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

Astronaughtwannabe

I'd agree but if you change the circumstances slightly (let's say the driver genuinely forgot his wallet but admitted he knew this before putting the fuel in) then he could well find himself being arrested for interview under caution.

RS2000.

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

I'd agree but if you change the circumstances slightly (let's say the driver genuinely forgot his wallet but admitted he knew this before putting the fuel in) then he could well find himself being arrested for interview under caution.

No because the necessity to arrest hasn't changed.

Astronaughtwannabe

RS2000. wrote: »

No because the necessity to arrest hasn't changed.

The necessity may well be to obtain evidence by further questioning. If the driver has pumped fuel in his tank knowing that he can't pay for it (as expected).

RS2000.

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

The necessity may well be to obtain evidence by further questioning. If the driver has pumped fuel in his tank knowing that he can't pay for it (as expected).

You can obtain that without arresting him. He hasn't refused a voluntary interview so no need to nick him.

NBLondon

I've only done it once - when I'd changed jackets and my wallet was still in the one I wasn't wearing. I discovered this standing in front of the cashier when I reached into the pocket for it. I offered to leave the car there and walk home for it (about a 10 minute round trip) and I was told I could leave all the tapes from my car as surety (so now you know how far back it was ). I guess I must have looked genuine...

caprikid1

My Natwest phone APP allows me to go to a cash till type in a code and get Cash out. Use it a few times , excellent.


I forgot my wallet once at my nearest Super Market. The cashier pulled out the form for me to fill in, he looked across the forecourt at my car and then said "I know you live down the road, pop back and get your wallet". Sometimes having an unusual car is handy !.

DaveF327

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

Don't forget that theft is not only subjective, but judged objectively (R v Ghosh) so rocking up to the cashier minus your wallet may well end up in arrest despite your protestations of 'intent' to pay. It would all depend on the cop's judgement of the situation and if he/she reasonably suspects you're not all you're cracking on to be then you'll end up getting booked in.

Sorry to take this thread slightly off-topic, but this raises a valid point about how the police treat companies differently to individuals.

When I used to be a driving instructor, I was gobsmacked at the cheek of many students - mainly teenagers, but sometimes their parents - who played the "I've no money" card and asked if they could pay me next week. It happened more often than you might think.

Now, the solution in theory would be to take money before the lesson, not afterwards. In practice, and with increasing frequency, the student would ask to be taken to a cashpoint somewhere on their lesson, but occasionally would return to the car red-faced when their card is declined or they don't have the funds.

More often than not, I got my money eventually. It was a pain, but there had been some kind of pupil/teacher relationship built up which meant I could trust them to some degree, but once or twice I did get my fingers burned by a couple of people whom I never saw again, did a disappearing act, then wouldn't answer the phone.

Question is, if I approached the police, would I be told "it's a civil matter, sir"? Or would I be treated the same as Tesco or Shell and expect the long arm of the law to go straight to the offender's house to slap the cuffs on?

Have any self-employed traders out there had similar experiences? And what was the outcome with the police?

Astronaughtwannabe

Tesco and the other conglomerates don't receive any special treatment. It's the circumstances that will be considered.

Non payment for a driving lesson isn't likely to be treated as a police matter; for it to be such, you'd have to show some kind of dishonest intent by the learner.

Astronaughtwannabe

RS2000. wrote: »

You can obtain that without arresting him. He hasn't refused a voluntary interview so no need to nick him.

There's plenty of operational reasons why he might need to be taken in. Anyway, this is an argument that we could debate all day by changing one thing or another, alas not one I can be bothered to carry on.

RS2000.

DaveF327 wrote: »

Sorry to take this thread slightly off-topic, but this raises a valid point about how the police treat companies differently to individuals.

When I used to be a driving instructor, I was gobsmacked at the cheek of many students - mainly teenagers, but sometimes their parents - who played the "I've no money" card and asked if they could pay me next week. It happened more often than you might think.

Now, the solution in theory would be to take money before the lesson, not afterwards. In practice, and with increasing frequency, the student would ask to be taken to a cashpoint somewhere on their lesson, but occasionally would return to the car red-faced when their card is declined or they don't have the funds.

More often than not, I got my money eventually. It was a pain, but there had been some kind of pupil/teacher relationship built up which meant I could trust them to some degree, but once or twice I did get my fingers burned by a couple of people whom I never saw again, did a disappearing act, then wouldn't answer the phone.

Question is, if I approached the police, would I be told "it's a civil matter, sir"? Or would I be treated the same as Tesco or Shell and expect the long arm of the law to go straight to the offender's house to slap the cuffs on?

Have any self-employed traders out there had similar experiences? And what was the outcome with the police?

That's civil, think about what your contract was/is with them payment for a service.

Many driving schools do block bookings with a discount. A lesson a week for five weeks and money off for paying in one go. Did you ever buy fuel that way?