Tony Long, 77, and his wife Pauline met friends Roy and Lillian at the fast-food restaurant for the "first time in months" following the easing of Covid restrictions. Tony parked his silver Citroen outside the KFC, but was not aware of a strict one-hour time limit and were there for nearly an hour-and-three-quarters on Friday September 10.
The friends enjoyed their chicken lunch at the eatery in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, and were reportedly the only people in the restaurant.
But on Friday October 1, Tony was dismayed to receive the huge parking fine in the post.
Speaking to Birmingham Live, the OAP said: "I went back down there and had another look and they have got brand new signs showing parking is limited.
"The signs weren’t noticeable. The one I saw was eight or nine feet high.
"There’s a new sign showing parking is limited to one hour. We never saw it. I have been to that restaurant a lot of times and have never seen it before. The last time we went and met the same friends we were there way over an hour and didn’t get a fine.
"Everybody I spoke to though it was three hours."
Tony, from Kingstanding, Birmingham, has asked Smart Parking, which manages the site, to overturn the fine.
He added: "I think it’s a bit bad actually to restrict you. There was nobody else in there at all.
"After this pandemic where everybody has been shut up and then you get stung with a ￡100 fine."
Tony, a former magistrate, is yet to hear from Smart Parking.
The motorist added: "I used to go to that restaurant every week but I am going to forget KFC in future.
"I am not paying it. I’d rather go to the small claims court."
A spokesperson for the fast-food giant said: “To keep our car parks running smoothly, many of them do have limits in place – which is usually okay, as our fans don’t tend to stay with us quite as long as Anthony did.
"Nonetheless, we’re really flattered that he chose us for his reunion with friends, so we’ve cancelled the ticket and our Care Squad are getting in touch to make things right."