|
November 29, 2006 Wednesday
HEADLINE: Big Mac and £125 fine to go
BYLINE: Roslyn Tappenden
DATELINE: Redhill And Reigate Life
Angry parents are being landed with whopping fines by McDonald's for spending too long in one of its restaurants.
One customer said she was told at least 27 people had been snared by new parking restrictions at McDonald's near Gatwick Airport's South Terminal.
Nicola Cox and Marie Hill, from Horley, took their youngsters to the burger outlet during half term but were shocked this week when they each received in the post a parking fine for £125.
The letter from a company called Civil Enforcement said the friends had spent too long in the car park, where the limit is 45 minutes. A camera, which photographed the cars entering and leaving in October, showed they had overstayed by eight minutes.
Mrs Hill, whose children are four and 15 months old, said: "I cannot believe someone expects you to get in there and eat within 45 minutes when you have small children. It takes a good five minutes to get the children out of the car seat and into the restaurant and on that particular day we had to wait for our food because it wasn't ready. I would have had to stop them eating to make it out of the car park in time."
Mrs Cox, who also has two children, aged five and seven, said: "They gave the children drawing and balloons to play with while we were there. They even told us to go and sit down because our food wasn't cooked.
"You can't force kids to shovel their food down quickly so what are you supposed to do? They said there were signs around the car park but I didn't notice them and, besides, I wouldn't expect to receive a fine for eating in McDonald's. I don't understand why they are doing it. The car park is not near the town centre. The only reason you would park there is if you were going to McDonald's."
McDonald's introduced the parking restrictions three months ago in an effort to stop taxi drivers using it as a rest spot. Anyone overstaying their welcome will receive a fine of £125 which must be paid within 28 days but is reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.
Jenny Watson and her husband also took their niece, 10, and two children, aged four and two, to McDonald's on their way to a firework display and received a similar letter three weeks later.
She said: "We didn't think for a minute that we needed to rush. It was virtually dark when we got there so we did not see the signs and there were no notices in the restaurant to say the parking restrictions had changed. "The problem we had was we were waiting for food to be cooked. We waited ten minutes to have one thing cooked but I think 45 minutes is impossible anyway. I certainly won't be going there again because of this.
"I think it is unnecessary to penalise people with young families. I understand them trying to stop other people using the car park but to do this to customers is wrong.
"We called the number which was on the letter but it was an automated voice which gave you an option to pay the fine by credit card. Option Two was if you wish to make an appeal but it just gives the address of the company and tells you to put it in writing."
Neil Gosling, also from Horley, went to the restaurant about a month ago with his wife and four children - aged eight, 10 and twins aged three.
He said: "I have been going there since it opened. I used to go there with my Dad, but I won't be going there again. I was in there for four minutes longer than I should have been. Anyone can park there for 44 minutes and not even eat in McDonald's but if you go in the restaurant and take a bit longer you get a fine.
"It's just a scam. They may as well stand outside and mug people. "I can't go there any more because I can't rush my kids with their dinner. I usually spend about £25 in there but I'll take the kids to Burger King or Harvester next time."
Mrs Cox said she was contacted by McDonald's customer services on Monday and told she would not have to pay her fine and is currently awaiting written confirmation that it has been cancelled.
Life attempted to contact Nottingham-based Civil Enforcement but was told nobody would be available to comment.
Alison Purves, McDonald's regional spokesperson, said: "It is important to McDonald's that all our customers have an opportunity to park at the drive-through restaurant at Gatwick Airport. To facilitate this we have been forced to impose time limits on parking. This is communicated to customers throughout the car park via eight signs, 5ft by 2.5ft in size and two additional signs 6ft by 2ft in size.
"The parking regulations are administered by an independent enforcement company. In one instance, a customer did explain extenuating circumstances to our customer services department who have recommended to the enforcement company that her fine be cancelled. As with any new system, there is a review process in place. In general, feedback from our customers is positive as they are now able to find a car parking place close to the restaurant."
.................................................
|
Login
Register
FAQ
