I parked in a LEGAL parking zone and paid the fee, then a zealous meter maid gave me a ticket anyway. I wrote to the New South Wales government, protesting the ticket and included photographs of the signs showing it was legal to park there.
Instead they went through EUROPCAR rentals who billed me for fees that aren't owed to EUROPCAR!
DON'T RENT FROM EUROPCAR. Use a reliable and honest company like Herst or Avis!
Australia has become the traveler's ripoff capitol. We parked in down town Sydney and although we paid the fee after two locals said it was fine to park there, got a $135.00 ticket within 10 minutes of stopping. I wrote the Sydney parking authority with photos of the sign saying we could park in that area, but they demanded the fine and set a court date. Australia has become more expensive than Europe. The cheapest hotel room (poor quality) was $95.00 a night. Petrol is $7.11 a gallon. Sales taxes eat you up. People are barely friendly anymore. It is sad. I've been there twice before and its become an expensive and unfriendly country. Better to go to Europe or somewhere there is some culture and history. Australia is a ripoff and their government is money hungry.