A McDonald meal is usually a happy meal and people often go the distance, literally to get one for themselves. But for a grandfather in UK, a 'happy Meal' from one of the outlets ended up being way too costly than he could ever anticipate, because he was treating his grandson to McDonald meal!
John Babbage, who resides in England's Luton took his grandson Tyler to the local outlet and bought him a $2.79 (Rs 200) happy meal from McDonalds. But Babbage's little show of love for his grandson ended up getting him a parking fine of $2,800 (Rs 2 lakh) because he fell asleep while waiting for his grandson who was playing nearby.
Babbage, 75 was waiting in his car when his grandson was playing with his friends. The former, as he lay asleep inside the car, ended up exceeding his permitted 2-hour free parking by just 17 minutes.
The fine was issued by Highview Parking, which runs the car park. Babbage told the Mirror that he had no idea that he had been fined because he alleged that four £100 fines issued to him were sent to a non existent address. But Babbage and his wife Libby were in for a rude shock when officials from the debt collection firm DCBL came knocking and demanded he pay £400 in fines and £1,651 in costs (Rs 2 lakh).
Reports said that the company Highview Parking has obtained a county court judgment few days before the DBCL officials visited Babbage's home. The case will be up for hearing in the court next month in March.
McDonald's meals have earlier too landed its lovers in trouble due to coronavirus restrictions. Last month, a woman who drove a 100 miles on a two-wheeler with her sister was fined £200 by the North Yorkshire Police. The police stated that travelling through three counties — from Lincolnshire to Scarborough — to get a burger is not classed as essential travel.
In yet another incident of similar nature, a UK man drove 160 kms from Luton to Devizes in mid January breaching lockdown regulations as his hometown did not have a McDonald’s outlet. Wiltshire Police who posted about the incident on their twitter handle said the man’s actions was a 'flagrant breach' of lockdown regulations and fined the man £200 (Rs.20,000).