MANY PETROL stations across the island were yesterday still unable to accept euro notes, despite promises that electronic payment machines would have been converted and ready by January 1.
Yesterday, Pambinos Charalambous, spokesman for the Association of Petrol Station Owners, said all the island’s 270 stations would be converted within the next 10 to 15 days.
“Unfortunately, there are a number of stations that are currently only accepting Cyprus pounds and we are trying to address the issue, with the co-operation of JCC, as quickly as possible,” he explained.
“Most in Nicosia and Larnaca are ready, with Limassol and Paphos to follow. We have started in the major towns and will work our way through the villages.”
An additional problem is that price information at the pumps is still only displayed in the discontinued currency, leaving many motorists confused.
According to Charalambous, credit and debit cards may be used in the evenings, with some stations also employing extra staff who will be on duty well into the night.
“If a motorist encounters a problem at one petrol station, he or she should drive to the next one, as there are many where there are no problems,” he said.
“In these early days of the euro, we have encountered some difficulties but we are doing our best to address these as effectively as possible.”
The Consumers’ Association yesterday urged all petrol stations to erect signs, informing drivers of what methods of payment were accepted at each particular station.
Nicosia Municipality, who are in charge of 430 parking meters in the capital, have also encountered problems.
Back in July, the Municipality’s Treasurer said the meters would be able to accept euros straight away on January 1 and would no longer accept the Cyprus pound.
“Parking meters will have a mechanism changed, whereas pay and display machines in car parks will be changed all together,” he said at the time. “The total cost of the project is over £100,000.”
Yesterday however, all of the capital’s meters had been covered up, meaning there has been a delay in implementation.
Mayor Eleni Mavrou yesterday told the Mail that all pay and display machines in car parks were accepting both Cyprus pounds and euros, though she admitted that there has been, “a delay in the delivery of parts required to change the mechanism in the meters. A lot are ready now, but we decided to wait until all the work is complete, so they can all be unveiled together.”
According to Mavrou, this will take place within the week. She added that it will actually be cheaper to pay in euros than Cyprus pounds.
“Instead of inserting 20 or 40 cents, it will now be 30 and 60 euro cents, after we decided to round down the conversion figures.”
So, for a few days at least, motorists can enjoy something they always dream about… free parking.
