A McDonald's drive-thru customer has hit out at the chain after being stung by new parking rules.
Richard Moore, from Walsall, West Midlands, was fined four times at the Littleton restaurant.
Maccies customers are being caught out if they stay in the car park longer than 10 minutes, and are being clocked by the camera as soon as they begin queuing for food.
Advert
McDonald's does not own the car park, but is being called upon to act after fast food lovers are being repeatedly stung.
Mr Moore has now received a £400 ($537) fine after visiting the restaurant multiple times over the past few weeks.
He said: "Now the nature of a drive-through is as it says, I drive through, collect my food and eat parked up, as I have usually done for the past two years, I did not notice the changed parking notices.
"This is not your run-of-the-mill car park as the dynamics of the daily McDonald's drive-through customers have not been taken into consideration.
"It would have been very helpful for warning notices to have been posted at the drive-through and maybe verbal information of the changed free parking time to only 10 minutes.
Advert
"None of this was done at the time the parking conditions changed and I continued to use McDonald's and the car park as I had done for the past two years.
"I have now stopped this as it is far too risky as a drive-through customer to complete my purchase within 10 minutes."
But he's not the only one who has been caught out by the new rules.
Geeta Gupta, who received a £60 penalty after picking up some breakfast, said: "It was impossible to get served, pay, eat in 10 minutes.
Advert
"The landowner needs to be realistic, they should be more transparent.
"£60 is ridiculous we only spent £3.49, we will never use this McDonald's again."
Local Councillor Lee Jeavons has launched a petition, which has received around 300 signatures, to increase the waiting time at the privately contracted site, which is operated by Ocean Parking.
It's hoped Maccies bosses will be able to use their influence to change the rules.
Councillor Jeavons has described the changes as 'disgraceful' and believes the waiting time must be longer.
Advert
He said: "According to planning permission, McDonald's customers are supposed to be able to park for free, the problem is none of the McDonald's bays are marked out."
A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We are aware of parking issues around our Littleton restaurant and we have contacted the managing agent to further understand and help resolve the issue."
A spokesperson for Ocean Parking told LADbible that customers are given a grace period during their visit to the restaurant but must pay to extend their stay.
They said: "The signage advertising these new conditions was in place two weeks prior to the changes being implemented and additional advisory signage has also been placed in the vicinity of the tenant premises.
Advert
"Whilst we understand customer's concerns with these arrangements this is a pay and display car park and any customer who wishes to park and remain at the location is required to pay the applicable parking tariff to do so. This approach is consistent with local authority car parks."
Featured Image Credit: Cascade NewsTopics: Parking, Food, UK News, McDonald's