Setel now offers seamless parking with number plate recognition at Suria KLCC. Here’s how to activate it

Setel started as an eWallet app for fuel, before adding retail payments feature. Then just last week, it introduced a logistics service for merchants and consumers. Now, Setel is making its eWallet app more versatile by adding a yet a new feature. The Petronas-owned digital platform has announced a new automated parking payment service that aims to make parking more seamless and convenient. The service is less like using a Touch n’ go card and more like the parking system implemented at Sunway Pyramid, but better.

How does Setel Automated Parking Payment work?

The automated parking payment service by Setel is currently only implemented – unsurprisingly – at Suria KLCC. When entering the parking, look for banners that indicate the lane equipped with the automated parking service. This service uses an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system to recognise your vehicle’s number plate, similar to the system at Sunway Pyramid.

The gantry gate will open once the system matches your vehicle’s number plate with your verified Setel account. There’s no need to wind down your window or fumble with payment cards or physical tickets.

Suria KLCC requires Touch n’ Go cards to have a minimum balance of RM6 to enter the parking, but for Setel, it has no minimum balance requirements. Furthermore, if the parking rate exceeds the available balance, Setel sends a push notification to your phone. You can view the elapsed parking time, parking fee and other details in real-time via the Setel app.

Exiting the parking is where it differs from the implementation at Sunway Pyramid. Before you make a move, make sure you have sufficient balance in your Setel eWallet. If you have Setel’s auto reload feature turned on, then it will make this a more seamless experience. Next, look for the exit gate with the same banner that indicates the automated parking service. After that, Setel says it’s as simple as driving up to the gate, letting the ANPR system verify your car’s plate number, and drive out once the gantry gate opens.

The parking fee will be deducted automatically from your Setel eWallet and you can view your receipt via the Setel app. You will also earn Mesra points as well. According to Setel, there are no surcharges when using the Setel automated payment service. If you encounter any issues, there will be a help button for assistance.

Overall, this sounds like a very easy and seamless system compared to when I tried exiting Sunway Pyramid. I was required to go to an online payment page using my phone to pay the parking fee or use a designated kiosk. Alternatively, I can exit using a Touch n’ go card.

How to get started?

Activating the service is straightforward, but I do need to stress that this service is currently in a beta stage of development, so do expect bugs and glitches. Furthermore, since this uses a ANPR system, vehicles with fancy or non-JPJ compliant number plates may encounter issues.

Before proceeding make sure you have the latest version of the app installed. Open the app and select “More” from the navigation tab at the bottom. You will see the automated parking payment service listed as “Parking”. Clicking on it will direct you to an introduction page where you have the option to find out more about how this system works before clicking “Get Started”.

On this page, you will be able to register a vehicle, choose a payment method and view the locations that have implemented the automated parking system. At the moment, only KLCC Convention Centre and KLCC Lot 91 (Permata Sapura Tower) are listed as coming soon with more locations to be introduced later.

To activate the service on your account, you will need to register at least one vehicle. You will only be required to add your vehicle’s number plate, colour and choose the type of vehicle. There is an option to fill in the brand and model, but this is more for organising your vehicles and not required for the payment process.

By default, the car will be set as inactive as indicated by the toggle switch set to the left and greyed out. To set your vehicle as active, you will need to move the toggle switch to right, at which point you will be prompted to enter your passcode or biometric authentication. Once verified, you vehicle will be set to active.

You can add more than one vehicle to your account and set them as active. However, Setel says that only one vehicle is allowed to use the system at a time. This means that if you were to convoy to Suria KLCC with your family in two cars registered to the same Setel account, only one car will be able to use the automated parking payment service.

There is also a payment method tab, but at the moment, it is only limited to Setel eWallet. More payment options will be added later on, according to Setel. In the meantime, if you don’t want to worry about the balance, there is the option of turning on the auto reload feature to make sure you always have a sufficient balance.

Just like how you use can search for a Petronas petrol station using the map in Setel, you will be able to search for parking lots that support the automated parking payments service in the future.

As a Setal user myself, I find the automated parking payment service a welcome addition. From initial impression, it really seems to simplify the parking process and make it a hassle free experience. If you’re someone who has to park at Suria KLCC frequently, you may find this useful. You can try it out by downloading the Setel app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

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