Setting up payment for your first trip

Before you park for the first time, you put credit on your account. SimplePark works with credit: you top up in advance and the cost of a parking action is deducted when you stop. Linking a bank account is not needed for that. That belongs to direct debit, which only becomes available later.

Topping up for the first time

Below the amount it says "Excluding transaction costs of € 0.29", so the fee comes on top. Top up € 25 and your bank debits € 25.29, leaving € 25.00 on your balance. Shortly afterwards you get an email that your balance has been topped up, with the invoice as a PDF.

Finish your account first

If you tap Top up while your account is not complete, you see the message Finish setting up your account: you have to finish onboarding before you can top up. The Finish setup button takes you to the wizard that asks for your name, email address, phone number and first vehicle.

Why you do not link an account yet

You link a bank account with the wizard Link payment method. It gives SimplePark a SEPA mandate, so we may collect your parking costs afterwards. A new account does not need that wizard yet: direct debit becomes available once your account has built up a positive payment history. Until then, Profile › Balance › Direct debit shows the notice Not yet available, and you top up with the Top up button. You are told by email once it does become possible. See Setting up direct debit.

If your balance runs out while parking

If you try to start an action with too little balance, the app shows Insufficient balance with the button Top up balance. You then top up without leaving the app. Because the credit lands on your account within seconds, you can also do this once the car is already parked. What an action costs exactly is in Which payment methods are supported.