All cards rejected

---lee---

I used a local petrol station that I don’t usually go to a few nights ago. I filled the car with petrol and when it came to pay all my cards were rejected (Amex, Visa, Mastercard & Visa Debit). I knew there was a cashpoint a few minutes walk away so I volunteered to go and get the cash and return. I was told that was fine but I would have to leave my car. I was happy to do so as it was easier to walk than go by car anyway. When I got to the cashpoint it accepted my debit card and I had no problems obtaining the cash to pay the bill.

I thought this raised a few interesting questions:

1. Can the petrol station prevent you from leaving in your car without paying? I don’t see how, it’s my car not theirs. It’s taxed, insured and I’m entitled to drive it. Ok it contains their petrol but I have offered to pay for it and they have been unable to accept payment.
2. This sort of transaction is a bit different to the usual because you already have ‘consumed’ the product before paying. A bit like having a meal and then payment being refused after you have eaten it.
3. If my young children were in the car, I would not have left it under any circumstances.
4. Sometimes I have difficulty walking. This was not the case at the time, but had it been so, walking the short trip to the cashpoint would have been impossible/painful.

Surely there must be a standard procedure for this sort of situation? I can’t find anything about it online. I have been in a restaurant before where after eating a meal the payment terminals had ‘technical difficulties’. My card details were noted and I was told that payment would be taken the next day without any fuss. Incidentally, they never collected payment so there is such a thing as a free lunch!

watcherman

It's a civil debt, the Police do not even record petrol drive outs anymore unless there is an element of dishonesty, ie attempt to conceal number plate, repeat offender etc.

You need to leave your contact details, go and get funds, return and pay, that's about it.

System

---lee--- wrote: »

I used a local petrol station that I don’t usually go to a few nights ago. I filled the car with petrol and when it came to pay all my cards were rejected (Amex, Visa, Mastercard & Visa Debit). I knew there was a cashpoint a few minutes walk away so I volunteered to go and get the cash and return. I was told that was fine but I would have to leave my car. I was happy to do so as it was easier to walk than go by car anyway. When I got to the cashpoint it accepted my debit card and I had no problems obtaining the cash to pay the bill.

I thought this raised a few interesting questions:

1. Can the petrol station prevent you from leaving in your car without paying? I don’t see how, it’s my car not theirs. It’s taxed, insured and I’m entitled to drive it. Ok it contains their petrol but I have offered to pay for it and they have been unable to accept payment.
2. This sort of transaction is a bit different to the usual because you already have ‘consumed’ the product before paying. A bit like having a meal and then payment being refused after you have eaten it.
3. If my young children were in the car, I would not have left it under any circumstances.
4. Sometimes I have difficulty walking. This was not the case at the time, but had it been so, walking the short trip to the cashpoint would have been impossible/painful.

Surely there must be a standard procedure for this sort of situation? I can’t find anything about it online. I have been in a restaurant before where after eating a meal the payment terminals had ‘technical difficulties’. My card details were noted and I was told that payment would be taken the next day without any fuss. Incidentally, they never collected payment so there is such a thing as a free lunch!

Lee

I used to work for Tesco Express (small shop and petrol) and at all Tesco petrol sites there is paperwork which can be completed for inablity to pay. It is a last resort, but in a situation where it is almost certainly an honest person you are dealing with (ie someone like yourself who has attempted to pay with several cards) the manager would have no problems filling it out. They'd probably ask to see ID and usually note any reference or account numbers. The paperwork then became a contract between Tesco and the customer stating that the debt would be paid within 7 days. Customers were certainly never asked to leave their car, but some did so voluntarily. Stores with more modern till systems would be able to store the transaction along with the car registration number and recall in up to a week later for payment. Any transcations unpaid after 7 days would be referred to debt recovery in Cardiff who would attempt to trace debtors via the DVLA. You quickly got to know people who were abusing the system with all their unpaid slips!

I would be surprised if other major companies don't have similar paperwork and processes for such situations.

I know I've rambled on, but hope you get the gist!

Regards
UNDERGROUND

(PS. and they say there's no such thing as a free meal!!)

kingkano

AM I the only one concerned here by the 'service station' + 'all my cards were rejected' comments? I'd be catiously watching you card balances.

I'm a bit surprised its a civil debt, as I'd imagined it's theft? Although in this case the person has attempted to pay of course.

LuciferTDark

I'd be watching my accounts as well, sounds decidedly fishy to me.

James

If you've filled up with fuel and have no 'ready' means of paying for any of the following reasons:

You've forgot your wallet.

The Chip on your Debit or Credit Card fails.

You forget your PIN, or enter the wrong PIN 3 times.

Then some petrol stations have a unique I.O.U. system in operation.

From the BBC: Cash-strapped drivers leave print.

Return to petrol station at your convenience pay and retrieve the I.O.U.

~Chameleon~

kingkano wrote: »

AM I the only one concerned here by the 'service station' + 'all my cards were rejected' comments? I'd be catiously watching you card balances.

Those were my exact thoughts on reading the OP's post too!!!!

I would be calling up all my card providers to cancel and renew all the cards used in that petrol station now