Milwaukee parking meters will stop accepting credit cards directly on Oct. 1 because Park-O-Meter, the company that provides the meters’ software, is shutting down, city officials said Sept. 18. The change affects payments made at the meters themselves. Coins will remain accepted, and drivers can continue paying by credit card through the ParkMobile app or ParkMobile’s online system. Each meter will display payment instructions. The city said Park-O-Meter’s closure was unexpected and came with limited advance notice. Milwaukee plans to begin selecting a new parking-technology vendor immediately. Drivers who rely on cards and do not use ParkMobile may need to plan ahead by carrying coins or setting up the app before parking. The temporary disruption also highlights how basic public services can depend on private technology providers—and how quickly residents can lose a payment option when a vendor exits the market.