When Pay at Entry is turned on, the entry kiosk will display the rate options and the parker will process the payment via the credit card reader or entry cash machine on the kiosk. Once payment is processed, the kiosk will print a ticket and a receipt. Both will have a barcode that can be scanned at the exit kiosk.
Discount prices of any kind (validation or coupon) cannot be used on Prepay prices, as of right now.
- PARCS Transient PrePay – a Standard Rate is charged until PrePay Rates are activated at the entry, either manually or scheduled. Kiosks will still be set to Pay on Exit.
- Duration-Based – A flat rate paid that is valid for a specific amount of time (hours/minutes) ex. $10 valid for 12 hours.
- Time-Based – A flat rate paid this is valid until a specific time of day. ex. $10 valid until 5 AM. (not every customer will receive the same amount of time for the amount paid)
Other PrePay Modules
- PARCS Hotel Prepay – Hotel Guest can select the number of nights they will stay and are issued a ticket with in and out access. Kiosks will still be set to Pay on Exit.
- FlashMobile (PARCS Meter)- Pay by Spot/LP, Pay and Display. This is the only scenario where Pay on Entry will be selected at the Kiosk Level.
- Valet Prepay – typically used for special events. This would be an attendant in the lane taking payments and allowing entry. Kiosks will still be set to Pay on Exit.
Create a PrePay Price #
In the Flash Admin portal select PARCS Transient ticket type > scroll to Price section > Add New
- Enter Price Name
- Amount = $0.00
- Check Pre-Pay Price
- Connect a Late Price
- Select the Prices tab > find the newly created price and change Source to Flash Rates
- Repeat for each PrePay Rate needed
Create Disable PrePay Price #
The Disable PrePay rate is required to allow the operator to enable/disable PrePay Mode
In the Flash Admin portal select PARCS Transient ticket type > scroll to Price section > Add New
- Enter Price Name
- Amount = $0
- Check Pre-Pay Price
- Connect a Late Price
- Check Selected if Standard Rate is currently Selected (active default rate)
- Save
The Disable PrePay Price will not be configured in FlashRates, it will remain a simple $0 rate.
Configure PrePay Price in FlashRates #
Log into the Flash Rates Tool
- Publication: Immediately
- Repeat Duration: None
- Days: All Week, unless specified by the client
- Name: This is what the parker will see on the kiosk screen. Ensure the name descripted the Amount they will pay and is professionally written. You may also include how long the rate will be active. ex. $10 for 12 Hours or $10 until 2 AM
- Start Time & End Time: Used for Time Based PrePay or Scheduled Rates.
- Time Based PrePay: Enter the time the rate will expire in both fields. These Rates do not go past 24 hours. The time entered should be a time that is earlier than when the first customer will be entering.
- Scheduled Rates: Enter the time the PrePay Rate should take effect and the time the PrePay Rate change back to Standard or the next PrePay Rate.
- Pricing Method: Duration or Time. See the difference described in the Overview
- Price: Enter the amount to be paid
- Price Duration: Used for Duration Based PrePay. Enter the amount of time the PrePaid amount will be valid for.
Rate Options #
OPTION 1: Select Amount of Time to Pay in Advance For
With this option, the parker is presented with more than one option on entry. For example:
- Pay for 1 Hour $5
- Pay for 2 Hours $10
- Pay for 12 Hours $25
If the parker chooses to only pay for 1 hour for $5, their ticket will show as paid in the Issued tab. They will scan their ticket or receipt on exit, and the gate will open so long as they are within 1 hour of their arrival time. If they are exiting after an hour, the late fee will kick in and charge them on exit.
OPTION 2: Pay a Set Rate, Good Until Specified Time
With this option, the operator selects a flat price to charge all incoming parkers. This flat rate will be good until a set time, such as 2:00 AM. At 2:00 AM, the late fee will kick in.
The price can have a start and end time, which will cause the prepay option to only be available to parkers between the start and end time. Outside of those selected times, the default selected pay on exit price will be presented to the parker.
If the price does not have a start and end time, the prepay price option will be presented to the parker any time the prepay price is selected, and the pay on exit price will not be presented until the prepay price is disabled.
Schedule PrePay Rates #
A JIRA is not required to schedule PrePay Rates. Follow the steps above to create a PrePay Rate, along with the config steps below:
In the Rates Tool
- Ensure all PrePay Rates that should be scheduled are included in one Price as individual Components.
- The Days, start and end time will determine when the rate is active.
- Confirm these Components do not overlap.
In Portal
- At Transient Ticket Type, have Standard, Lost Ticket & the Scheduled PrePay Rate Selected.
Notes #
- All PrePay Rates need to be completed in the FlashRates Tool
- All PrePay prices should have a late fee linked to them.
- A “PREPAY” price must be selected AT ALL TIMES
- either a prepay price or a “Disable PrePay” price selected in conjunction with the standard rate
- When Standard Rate is Active – Standard, Lost Ticket & Disable PrePay will all be Selected
- When PrePay Rate is Active – Standard, Lost Ticket & PrePay Rate will all be Selected
- When PrePay Rate is Scheduled – Standard, Lost Ticket & Scheduled PrePay Rate will all be Selected
- A JIRA is not required to schedule PrePay Rates. The Days, start, and end time will determine when the rate is active.
- Double-check that any schedule PrePay Rates Do Not Overlap.
- Enable the Force Prepay If No Paper flag on the kiosk configuration.
- This is required for Minis that do not have printers and best practice for all kiosks
- This flag can also be used for locations that want to force prepay if the ticket paper runs out. Customers will not receive a ticket or receipt if there is no paper. They will exit by swiping the credit card used for payment at the exit kiosk. Cash Payments will not be accepted for Pay at Entry while there is no paper in the entry kiosk.
