Charged an Idle Parking Fee?

I Was Charged an Idle Parking Fee After My Session Stopped Unexpectedly

If your charging session ended without warning and you were charged an idle parking fee, this guide explains how to request a refund and how to avoid it next time.

For the general billing flow, the $25 pre-authorisation hold, and other refund scenarios, see How Do I Pay for Charging?.

What is an idle parking fee?

An idle parking fee is a charge applied by the Charge Point Operator (CPO) — the business or site owner who manages the charger — when a vehicle remains connected to a charger after the charging session has ended. It is designed to encourage drivers to move their vehicle once charging is complete, keeping the charger available for others.

The idle parking fee rate and any maximum cap are set by the CPO and are shown in the charger listing in the Wevolt App before you start your session.

What happened to my session?

Charging sessions can stop unexpectedly for a number of reasons, including:

  • A hardware or connectivity issue with the charger.
  • A power interruption at the site.
  • The session reaching a charge limit you may have set.
  • A technical issue with the Wevolt platform (rare).

Important

If your session stopped due to a reason outside your control and you were not notified, this is relevant to your refund request. Make sure to include this detail when you contact support.

✓ Was the charger on our known issues list?

If the charger you used is listed on our Charging station status updates page, mention this when contacting the operator. A documented pre-existing issue at the site strengthens your refund case.

Will I get a refund?

The idle parking fee is part of your Charging Cost, which is managed by the CPO — not Wevolt. Whether a refund is issued is at the CPO’s sole discretion.

However, if your session stopped unexpectedly and you were unaware the session had ended, this is a reasonable basis to request a refund. Wevolt will raise your case with the CPO on your behalf.

What about the Service Fee?

The Service Fee is non-refundable unless Wevolt determines the session failure was caused by a Wevolt Software malfunction, a duplicate transaction, or a billing error on Wevolt’s part.

How to request a refund

✓ Check the Help button in the app first

Every charger listing in the Wevolt App has a Help button. Tap it to find the direct contact details for the operator of that specific charger. For issues related to the Charging Cost or idle parking fee, contacting the CPO directly is the fastest path to a resolution — they are the only party who can refund these charges.

Contacting the Charger Operator (CPO)

Use the Help button on the charger listing in the Wevolt App to find the support contact name, email, and phone number for the site. Explain that your session stopped unexpectedly and that you were not aware the idle parking fee was accruing.

Contacting Wevolt Support

If you are unable to resolve the issue directly with the CPO, or if you believe the session failure was caused by a Wevolt platform issue, contact Wevolt and we will liaise with the operator on your behalf.

Email: contact@wevolt.com.au. Please include:

  • Charger location — the address or charger name shown in the Wevolt App
  • Session date and time — when the session started and when it stopped
  • What happened — describe that the session stopped unexpectedly and that you were unaware it had ended
  • Amount charged — the idle parking fee and the total session cost

Wevolt will assess your request and respond within five Business Days.

Tips to avoid idle parking fees in future

  • Check the charger listing in the Wevolt App before starting — idle parking rates and any free period are displayed there.
  • Monitor your session in the Wevolt App, which shows real-time session status.
  • Return to your vehicle promptly once charging is complete.
  • Use the ‘Add Charging Limits’ feature in the app to set a time or energy limit so you know when to expect your session to end.

Related articles

    • Related Articles

    • Session won't start or stops unexpectedly

      Use this guide if your charging session won't start, drops out after a few seconds, or stops unexpectedly mid-charge. If the charger itself appears offline or unresponsive (showing as Unavailable in the app, or no power at all), see The Charger I'm ...

    • What are Idle Fees on Wevolt?

      What is an Idle Parking Fee? An Idle Parking Fee is a per-minute charge that applies when your vehicle remains physically connected to a charging station after your charging session has finished. It is not a penalty — it is a fee set by the site ...

    • How refunds work on Wevolt

      This guide explains how refunds work on the Wevolt Network, what's refundable, who decides, and how long it takes. Skim the table at the top and you'll know who to contact for your specific situation. Two refund tracks — which one applies to you? ...

    • How Do I Pay for Charging?

      Use this guide if you have questions about how Wevolt charges you, what the $25 hold on your card is, or how to request a refund if you think you were billed incorrectly. How payment works Add a payment method. Link a credit or debit card in the ...

    • Can I Leave My Car After It Has Finished Charging?

      Use this guide if you want to know whether you can leave your car parked at a charger after your session has finished. The short answer is that it depends on the site, so there are two things to check: any idle fee, and the site's parking rules. Idle ...