Social Distancing and Getting Petrol

welshbabe88

Hi, we have been isolating for 18 weeks now - getting food via Tesco delivery and other online items.

Now things are relaxing outside I was wondering about getting petrol - do some people have accounts at garages to avoid having to go into those small poky places to pay?

I know some pumps are able to be used outside with cards - but think I'd have to drive a long way to a supermarket for that.

bradders1983

Most petrol stations are now allowing you to pay through the night hatch. Others may have mobile apps that allow you to pay, but that would be the big chains only.

Cant imagine any petrol stations these days do "accounts" to be honest, and even the standard fuel cards still need someone to go in (or to the night hatch) to sign for it and to give mileage if applicable. 

elsien

Small poky places such as my newsagent tend to meet social distancing requirements by having signs on the door saying only 2 (or however many is appropriate) people in the shop at any one time. I presume garages will be the same -fairly sure I saw a queue outside a supermarket petrol station kiosk the other day.
I can't see many of them wanting to set up accounts for personal customers. 

Dr_Crypto

Lots of garages have pay at pump, but by no means all. Might be worth checking locally. 
I don't think any of the fuel card providers do personal accounts and in any event you have to go in for them to swipe the card. 

bradders1983

I mean there might be a one man operation out in the sticks somewhere, selling unleaded for 139.9p a litre, who still lets the locals buy petrol "on tick" and will still pump the fuel for you, but it isnt 1950 anymore.

Saying that, I hired a car in Malta last summer and was bemused as the man took the pump off me and filled the car up for me, if you live there you may be in luck.

Grumpy_chap

Petrol was no where near 139.9p a litre in 1950.  Not even that much per gallon.  🙂

Jeremy535897

Grumpy_chap said:

Petrol was no where near 139.9p a litre in 1950.  Not even that much per gallon.  🙂

I think the comment related to the service rather than the price. It was about the pre decimal equivalent of 4p a litre in 1950.

bradders1983

He knew thats what I meant

Hasbeen

Grumpy_chap said:

Petrol was no where near 139.9p a litre in 1950.  Not even that much per gallon.  🙂

Think it was about 3 shillings per gallon 30 odd pence?? and went up in mid 50s to 5 shillings because of Suez crisis.

Op most garages have pay at pump, unless you live somewhere quaint?

Takmon

Grumpy_chap said:

Petrol was no where near 139.9p a litre in 1950.  Not even that much per gallon.  🙂

Well actually if it was 4p a litre like Jeremy535897 said, if we take into account of inflation that is equivalent to £1.38 today so bradders1983 was almost spot on in quoting 139.9p even though they didn't mean that 

bradders1983

A total fluke, I assure you.