Every Friday, Consumer Reporter Lynda Steele dips into the mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side investigates Richmond parking meters and incorrect bottle deposits.
Parking meter upgrade
Duke wrote Steele on Your Side after trying to use a new loonie to pay at a parking meter in Richmond. The meter would not accept the coin. He wants to know why the meters still haven't been upgraded, when the new loonie has been around for more than two years now.
The City of Richmond told us the installation of new upgraded parking meters began last week and all city meters will be replaced by the end of April.
Richmond had considered upgrading the existing meters when the coins came out in 2012, but the process would have cost taxpayers an additional $75,000.
Incorrect bottle deposit
Cathy bought a bottle of Starbucks Frappuccino Mocha from Shoppers Drug Mart. She was charged a deposit on the bottle, but when she went to recycle it at a bottle depot she was told there were no refunds on this type of bottle. She wants to know why she was charged the deposit at the store.
Turns out products that contain milk do not have a deposit on them.
Steele on Your Side contacted Shoppers Drug Mart to ask them about the discrepancy.
It says the drinks were being incorrectly entered as energy drinks in its system in B.C. The retailer says the bottle deposit has now been removed from its system.
Shoppers Drug Mart also contacted Cathy to refund her money.
