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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be fuming at being clamped in McDonald's!

77 replies

maggieryan · 31/07/2015 21:38

I could scream. Went up to mcdonalds with the kids. There was a kids party in so ended up staying for two and half hours. Good fun and good catch up with some of the mothers. Came out and my car bloody clamped. 120 euro to get it released. Said it to manager of mcdonalds and although he was sympathetic he said he'd write a letter and I would have to appeal. I gave out to clampers about how unfair it was but rhey said I should have read the signs. It was then I noticed a tiny sign. AIBU to think McDonalds should have bigger bloody signs or even announce it every hour to let people know. I could cry. I've about forty euro now to do me for the week!

OP posts:

Salmotrutta · 01/08/2015 00:10

But the OP wasnt at the party - she was just chatting to people who were!

And anyway - it's a Fast Food (clue!!) chain.

Who the hell wants to sit in MacDonalds for 2.5 hours?

Anyone who does that deserves a parking ticket.

Floggingmolly · 01/08/2015 00:12

A paying customer at a pub will usually have several drinks, and leave when they've finished the last one. Someone sitting in McDonalds for over two hours are extremely unlikely to have ordered more than one meal.
It's a fast food outlet; you're not supposed to stay that long, hence the parking rules.

GraysAnalogy · 01/08/2015 00:13

I still think it's a bit unreasonable if the OP was there as a paying customer the whole time, she's not a cheeky parking thief like she would have been if she'd left the car there and gone to football match or something.

They don't know that though, how would they? Once she sends a letter explaining, along with the managers verification, she will very likely get compensated. It happens all the time!

SurlyCue · 01/08/2015 00:15

Never heard of this either. Dont pay it OP

1)She's paid it.
2) It's a different country. It's very common in that country.
3) rtft.

fair enough
im in that country and I've never heard of it
dont be so fucking rude.

UrethraFranklin1 · 01/08/2015 00:21

rtft is a common response to someone who hasn't.

And if you've never heard of it you obviously don't pay much attention to parking signs either. They are everywhere.

SurlyCue · 01/08/2015 00:26

Yes its a common rude response.

Ive never heard of being clamped in mcdonalds so this means i dont read parking signs? Riiight or maybe it means the mcdonalds ive been to DONT CLAMP and that ive never been informed of one that does.

GraysAnalogy · 01/08/2015 00:28

I honestly thought it was common knowledge that if you park on private property you check the signs to see the rules. No wonder so many people get caught out

CanadianJohn · 01/08/2015 00:31

My car was towed from a Burger King, a few years ago. The time limit was one hour, I got involved with some friends, went elsewhere, and got back after 2½ hours - my car had been towed. The BK manager told me that they made an announcement before any car was towed, in case the owner was dawdling over his meal.

There were signs, I hoped the limit wasn't enforced. I can't complain about being towed, though I whined a lot for about ten years.

MadamArcatiAgain · 01/08/2015 00:34

Say you were McSick and spent 2.5 hours talking down their big white telephone after eating there.

Dowser · 01/08/2015 09:15

But Urethra she was a customer in mcdonalds and she was buying a coffee.

In my book that means they are getting her 'custom'!

Funny that they don't make the signs huge so you can't miss them. Not like they would want to entrap anybody is it?

Fizrim · 01/08/2015 09:28

Sorry to hear that you've been left short of money because of this.

Our McD does have signs up. I also read the OP as not being invited/part of the party, just chatting to the people who were so even if they did have a list of people who were at the party she wouldn't be on it.

Good luck with the appeal, and I hope it refunds you quickly!

MQv2 · 01/08/2015 09:34

Frascati?

UrethraFranklin1 · 01/08/2015 09:43

But Urethra she was a customer in mcdonalds and she was buying a coffee. In my book that means they are getting her 'custom'!

So? The two hour limit is for customers. A coffee doesn't give you free all day parking anywhere! And its not custom they care about losing anyway.

Original poster

maggieryan · 01/08/2015 10:08

Uretha.. I bought more than a coffee. I paid for 4 kids meals, 2 coffees and ice creams afterwards. As for saying who stays in mcd more than a hour I would and so would lots of people. It has a huge indoor playarea for kids a d they love it. I'll let you all know if I win appeal. Fingers crossed!

OP posts:

UrethraFranklin1 · 01/08/2015 10:13

Same rules apply even if you bought a thousand happy meals.

Original poster

maggieryan · 01/08/2015 11:41

OK ureteha sounds like you're delighted I got clampe . What a happy person you must be in real life

OP posts:

UrethraFranklin1 · 01/08/2015 12:18

I'm a very happy person, thanks. I don't care either way that you got clamped, but the fact is there were parking restrictions which you ignored, and thats what happens. You might well get your money back on appeal.

alltouchedout · 01/08/2015 12:31

This sort of thing is so irritating. it's like restaurants which decide you've been there too long so no, you can't order pudding or coffee because they want you out to make way for the next set of customers. I get that they need to make a profit, but in a business like that your long term profit is going to rely on not making customers hate and slate you.

Dowser · 01/08/2015 13:03

Running a business is all about keeping your existing customers happy rather than always striving to get new ones.

Which country are you in op? In the uk I still think you may have been illegally clamped.
You mention euros , is that southern Ireland.

If you go on pepipoo be sure to mention the country.

UrethraFranklin1 · 01/08/2015 13:06

It's perfectly legal in her country. And very common.

Original poster

maggieryan · 03/08/2015 00:28

Uretheafranklin1 thank you for answering for me but no need. Yes I'm from ireland and no, its not that common hence me starting a thread

OP posts:

GraysAnalogy · 03/08/2015 11:03

It's not mcdonalds who manages the car park though is it as I have said before.

What is so hard to understand about this situation.
There has to be a time limit as people abuse it.
OP should be able to contest any charges or get a refund or whatever as she has proof she was inside mcdonalds
And in this day and age it's just stupid to not check signs on car parks.

GraysAnalogy · 03/08/2015 11:07

Soneone asked why the limit on the website, there you go

I'm sure people would complain if they couldn't park up to have a meal but when steps are taken to ensure parking people complain again

to be fuming at being clamped in McDonald's!

Spartans · 03/08/2015 12:22

So the OP wasn't at a party? Just talking to people who were?

She was the only one clamped? Everytime else's managed to attend the party and leave ok?

Original poster

maggieryan · 04/08/2015 16:36

Spartans..no, yes, don't know or care about anyone else and don't know. Hope that has clarified things for you! To everyone that gave advice thank you. I rang clamping company today and they have agreed to reimburse me provided I have letter (which I have),from McDonald's to state I was there the while time. Thankfully the man I spoke to has a conscience and realises some rules CAN actually be broken(uretheafranklin) when common sense is used.

OP posts:

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