AI parking company at El Paso airport faces legal scrutiny over pricing practices
Metropolis Technologies, the company launching automated parking services at El Paso International Airport this week, settled a major consumer protection case in Tennessee just three months earlier over unclear pricing and misleading fee notices.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office received more than 300 complaints against Metropolis before reaching an $8.75 million settlement in January. The investigation found the company misled consumers through inaccurate signage, charged unexpected fees tied to technology glitches, made refunds difficult to obtain, and created notices designed to resemble government bills.
What the Tennessee settlement required
Metropolis must now:
- Display clear signage with accurate rates at every lot entrance
- Send text messages showing rates when drivers enter lots using license plate reader technology
- Never charge more than posted rates
- Provide a 15-minute grace period for entry and exit with no charge in license plate reader lots
- Stop implying affiliation with local or state agencies in notices
- Automatically issue refunds when technology wrongfully charges a consumer
- Evaluate each refund request individually
The company will also fund a $2.25 million program providing free parking credits to eligible Tennessee consumers.
Company downplays settlement connection to El Paso launch
Metropolis Vice President of Communications Nick Rosen-Wachs said the settlement stems from issues at Premier Parking, which Metropolis acquired in 2022, and has "nothing to do" with the El Paso launch.
He characterized the complaints as "long-past" and said they involved "less than .01% of all parking sessions." The company says it has made "significant customer service and operational improvements" since then.
Additional lawsuits pending
The Tennessee settlement is not Metropolis's only legal exposure. A class action lawsuit filed in Tennessee in June 2024 alleges the company mailed "fake parking citations" and improperly obtained and disclosed vehicle owners' personal information in violation of federal law. That suit remains ongoing.
Two Texas law firms filed a separate class action lawsuit in September 2024 alleging Metropolis "intentionally devised a scheme to overcharge customers" through a confusing parking system.
According to the Texas suit, drivers who leave without paying receive "Notice of Parking Violation" letters at home with vehicle photos. The notices demand the unpaid fare plus a violation fine that often far exceeds the original charge.
One client was charged $5 for parking but received a violation notice for over $70. Another was billed $30 in violations on a $9 parking fare-more than three times the original cost.
The Better Business Bureau has logged 841 complaints against Metropolis over three years.
The El Paso International Airport did not respond to requests for comment on the company's track record.
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