what happens if you're stranded and out of fuel a hundred miles away and no wallet...

londonTiger

had a close one, I left my wallet at home. Was going to drive to silverstone, just before I got on the m1 something told me to check my wallet (was low in fuel too).

I generally never leave my wallet behind but in this occasion I did. Had I not spotted this I would have been on the m1 on a one way trip to running out of fuel on the motorway.

Just wonder what would happen if you were caught in that situation?

Can you plead with a petrol station to offer you fuel on credit and pay them back? Or do you just break the law and just fill up anyway and then tell them you have no money and ask them to call the police and take your details?

I'm guessing breakdown cover will come round and give you some fuel to get back home. Any other options? Natwest had this feature where you can request money to be sent to an ATM if you get caught without any cash and are stranded. You enter the code at the ATM and your money comes through. Do other banks do this?

bylromarha

I keep a credit card in a secret place in the car. Nothing else is purchased on the account except for something small once a year to keep it active.

Might be worth considering?

whitewing

Our local petrol station fingerprints people who fill up and then discover they have forgotten their purse.

Bettie

This happened to me a few years ago when I lost my card in an ATM at Lloyds who said they couldn't get it out to return it until the next day so I was stuck miles from home with no ID and no petrol. Lloyds phoned my bank ( Santander) they asked me a few questions to verify me and arranged for a post office nearby to have money waiting for me.

Moto2

I did it years ago (left my wallet at home)
There's not really much the garage can do about it once you've filled up other than to take your details and insist you pay at the earliest opportunity. - I sent them a cheque.

GwylimT

If you fill up they generally take your finger prints and details, you are then given a chance to collect a payment.

Astronaughtwannabe

Garages taking fingerprints...right, yes another numpty idea.

What matters is whether somebody has filled up with dishonest intent. To do so and realise that you've not got your wallet isn't and is 'a civil matter' sir.


To fill up knowing you haven't got your wallet is more a matter of assuming the rights of the owner and could be classed as theft, but is more likely to remain a civil matter.

Moto2

GwylimT wrote: »

If you fill up they generally take your finger prints and details, you are then given a chance to collect a payment.

I certainly wouldn't agree to that

skivenov

Generally they ask if you can phone someone to do a card payment over the phone.

GwylimT

Moto2 wrote: »

I certainly wouldn't agree to that

In that case the police are required to take you to the police station under arrest to be finger printed instead of doing it in the office of the fuel station.

Moto2

GwylimT wrote: »

In that case the police are required to take you to the police station under arrest to be finger printed instead of doing it in the office of the fuel station.

Don't be silly, it has nothing to do with the police unless you set out to steal the fuel