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Required to have some pumps Pay at Pump only by law, really?

Filled up at a local Esso/Tesco petrol station the other day, pulled up at one pump only to find it was Pay at Pump only, no prior warning until you read the screen on the pump, as I didn't want to Pay at Pump I was a little miffed as I then had to queue for another pump.  When casually mentioning this to the cashier she said they had to keep 2 pumps Pay at Pump only by law, now whilst I can see the point of having some pumps Pay at Pump for people who don't need to go in the shop, I struggle to see how it could be a legal requirement, if you include the HGV pumps we are talking 2 pumps out of 16 so it can't be Covid related in order to reduce people in the shop.
I hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world
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Comments

  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's not a legal requirement. It's simply a commercial choice.

    There's nothing to say they have to... but there's also nothing to say they can't.

    "Legal requirement" (or "data protection" or "money laundering") is a standard default reply where a more accurate response would be "I don't know, it's way above my paygrade, please stop giving me grief over it."
  • NSG666
    NSG666 Posts: 981 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Filled up at a local Esso/Tesco petrol station the other day, pulled up at one pump only to find it was Pay at Pump only, no prior warning until you read the screen on the pump, as I didn't want to Pay at Pump I was a little miffed as I then had to queue for another pump.  When casually mentioning this to the cashier she said they had to keep 2 pumps Pay at Pump only by law, now whilst I can see the point of having some pumps Pay at Pump for people who don't need to go in the shop, I struggle to see how it could be a legal requirement, if you include the HGV pumps we are talking 2 pumps out of 16 so it can't be Covid related in order to reduce people in the shop.
    Our local Tesco had / has a couple of pay at pump only pumps and the explanation was that these two pumps kept getting the drive off without paying types in so they made them pay at pump to stop this. It's a pain it the bottom the first time you get caught out by them but now you know you'll avoid them.
    Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 14,175 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I went to a petrol station the other day and they didn't have pay at the pump there, which quite surprised me.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    prowla said:
    I went to a petrol station the other day and they didn't have pay at the pump there, which quite surprised me.
    None of the ones round here do.
  • Jaybee_16
    Jaybee_16 Posts: 540 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Went to one of the supermarket petrol stations which closed around 8pm. Speaking to staff in the kiosk on paying, she said that although the petrol station closed, the pay at pump were 24 hours. Not sure if that applies everywhere.
  • Biggus_Dickus
    Biggus_Dickus Posts: 1,636 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 1 August 2021 at 12:15PM

    My local supermarket has 12 pumps and all have the option to ‘pay at pump’ or pay at the little kiosk. The ‘pay at pump’ option certainly speeds up the throughput/sales. Even at the busiest times when all the pumps are in use the queues are generally minimal. I’ve no idea what proportion of drivers pay at the kiosk but I reckon it’s a smallish minority.

    I’ve never used one of the Tesco-express supermarket/fuel stations for donkey years. Far too slow and time consuming;...perhaps they’re slicker these days.

    As for  'pay at pump only' being a legal requirement, I've no idea.


  • I can't see what the problem is with pay at pump, I wish more of them were converted to pay at pump, it is quicker and easier than going to the kiosk to pay and I always use them if available.
  • interstellaflyer
    interstellaflyer Posts: 2,065 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 9 May 2024 at 12:42PM
    I can't see what the problem is with pay at pump, I wish more of them were converted to pay at pump, it is quicker and easier than going to the kiosk to pay and I always use them if available.

    it wasn't a problem as such, I just didn't want to pay at the pump because I needed to go inside the shop anyway, however when they start the new system where they hold £100 from your card and then pay you back the balance a few days later it might start being a problem for many people
    I hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world
  • ontheroad1970
    ontheroad1970 Posts: 1,710 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Local licensing means that they can only have a certain number of pumps open according to the number of people working
  • Biggus_Dickus
    Biggus_Dickus Posts: 1,636 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Local licensing means that they can only have a certain number of pumps open according to the number of people working

    I think that’s pubs, not fuel stations.


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