Parking insecurities

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