City drivers are taking a trip back in time, once again needing change to at parking meters thanks to a software problem knocking out the use of credit cards and parking cards to buy parking time. 

"I'm late, and now I've got to move my car so it doesn’t get towed. It's annoying as hell!" said one New Yorker.

According to the Department of Transportation, the credit card payment system software was configured to end on January 1, 2020. Officials say Parkeon, the company that makes the meters, never changed the date. 

The DOT says it’s not just here. Cities worldwide using the same software are experiencing payment problems as well.

The problem first emerged in Australia, which rang in the new year first, and then spread around the globe as the clock struck 12 in each time zone New Year's Eve.

It is a small-scale version of the global tech meldown that was widely feared, but never materialized, when the 21st century began. 

"I find that very hard to believe, particularly after the Y2K sort of hubbub that was going on when everyone was concerned about that technology," said one New Yorker. "So it's crazy, it's crazy."

The DOT says it has to reconfigure the software in each parking meter to resolve the problem. It tweeted photos of crews doing just that.

But with tens of thousands of meters it the city, it is clear the agency is facing a time-consuming task.

Drivers were still able to use the ParkNYC app to pay, or simply insert coins in the meter, but hourly parking rates range from $1.25 to $7.50.

"Sometimes, you don't have enough coins, so you have to use the card. It's better," said one New Yorker.

Sadly, drivers still have to feed the meters. The Finance Department says that because you can still pay for parking through the app or with coins, parking tickets are still being issued, although anyone who receives one can try to appeal their summons.