticket stub says the following : "4. Insurance of the vehicle and its contents is the owner's sole responsibility."

That's it. No mention of "Secure Parking" washing their hands of any and all responsibility. Is it that there is a different policy regarding English-speaking customers? Or could it be that the only "valid" version of the "Terms and Conditions" is the Indonesian one? Note the different font sizes -- "lack of space" would not be a valid excuse here.

So, unless "Secure Parking" is willing to accept full responsibility for anything that happens to a vehicle or its contents while it is within "Secure Parking" premises, I am firmly against any kind of price rise.

Anyone who has parked a car in Jakarta can recall a bad parking experience. The most common is being granted entry to a parking lot by staff who are fully aware that there are no more spaces available. So, when they give up after driving in circles for an hour, they are then still expected to pay, even though they have not actually parked but merely passed through. In this case, "Secure Parking" is essentially stealing.

Me, I usually refuse to pay in such situations. Unfortunately, the majority don't. Imagine how much "free" money they'll get this way if the rates double.

"Secure Parking" indeed.

LAGA MAHESA, Jakarta