UNHAPPY meals were served up at a world famous restaurant after customers were charged for months of food in one day.

Dozens of families ate at McDonald’s Tollgate, paid by card, and went on their way...

not knowing they had not been charged because of a computer glitch at the restaurant.

Months later the customers were charged for all the meals in one go, leaving families facing bills of more than £150 just a week before Christmas.

Others, like 30-year-old Charlene Dobbs from Stanway who takes her three children occasionally for a treat, claim they have been charged for meals they did not have at times they were not there.

When complaining they claim they have been laughed at, ridiculed, mocked or simply ignored with the phone hungup.

Charlene, who had ten payments taken in one go worth £80, said: “The manager told me they have six months to claim the money and said ‘so tough’ and hung up.

“You expect it to be taken out of your account at the time, not months later, just a week before Christmas. I haven’t even been in there ten times in two months. I haven’t ever been in at 2am with my children.”

She added one payment was taken for £19.31 allegedly because those responsible for inputting the backdated bills read the time of the transaction – 19.31pm – instead of the price.

Staff around the nearby Tollgate Centre have also been affected.

One manager said: “I have a dozen staff members, some in tears, charged for meals in June. Some staff have had £150 taken. They are overdrawn and can’t pay it. It is not moral.”

Josh Briggs, 20, from Colchester, broke his neck inamotorbike accident and is not able to work.

He received an early Christmas present of a £50 bill from McDonald’s, with bank charges on top.

He said: “Ten of my mates got the same, some up to £100.

“You expect them to take it at the time not months later.

“I asked if I am supposed to check every transaction all the time? They just said ‘I do’.

“You expect better from a big company like them.”

McDonald’s denied claims charges went back six months saying they went back six weeks.

They also denied any errors were made.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “There was an issue in the processing of card payments at our Colchester Tollgate restaurant, which affected all card transactions between October 30 and December 15 “As a result transactions, while approved, were not taken out of customer accounts on or near the time the original purchases were made.

“All the withdrawals were properly incurred, but there was a delay in the time in which the payments were finalised.

“We are very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.”

Customers affected have been urged to call the customer service team on 03705 244622.