Weird situation at a gas station last night

[NC State]

I would think you would need to write to the company to let them beware of what the cashier wanted you to do. The date and time when it happen. (I can see a sweet elder person not question the cashier.)

 

[nutterbutter2010]

We had a situation with a gas station. But with the station itself.

We stopped in on our motorcycle to gas it up. I went inside to prepay, handed the clerk a $20. I nodded through the station door for DH to start pumping and he then started waving to get my attention. What happened was when they turned the pump on, the pump registered that we pumped $.10 in. DH wanted me to get one of the clerks to come outside and take a look at the pump, something wasn't right, he hadn't even started pumping gas yet. The clerk refused to look at the pump, so I asked her to please reset it to $0. She refused, saying "there's $.10 worth of gas laying in the hose." Whatever!!!!! DH comes in, angry now, saying that he is going to report them and asked for his money back. Mind you, we never did pump any gas. DH walks out of the station, I stay to collect the $20. The clerk pulls out of the cash register a 10, 5, and as she started to pull out 4 one dollar bills I realize she is going to charge us for the $.10 of gas that we never pumped!!! I said, "oh no, you had better give us our $20 back." After all, that's what we handed them, a $20 bill. She huffed and handed us our $20 back.

Long story short, I called the MD Dept of Weights and Measures, they came out to inspect the pumps, and not only did that pump have "pump jump"(illegal!!!), but the majority of the pumps, approx 16 of them, were off, shorting the customer!!! So most of this stations pumps were shut down for probably close to 2 weeks until they could get everyone of them working correctly. The whole time the Dept of Weights and Measures kept in touch with me letting me know how things were progressing.

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

 

[LoraJ]

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

It wasn't just their 10 cents. I say good for them. All of the pumps were off, they were basically scamming customers.


Many years ago, my dad filled up a tank of gas. It was about $12. He put it on his charge card. The receipt was hand written. Someone at the gas station added some zeros to the receipt after we left and he was charged $120.00. He argued through his credit card company and the gas station tried to claim that he had repairs done. I am not sure how this ever got resolved. I should ask my dad.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Am I missing something???? I don't understand why it's automatically the fault of the cashier the Lincoln Navigator people paid for the wrong gas... couldn't THEY have been the ones who told the cashier to charge for the wrong pump?

Don't get me wrong, I realize the second part where the cashier wanted the DH to pay for the wrong pump wasn't the right thing to do but I just thought I'd put that out there.

 

[Kit'smommy]

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

Wow, the gas station was systematically shorting customers and this poster is the bad guy???

 

[Octoberbride03]

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

Go read the post again. The station was guilty of at least 1 illegal practice, and consistently shorting its customers. All the posters wanted was for the attendant to acknowledge a discrepancy with the pump. Since they wouldn't do that, they took it to the Weights ad Measures dept. You really think they should have let it go? In the end there likely would have been more than a 10 cent loss for their pockets and I wonder just how long the station got away with the pump jump. Better to fight for your dime I say.

 

[wdwmom2]

I don't think I would have thought anything about a dime. I guess it was good your stood your ground.

No, a dime doesn't break us!!! It was the principle. If they would have rectified the situation and worked on correcting it, we wouldn't have taken it any further.

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

No, the gas station didn't shut down, they had to shut down the pumps that were RIPPING THE CUSTOMERS OFF!!!! They still had approximately 4 pumps, maybe a few more, running. When I would drive by I could see all the yellow bags over the nozzels. They still had pumps running..They are a very large local gas, propane, heating oil, convenience store company in our area. I just checked their website and within 30 minutes drive from my home they have 16 gas stations/convenience stores. This particular station is one of their largest as far as gas, but the convenience store part is actually smaller than some of their others.

You may not mind being ripped off, but I do. ESPECIALLY when they are called out on it and REFUSE (with an attitude to boot) to even look into the situation. And this was when gas was over $4/gallon.

It is a very busy station. Imagine if everyone is being shorted, that would be a lot of money in their pocket that they do not deserve.

Here's just a random article on the subject if you are so inclined to read about the problem. http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1346881707/Dave-Bakke-Gas-pump-watchdog-makes-sure-we-get-money-s-worth

Thank you to the other responses that supported me!!!

Oh, and I don't know whether the station got a fine or any other trouble. The Weights and Measures Dept just reported to me how many of the pumps had problems and a final call when everything was corrected.

 

[OceanAnnie]

No, a dime doesn't break us!!! It was the principle. If they would have rectified the situation and worked on correcting it, we wouldn't have taken it any further.




No, the gas station didn't shut down, they had to shut down the pumps that were RIPPING THE CUSTOMERS OFF!!!! They still had approximately 4 pumps, maybe a few more, running. When I would drive by I could see all the yellow bags over the nozzels. They still had pumps running..They are a very large local gas, propane, heating oil, convenience store company in our area. I just checked their website and within 30 minutes drive from my home they have 16 gas stations/convenience stores. This particular station is one of their largest as far as gas, but the convenience store part is actually smaller than some of their others.

You may not mind being ripped off, but I do. ESPECIALLY when they are called out on it and REFUSE (with an attitude to boot) to even look into the situation. And this was when gas was over $4/gallon.

It is a very busy station. Imagine if everyone is being shorted, that would be a lot of money in their pocket that they do not deserve.

