Man Fined £100 After Eating McDonald's In Starbucks Car Park

A man has vowed to never to go near a Starbucks again after he was hit with a £100 ($123) fine for eating a McDonald's meal in one of the coffee house's car parks.

Bob Spink picked up a Maccies in Swansea, Wales, oblivious to the fact it would soon become the most expensive drive-thru order of his life.

Unable to find a free spot at the fast food restaurant, he parked up at a nearby Starbucks, where he and his girlfriend spent 16 minutes tucking into their meals.

It was only later when the 50-year-old received the £100 fine in the post that he realised such penalties 'were a thing'.

Media Wales

Highlighting the 16-minute window he was parked in the bay, the parking charge notice read: "This charge relates to the period of parking specified above, the charge having been brought to the attention of the driver by clear signage in and around the Site at the time of parking."

The letter he received told him that if he paid the fine within 14 days it would be reduced to £60 ($74), so he paid it to avoid the bigger charge.

Bob, from Bath, said: "We had only bought a £12 order from McDonald's and the car park was entirely full so we parked in Starbucks to eat, as there was plenty of space.

"It just feels like legalised theft, I haven't done anything wrong legally.

"I was baffled by it, we have just moved here and it's something you can't ignore as it only gets worse and increases the fee."

Bob subsequently posted the fine on social media, and other motorists said they had been burnt by the same thing.

Media Wales

"I shared it in the hope of making people aware and steer clear of the chain," Bob explained.

"We hadn't even left the car, the premise of a car park is to invite people in and it just feels like a con and I don't understand what they are trying to achieve and it doesn't look great for the chain to use a parking enforcement with such tactics."

Starbucks said the parking offence notice was the responsibility of National Parking Enforcement Ltd, but declined to comment further.

LADbible has contacted National Parking Enforcement Ltd for comment.