85 euro fine

Nice “basket money” for fast food giants?

Yes, the signs are posted both in the parking lot and on the door. Nevertheless, many people overlook the time limit when parking.(Bild: Charlotte Titz)

You are allowed to park for 90 minutes at McDonalds in Neusiedl am See in Burgenland. If you exceed this time, you will be fined 85 euros.

Normally, a visit to McDonalds goes quickly. Unless you have children with you and they are having fun in the huge play area. If the parents don't look at the clock, 90 minutes are quickly over - and that gets pretty expensive in Neusiedl. Because hardly anyone pays attention to the fact that parking is only allowed for one and a half hours. It's written on the parking lot and on the door at the entrance, but the signs are often overlooked.

90 minutes - if you overstay, you should let the staff know.(Bild: Charlotte Titz)

At the beginning of the year, the Michlits family, who had just returned home from their skiing vacation, were "caught out". They ate, grabbed a coffee and discussed the week ahead while the children played. Little did the parents know that the clock was ticking.

Payment deadline already over
Until the fine arrived at the beginning of February. "The letter arrived at the office during the semester break," says Margit Michlits. When she received the letter, the deadline for paying the fine had already passed. She tried to call McDonalds several times, wrote emails - no response. Nevertheless, she did not pay the fine. "I'd had enough and wrote one last, rather nasty email saying that I would pass the matter on," says Michlits.

Then, all of a sudden, a reply: the fine would be canceled as a gesture of goodwill. But she didn't understand why she was so angry. They were happy to be accommodating and would expect the same from customers. "I didn't reply to that because it's cheeky," says Michlits and suspects a business model behind it. If only some of the fines are paid, the fast-food giant already has a nice windfall.