Petrol station pump wrong? What to do?

BlueC

Just filled my car at a local petrol station (Nisa) that I never normally use but did this time because it was convenient.

Two things happened:

1) The pump was incredibly slow.

2) The pump filled the car with 52.64 litres of petrol. The tank capacity is 45 litres.

We have had the same car for over a year and it normally takes between 38 - 42 litres when empty. This time it was no more empty than usual so I expected around 40 litres.

I immediately thought it strange as I assumed the tank capacity was about 40 litres so I looked in the car manual, and sure enough it confirmed the tank litre is actually 45 litres.

I mentioned both the above to the attendent and also showed him the car manual. I didn't really know what to do so I just paid up. He said I should report it to trading standards. Is this what I should do or is there some process to go through here?

Needless to say I won't be using that petrol station again.

Any advice welcome!

whitewing

Assuming you didn't fill a jerrycan before your car, then trading standards would be the people to speak to as they have people that check petrol stations.

Hintza

I would be very surprised if the pump is wrong (ut not impossible), it might be worth giving trading stanards a call.

But remember you have a tank plus a filler neck etc so I would epect the whole to take more fuel than your book states.

BlueC

whitewing wrote: »

Assuming you didn't fill a jerrycan before your car, then trading standards would be the people to speak to as they have people that check petrol stations.

Thanks I guess that is what I'll do.

I would be very surprised if the pump is wrong (ut not impossible), it might be worth giving trading stanards a call.

Me too. However even the attendent admitted he has seen a pump get badly out of calibration before.

But remember you have a tank plus a filler neck etc so I would epect the whole to take more fuel than your book states.

I know, because I am normally a bit anal about filling the filler neck too so the tank is "properly full" but this time I didn't even bother. Also, a filler neck can't hold 7 litres of fuel, and that is assuming the tank was dry beforehand which it wasn't.

Rolandtheroadie

How much did the tankful cost?

BlueC

scotsman4th wrote: »

How much did the tankful cost?

Receipt states:

52.64L @ £1.379
Total: £72.59

Rolandtheroadie

Needed asked, I queried a jerry can full the other day, I'd looked at the litres before I went in to pay. (dont fill cars at a petrol station much).

BlueC

scotsman4th wrote: »

Needed asked, I queried a jerry can full the other day, I'd looked at the litres before I went in to pay. (dont fill cars at a petrol station much).

Haha I see. No, I'm not that stupid! :p:p

Joe_Horner

Trading Standards WILL look at this one, but first contact the petrol station manager (not just the minimum wage checkout operator) and let them know of the apparent problem.

That's partly in fairness to them so they can take remedial action before TS force them - it's possible that the pump went wrong while you were using it so they'd have no way of knowing beforehand!

Don't let them drag it out for ever - if they're notified of a problem then they should have that pump closed down until it's checked (in fact, the attendant SHOULD have done so immediately)

If you don't get a positive response and have to contact TS, let them know that you've done that so they won't get brushed off with a fixed pump and "no, never had a problem"

Contacting the station manager also registers with them the fact that they might owe you money for fuel you didn't receive. If they confirm a fault and have the chance to sort it without potential fines then they shouldn't make any fuss about sorting it out for you.

BlueC

Thanks Joe Horner. I nipped back and got the manager's name. Will ring him tomorrow. The pump was still open but in fairness to the attendent I used to work in a petrol station and I wouldn't have known what to do in this situation - I'd have just left it for the boss to deal with and certainly wouldn't have closed a pump myself.

Will give them a chance to deal with it and if they don't then will drop TS a line.

forgotmyname

Sounds like you run the tank well down, And overfill it each time.

Filling it right upto the filler neck could be wasting fuel when it expands a bit.

I am mystified why people must put every last drip into the tank until sometimes it actually overflows.

Even though plenty have closed there is not a shortage of petrol stations.