Here's just a random article on the subject if you are so inclined to read about the problem. http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1346881707/Dave-Bakke-Gas-pump-watchdog-makes-sure-we-get-money-s-worth

Thank you to the other responses that supported me!!!

Oh, and I don't know whether the station got a fine or any other trouble. The Weights and Measures Dept just reported to me how many of the pumps had problems and a final call when everything was corrected.

Thanks, I asked about that. I think they should be fined and have the report on the news. It burns me up that some gas stations do it! I think it's great they were found out all over a dime.

 

[happygirl]

No, a dime doesn't break us!!! It was the principle. If they would have rectified the situation and worked on correcting it, we wouldn't have taken it any further.




.

I agree, I just meant I wouldn't have thought anything about it being a dime ahead. I'm glad you caught it, after a while a dime adds up.

 

[wdwmom2]

Thanks, I asked about that. I think they should be fined and have the report on the news. It burns me up that some gas stations do it! I think it's great they were found out all over a dime.

Yeah, a dime. But how many "dimes" before me?!?! And that was just one of the many pumps there that were shorting people!! That could add up to a lot of money in one day.

 

[wdwmom2]

I agree, I just meant I wouldn't have thought anything about it being a dime ahead. I'm glad you caught it, after a while a dime adds up.

It's all good.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yeah, a dime. But how many "dimes" before me?!?! And that was just one of the many pumps there that were shorting people!! That could add up to a lot of money in one day.

Oh I know! I'm with you on that. I just think it's ironic as heck. They demanded you pay for a dime's worth of gas you didn't even pump. And insisted!

No telling how much money they got illegally. That's why I think they should have been fined. A criminal investigation would've been nice too.

 

[Mskanga]

That is a lesson that the gas station has to learn ....make it PREPAY for everyone !!! when they have to prepay people do not get more than what they pay for. Problem solved.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

First of all...the people who filled up for $45 and took the payment for $20 knew exactly what they were doing! Most times, or at least here where I live, the cashiers are aware of what's going on at what pump and what car is on it. As for the cashier charging wrong...I don't know what to say. I just know when I walk in and I'm paying cash, I have to tell the cashier what pump I'm on. So the blame starts with the customer...period. BUT....to charge the other person $45 to make up for it....NO. It's a mistake she has to pay for not the customer...period.
OP...I know it may not mean much, but what comes around goes around. At least your hubby still only paid what he owed.

 

[MizTink]

sorry to be off topic, but this reminded me of a "gas station moment" of my own...
i stopped at 7-11 for a quick $10 worth of gas. i was in a huge rush and my gas light was already on. i was paying with cash, so i had to go in to prepay.
well, i paid, went back out to my car, and drove away without pumping!!! i didn't even realize what i had done until about a mile down the road when i noticed my gas light was still on!!!!!
i freaked because i had to go back, which made me even later than i already was. and also because i didn't have any other money with me. none. so if i didn't get my $10 i was screwed!!!
luckily the clerk had noticed and saved my money!!! duh

 

[happygirl]

sorry to be off topic, but this reminded me of a "gas station moment" of my own...
i stopped at 7-11 for a quick $10 worth of gas. i was in a huge rush and my gas light was already on. i was paying with cash, so i had to go in to prepay.
well, i paid, went back out to my car, and drove away without pumping!!! i didn't even realize what i had done until about a mile down the road when i noticed my gas light was still on!!!!!
i freaked because i had to go back, which made me even later than i already was. and also because i didn't have any other money with me. none. so if i didn't get my $10 i was screwed!!!
luckily the clerk had noticed and saved my money!!! duh

LOL I have done that before

 

[rgf207]

So you pretty much had a gas station shut down, and people probably lost their jobs (for at least 2 weeks) because if $.10???

so it's OK if you just steal .10 from customers over and over again.

 

[hegsag]

so it's OK if you just steal .10 from customers over and over again.

I actually know someone who worked at a gas station when we were in high school. I remember him saying that he would pre set the pump to charge people X amount before pumping so that he could fill his tank at the end of the day for free -- not sure how true that is but that's what he said. Makes me wonder if this is what was going on here....

BTW, I don't know how to quote the whole post -- you quoted someone and I didn't pull it into my post (I don't know how to do that) --sorry.

 

[chell]

sorry to be off topic, but this reminded me of a "gas station moment" of my own...
i stopped at 7-11 for a quick $10 worth of gas. i was in a huge rush and my gas light was already on. i was paying with cash, so i had to go in to prepay.
well, i paid, went back out to my car, and drove away without pumping!!! i didn't even realize what i had done until about a mile down the road when i noticed my gas light was still on!!!!!
i freaked because i had to go back, which made me even later than i already was. and also because i didn't have any other money with me. none. so if i didn't get my $10 i was screwed!!!
luckily the clerk had noticed and saved my money!!! duh

My husband did that one day but when he got back someone had pumped his gas and drove off. He wasn't a happy camper that day.

 

[bumbershoot]

Glad the station finally worked with you guys!


A Navigator is big...my SIL has a 3 row Durango and when she's at the gas station, she knows what sort of money she's looking at. If she pumped and was only charged $20, she would KNOW something was wrong...



Did you guys see this in the article?

He finds that two of those three have “pump jump.” That means the pumps ring up a few cents even before they are activated.

“That’s an automatic condemnation,” Bob says.

*automatic condemnation* Wow. I've never even heard of pump jumping, but obviously it's serious!