McDonalds Parking Fine

jimbugalee

Hi all,

I know this has been on Watchdog but couldn't find anything on the forums here.

My mum meets fortnightly for her deaf club in McDonalds. They have lunch there are practice sign language so it often lasts approx 2 hours.

It seems McDonalds have a policy where you can only park there for 74 mins. If you go over you get a £50 fine.

My mum now has 2 of these fines. She wrote a letter to the company in charge of the car parks and they wrote back to basically say tough, she has to pay.

She's now written to McDonalds themselves as really doesn't want to pay either fine for doing nothing other than spending lots of time in McDonalds!

I see how they don't want teenagers hanging around there or people parking and then shopping elsewhere (there isn't actually any other shops around) but surely with a receipt the limit of 74 mins is really unfair!?

Any suggestions?

lucylucky

She has not got a fine - she has a wee bit of paper than she can file and ignore.

"I know this has been on Watchdog but couldn't find anything on the forums here."

You must be doing the search incorrectly

trisontana

Here is the Watchdog Clip (via YouTube)

And if you go to the "Parking Fines, Tickets & Parking" of this forum you will find plenty of information on this and other private parking scams.

And,as lucylucky says, these unenforcible invoices (not "fines") can safely be ignored.

jimbugalee

Sorry, didn't realise there was a specific fines etc forum. I'll look there.

lucylucky

No need to search further now
- you have the answer.

Tell your Mother to ignore the invoices and continue to enjoy her meetings

chocdonuty

The mcdonalds near me have this policy although it is clearly worded in the car park and on cardboard ads on the tables.
The policy does state however that if you wish to stay longer then speak with the manager.
In future I'd have a quick word with the manager and he/she should be able to overide the fine or if I was her I'd go to a nicer cafe/bar with longer parking available

trisontana

Please, it's not a "fine". To call it that gives it some sort of legitimacy.

lucylucky

chocdonuty wrote: »

The mcdonalds near me have this policy although it is clearly worded in the car park and on cardboard ads on the tables.
The policy does state however that if you wish to stay longer then speak with the manager.
In future I'd have a quick word with the manager and he/she should be able to overide the fine or if I was her I'd go to a nicer cafe/bar with longer parking available

She has no need to speak to anyone.

As trisontana states it is not a fine.

And anyone who gets one of these unenforceable invoices should not try and appeal them - a waste of time

deanos

jimbugalee wrote: »

She's now written to McDonalds themselves as really doesn't want to pay either fine for doing nothing other than spending lots of time in McDonalds!

Does the group actually spend lots of money or do they get a cheeseburger & coffee and sit in there 2 hours taking up space for other paying customers ?

trisontana

deanos wrote: »

Does the group actually spend lots of money or do they get a cheeseburger & coffee and sit in there 2 hours taking up space for other paying customers ?

I think that's irrelevant. To my knowledge, McDonalds do not set any limits to how long their customers can stay in their restaurants. So if you turn up on foot or by push-bike then I imagine you could stay there all day if you wanted to. So why the difference for motorists?

Sandoval

I'm surprised they haven't thrown the 'group' out before now. Sitting there taking up space for two hours practising sign language?

I'd say they've had a pretty good run not being told to move along before now.

They are aware that McDonalds is a restaurant where people go, eat their meals and leave aren't they? They're not actually intended as venues where groups meet and practice activities for hours on end.

Whether it's sign language, arts and crafts, male voice choir, Women's Institute or whatever, why hold your meetings in a fast food restaurant for hours?

Why anyone would want to spend two hours in a McDonalds doing anything is beyond me.