Unhappy Meal: Grandad Fined £100 For Spending Too Long At McDonald’s

A grandad has been fined £100 after he visited McDonald’s twice in one day - and spent too long in the car park.

Robert Newton felt a bit peckish on his way to pick up his grandchildren so popped into the branch in Sittingbourne, Kent, for a chicken wrap.

After eating the meal in his car for 10 minutes, the 59-year-old drove off but returned later with his granddaughter and grandson to buy them a Happy Meal.

He once again parked in the car park while they ate their meal before leaving shortly after.

However, the company that owns the car park have since sent Robert a letter claiming they owe him £100 for spending more than two hours on the land.

Robert said: “The letter said I’d been parked up there for 123 minutes - that’s more than two hours.

"It is stupid their cameras can clock me going in for my meal but not going out again but can then clock me going out later with the grandchildren.

Not loving it: Robert visited the same McDonald’s branch twice in one day (Wikipedia)

"The system does not work properly and getting a letter telling me I owe £100 is not a laughing matter.

"I don’t understand how the camera didn’t see that I had exited the car park and then drove back in later.”

Robert, who suffers from arthritis, said he intended to appeal.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “At a number of our restaurants, parking restrictions are in place to ensure there is adequate parking for all customers.

"Where restrictions are in place, we work with industry-approved contractors to ensure any restrictions are clearly signposted and communicated.

"McDonald’s does not profit from any penalty charges and if a customer feels they have been wrongly ticketed we would encourage them to get in touch with the third party contractor who issued the ticket.”

Top pic: SWNS