Has Anyone else Been a Victim of This Petrol Scam

rev_henry

rikbar wrote: »

From the sounds of it I would not be blaiming the attendant.

Pumps by the very nature of the software and mechanics will have to reset between each fill, as has been mentioned before, the computerised system will do this automatically when the pump is authorised. There is no means for the attendant in any of the stations that I have managed to allow fueling to be continued after a pump has been replaced correctly.

I would think that this is a potential scam by a previous fueler who has not replaced the nozzle correctly and driven off without paying. Most petrol stations rely upon the nozzle being put down to indicate filling has ended and will then keep an eye to ensure payment is made. If the screen shows the pump is in use they pay less attention, and assume the car is still there (no excuse but they are only human) Anyway as above if the nozzle is not put down the transaction is not completed per the system and therefore you can pick up and continue where the thief left off.

The reason I think this must have been a previous theft is that if a person went to pay for the fuel the transaction would not be able to be transferred from the pump system to the till, without the pump nozzle being replaced correctly. As such the attendant would make this known to the customer and for them to pay they would have to then go and put the nozzle back properly. This would then mean the pump would require reauthorisation when anyone new turned up to fill from it.

With fuel prices rising theft from forecourts is escalating and it would appear the theives are trying a new tactic that could end up costing innocent people money. As such I can only recommend that all ensure that the nozzle is seated correctly when you go to pick it up and that the pump resets prior to fueling.

Very interesting point. Another way of double checking this would be to listen to whether the electric pump is still 'pumping' when you come to fill up. When all works properly, the pump doesn't start making a noise until the counter is reset and petrol comes out.

mikey72

There must be some way for the attendant to reset the pumps to zero, as I make a note of the amount I fill with each time. I check when I have paid, and come back to the pump, and sometimes the pump has been set to zero again.
Whether he can not reset the pump I don't know, as so far I always watch the pump to see it reset and take that as the indication to start filling. Having said that though, sometimes there is a delay until the pump starts, so maybe it is a manual reset, or maybe there is a few seconds timer in the pump or the software.

pendulum

hieveryone wrote: »

You sound like a real nice person.

I think it's been pretty much established that the previous total can still be there - but when you drive up and put the pump in, the clerk can 'authorise' the new sale and it resets it back to 0, letting you pump petrol in.

Like I've already said, there are times when the pump has not reset for whatever reason (I gave the example of the previous person not replacing the pump on its handle properly). That's why you always make sure it has reset before pumping. You do not pull the trigger to start pumping fuel until the counter has reset. You can pick it up, and get it ready to pump, and then you wait for it to reset... but don't start pumping until you see the dial reset to 0.

It's up to you, you can either not bother waiting for the pump to reset each time, and then one day this will happen to you, or you can do what your supposed to do and always make sure the counter resets to 0 before pumping.

Can't believe you had to cheek to say my advice was "not really helpful". Waiting for the pump to reset before filling is the best advice anyone can give.

mikey72

The rest to zero is probably in the software of the petrol pump as well, thinking about it. Particuarly the newer pay at the pump types, which record all transactions, download to a secure terminal somewhere, monitor the amount of fuel dispensed individually and overall, really all the cashier can do is turn them on or off.
Remember most companies won't be trusting the staff, so all the security is in the pumps to stop them doing anything like this, or even the opposite, such resetting the pump to zero halfway though their mates fillling up.

Pincher

Doesn't the previous transaction have to be paid before the next fill up?
Otherwise there would be chaos at the till.

Normally, you leave the car at the pump, so no one else can fill up until you drive away. If a person finnishes filling up, drives to a parking bay, spend a minute picking up some newspaper and sweets before going to the till, the next driver filling up could have paid and gone already: but for which fillup?

So, I would expect the total not to reset until the previous fillup had been paid for, to avoid confusion. I always wait for the reset, otherwise I go to a different pump.

hieveryone

pendulum wrote: »

Can't believe you had to cheek to say my advice was "not really helpful". Waiting for the pump to reset before filling is the best advice anyone can give.

At least I don't have the cheek to speak to people the way you do. Try being more polite and then people will be willing to listen to your advice.

pendulum

Ah - so you'll ignore peoples correct advice unless its wrapped up in cotton wool and delivered to you with a hug?

I don't care if you listen to me or not, but don't be telling others they needn't wait for the pump to reset when they should. There's a good boy. *Hug*

neilmcl

Pincher wrote: »

Doesn't the previous transaction have to be paid before the next fill up?
Otherwise there would be chaos at the till.

Normally, you leave the car at the pump, so no one else can fill up until you drive away. If a person finnishes filling up, drives to a parking bay, spend a minute picking up some newspaper and sweets before going to the till, the next driver filling up could have paid and gone already: but for which fillup?

So, I would expect the total not to reset until the previous fillup had been paid for, to avoid confusion. I always wait for the reset, otherwise I go to a different pump.

This is why there's a manual reset so the pump wouldn't be reset until the previous customer had paid or the previous reading had been noted, although it can get confusing and I used to hate it when customers did this sort of thing.

cyclonebri1

Pincher wrote: »

Doesn't the previous transaction have to be paid before the next fill up?
Otherwise there would be chaos at the till.

Normally, you leave the car at the pump, so no one else can fill up until you drive away. If a person finnishes filling up, drives to a parking bay, spend a minute picking up some newspaper and sweets before going to the till, the next driver filling up could have paid and gone already: but for which fillup?

So, I would expect the total not to reset until the previous fillup had been paid for, to avoid confusion. I always wait for the reset, otherwise I go to a different pump.

That's what I was saying, the cashier cannot clear the pump until the gun is replaced and the bill paid.

hieveryone

pendulum wrote: »

Ah - so you'll ignore peoples correct advice unless its wrapped up in cotton wool and delivered to you with a hug?

I don't care if you listen to me or not, but don't be telling others they needn't wait for the pump to reset when they should. There's a good boy. *Hug*

No, I didn't ignore any of your advice, simply focussed on the rude and impolite way you felt you had to put it across.

If you feel you need to demean people in order to make yourself feel better with your fantastic advice then you really need to work on improving your manners. They cost nothing.

Anyway, back on topic, I didn't tell anyone that they needn't wait for the pump to be reset, I simply said I had never done this and still not encountered any problems.