Parking Card FAQ

• Where can I find parking meters that accept the City of Ottawa Parking Card?
• How do I use my Parking Card?
• How do I know how much money is left on my card?
• Can I use my Parking Card anywhere in Ottawa?
• Why is there a $10.00 non-refundable administration fee?
• Do I have to pay the $10.00 non-refundable administration fee every time that I buy a card?
• If I wish to discontinue my participation in the Parking Card Program, will the $10.00 administration fee be reimbursed?
• Is the non-refundable administration fee greater when purchasing a $50.00 card?
• Where do I go to purchase a card?
• What should I do if my Parking Card does not work?
• When will I be reimbursed for the money left on the malfunctioning Card?
• What do the different codes mean?

Where can I find parking meters that accept the City of Ottawa Parking Card?

All of the City of Ottawa owned meters accept the Parking Card. Meters that are not City-owned, such as those on university campuses, or in airports and bus terminals do not accept the Parking Card as a method of payment.

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How do I use my Parking Card?

• Using your card in a meter
• Using your card in a Pay and Display station
• Using your card in a Pay on Foot station

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How do I know how much money is left on my card?

To find out how much money is left on your card, insert your card into any City-owned parking meter and your balance will appear on the meter’s screen. If you do not wish to purchase any additional time, promptly remove your card before the debit process begins.

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Can I use my Parking Card anywhere in Ottawa?

You can use your Parking Card in any of the City of Ottawa parking meters, Pay and Display stations and in Pay on Foot stations.

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Why is there a $10.00 non-refundable administration fee?

The City of Ottawa has implemented a $10.00 non-refundable administration fee for every new Parking Card purchase in order to produce sufficient revenues to cover the program’s operating costs.

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Do I have to pay the $10.00 non-refundable administration fee every time that I buy a card?

You will only need to pay the $10.00 administration fee the first-time you purchase a card. When you return an empty card for recharging, you will not be required to pay an additional administration fee. If you do not return your card for recharging, you will be charged a $10.00 administration fee to obtain a new Parking Card.

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If I wish to discontinue my participation in the Parking Card Program, will the $10.00 administration fee be reimbursed?

The $10.00 fee is non-refundable.

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Is the non-refundable administration fee greater when purchasing a $50.00 card?

The administration fee is always $10.00 for the first time purchase of a card. The non-refundable fee is charged on the sale of all new cards whether they are in the amounts of $25.00 or $50.00.

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Where do I go to purchase a card?

Locations

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What should I do if my Parking Card does not work?

• If your card does not work, please bring the card to Ottawa City Hall or one of the City's Client Service Centres. There, you will need to hand in your card to a Client Service Representative who will then send it to Parking Operations for verification. A Parking Operations representative will then reimburse you for the remaining value on your card. Reimbursements are provided in the form of parking meter tokens or in a letter of credit that can be put towards your next Parking Card purchase.
  
  
• It is not possible for Client Service Representatives to reimburse you for the amount of money left on your card. They do not have the appropriate technology to verify the amount of money left on your Parking Card. If you wish to have a replacement card immediately, you must purchase a new card for $25.00 or $50.00. In this case, no $10.00 administration fee is required.

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When will I be reimbursed for the money left on the malfunctioning card?

The process takes approximately three to five weeks. A Parking Operations representative will verify your card and send you the remaining value in the form of parking tokens or credit letter.

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What do the different codes mean?

• ERFD, ERFC
  These codes may indicate that your Parking Card needs to be repaired if the code appears on several different meters. If it only appears on one meter, the meter’s card reader is defective. To avoid receiving a parking ticket, please make payment using coins or park at another space. Please record the meter number and call 3-1-1 to report it.
     
• ERFE, ERFA, ERF0, ER40 and ER70
  These codes indicate that the card reader in the meter is defective. The card reader in the meter is unable to read the data inscribed on your card. To avoid receiving a parking ticket, please make payment using coins or park at another space. Please record the meter number and call 3-1-1 to report it.
      
• ERF3
  The error code ERF3 indicates that the chip on your parking card is damaged. You need to return the card to a Client Service Centre. Please see What should I do if my Parking Card does not work. To avoid receiving a parking ticket, please make payment using coins or park at another space.

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