Family of four ‘pay £265 for breakfast’ at A55 restaurant flooded with complaints

Dozens of irate customers have vented their fury after receiving outrageous charges from a restaurant[1] at a motorway services. The OK Diner, a US-style eatery[2] at the westbound Northop Hall services, in Flintshire, north-east Wales, has “destroyed their reputation,” customers say, with one adding they are “totally disgusted” at the restaurant’s new parking policy[3]. A family making their annual trip to Llandudno complained: “Breakfast for 4 people including a person in a wheelchair….

GBP265.” While others have vowed to contest their fines in court and many commenters have said they will never return to the chain. The OK Diner chain promises classic 50s American fare “on the great British roadside”. Over the years it’s attracted a loyal clientele but in recent weeks its online ratings have been tumbling, NorthWalesLive reports[4].

However the restaurant insisted they do care about their customers and have taken steps to reimburse those charged incorrectly. On May 1, the Northop Hall site introduced new parking arrangements, with an APNR camera system managed by Smart Parking. To avoid a fine, customers were required to enter their vehicle registration details on a tablet.

By June, social media was awash with negative comments from people who said they were genuine customers but that they’d been fined GBP100.

Ninja fans snap up ‘genius’ fast-boil smart kettle that’s GBP30 off in Amazon sale[5]One of the dishes offered by the OK Diner chain (Google)

Those complaining claimed they were unaware of the need to enter their car details – or had done so but were fined anyway. One woman complained to OK Diner Northop Hall on its Facebook[6] page. “I decided to take the family for a meal at this place for a Father’s Day treat,” she wrote. “We didn’t see any signs about registering our car and at no point did any staff make us aware that this was required for us to do. “I recieved a fine yesterday of GBP100.

I was absolutely shocked and angry. I paid with my credit card, so I do have proof we ate there. This experience has completely put me off going to this place ever again.”

A sign at the entrance reminds people the car park is for customers only. OK Diner told the Mirror it had introduced the new system due to the volume of cars blocking our car park who aren’t genuine customers and added they had refunded customers who had been charged in error. In a post about the new arrangements, on July 8, the restaurant said guests will only qualify for free parking if they “sign in their vehicle”.

Customers claimed there are no signs in the car park. One, an MBE recipient, said he was also unaware of the system. He arrived at 12.30pm on June 11, paid for food at 1.32pm and left the car park at 1.42pm.

He received a fine three weeks later and, despite sending a copy of the meal receipt, the Smart Parking appeals team rejected his claim on July 17.

This picture, predating the new parking rules, shows signs warning that parking is for customers only (Google)

He wrote: “I will attend a lawful court and again prove that I was a legitimate customer as the car park signs insisted.” A Google[7] reviewer had a similar experience. He too was fined GBP100 and is appealing. He said: “Brilliant customer experience.

Their reviews are going down the drain because of it. Not sure who signed off on the contract but they’ve destroyed their reputation over it.” A holidaymaker who left without eating, after being kept waiting for a table, received a GBP100 fine after returning from her trip.

She headlined her Tripadvisor review “Not OK Diner” and pledged not to pay. A couple travelling to Llandudno stopped at Northop Hall Services for breakfast with their daughter, who arrived in her own car. They both received GBP100 fines.

The mother wrote: “Breakfast for 4 people GBP62.35, gave the cashier GBP65 cash plus 2 parking fines at GBP100 each. “Absolutely disgusted. Why wasn’t there a machine inside to log your car details into when we arrived?

We will never use this place again.” A spokesperson for Smart Parking said: “Smart Parking were brought into manage the car park at the OK Diner to stop parking abuse and ensure genuine customers can always find somewhere to park. “The car park at the OK Dinner is private land, and motorists should always check the terms and conditions of use before deciding to park.

At the OK Diner there is no free parking between the hours of 9pm and 9am and this is clearly highlighted on numerous signs positioned across the site. For customers who park within the correct hours they simply need to update the terminal in the OK Diner to secure free parking. “Smart Parking are proud members of the British Parking Association (BPA) and strictly follows its guidelines.

We operate a BPA-audited appeals service and we would recommend any motorists who feel they have been incorrectly charged to contact us directly and we will investigate.” OK Diner director Dafydd Lawrie told the Mirror[8]: “We introduced parking restrictions to deal with the vast issue of illegal parking in our car park, which meant at peak times leading to unavailability of spaces for our genuine customers. We have had issues for years as the other big corporate businesses on site have very small car parks and drive thru’s.

There are several signs in the car park and also within the restaurant telling customers of the parking restrictions.”

References

1. ^ restaurant (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ eatery (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ parking policy (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ NorthWalesLive reports (www.dailypost.co.uk)
5. ^ Ninja fans snap up ‘genius’ fast-boil smart kettle that’s GBP30 off in Amazon sale (www.mirror.co.uk)
6. ^ Facebook (www.mirror.co.uk)
7. ^ Google (www.mirror.co.uk)
8. ^ Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)