A PENSIONER'S trip to grab his grandson a £1.99 Happy Meal spiralled into £2,000 in parking fine.
John Babbage, 75, missed four £100 fines because they were sent to a non-existent address – and he had bailiffs turn up at his door as a result.
He had been dozing in the car at McDonald’s in Luton, Beds while his grandson Tyler, now 12, played with pals when cameras caught him exceeding the free two-hour stay by 17 minutes.
Retired businessman John said: "It's been a nightmare."
Debt collection firm DCBL – which featured in Channel 5 series Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away! – demanded the £400 in fines and £1,651 in costs.
But frightened John and wife Libby, 71, refused to let them in.
Libby, 71, told The Mirror: “There was a knock at 8.30am. I knew you’re not obliged to let them in, but it was terrifying.”
She claims the firm refused to believe they never received the four-year-old tickets.
And she recently learned that Highview Parking, which runs the carpark, obtained a county court judgement days before the bailiffs arrived.
The case is due next month.
McDonald’s does not own the car park and has asked the operator to review the fine.
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