Lovin’ the fight for justice over parking

Mar 27 2011 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

RONALD McDONALD has once more met his match in a fight with Mr Justice.

The fast food chain was again in my sights this week after an angry customer fell foul of a 90-minute limit on staying in one of their car parks.

I’ve investigated similar complaints in the past and won refunds for readers.

And I did it again for Gillian Smith after McDonald’s scrapped a £100 parking ticket.

Gillian, of Morpeth, Northumberland, had overstayed her welcome at a franchise in Redditch, Worcestershire.

She told me: “As a fan of your column I know you have dealt with similar cases. On a trip to Redditch to stay with a friend I had the misfortune of stopping off at McDonald’s.

“I admit staying more than two hours but purchased a meal and then coffee and dessert later. I had my laptop with me and ran out of the time.

“When I returned home I had a parking ticket waiting for me because I had stayed longer than 90 minutes.

Gillian followed my advice and spoke to the manager but he was non-committal. She said: “I was advised to appeal because the parking company were usually lenient. Lenient? About as much chance as Newcastle winning the Premier League this season.”

Moving swiftly on, and aware that some miracles even I cannot perform, I could see Gillian needed a bit of super-sized help.

I pointed out she was not from Worcestershire and did not know the McDonald’s concerned. It was night and, Gillian said, she did not see any signs.

McDonald’s usually justify parking charges to stop customers of other shops using their parking spaces but, on this occasion, it was a Friday night in an industrialised area and no other building was open.

I asked Emma Malby, regional communications manager, if she could work her magic. She said: “I have reviewed the complaint about parking enforcement at our Redditch restaurant.

“I have arranged for the car parking charge to be cancelled as a gesture of goodwill. Ms Smith need take no further action.

“As you are aware from our previous conversations, restrictions are only introduced as a reluctant last resort, and are the best currently available solution to a problem which previously caused great inconvenience to our customers who did not always have space to park at our restaurants.

“Clear signage is in place to communicate any such restrictions and customers who wish to stay longer should contact a duty manager in the restaurant.”