Drive off notice for non payment of fuel

ontheroad1970

Dazzlecat said:

Very helpful DB1904. We decided to pay when we entered the shop after obtaining the fuel. They admitted it was their mistake and they undercharged us.

You might get less hassle if you check the amount when entering your pin

Dazzlecat

ontheroad1970 said:

Dazzlecat said:

Very helpful DB1904. We decided to pay when we entered the shop after obtaining the fuel. They admitted it was their mistake and they undercharged us.

You might get less hassle if you check the amount when entering your pin

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! We would have noticed if it was a full tank of fuel and a pint of milk, but both amounts were quite small. Plus we were about to leave on holiday with our 3 kids and a dog. Had our mind on other things. Point is not what we should have done, but what we can do now.

AdrianC

The simple fact is that you did drive off without paying for the fuel. You are now being asked to pay for it.

You say it was the garage's error, but I don't think I've ever once taken random shop toot to the till and NOT been asked if I'd had any fuel as well. Never. And the answer to that in your case would have been along the lines of "Oh, yes, pump 3" or "Oh, yes, the silver VW over there."...

Had you put fuel in the car? Or was it into a can?

You now have no issue in paying for the fuel you took, of course - you're arguing about the admin charge that covers the costs incurred in tracing you and informing you of your failure to pay.

Well, those costs have been incurred...

The garage have taken time to pass the case to a third-party company to chase.
That company have paid DVLA to get your name and address from your registration.
They have taken time to contact you to inform you of your error.

If you'd paid for the fuel at the time you had it, none of that would have been needed, would it?
Without that, you would never have paid for the fuel, would you?

For the sake of £30, I don't think you're going to get anywhere without disproportionate time, energy and blood pressure being invested.

maisie_cat

AdrianC said:

The simple fact is that you did drive off without paying for the fuel. You are now being asked to pay for it.

You say it was the garage's error, but I don't think I've ever once taken random shop toot to the till and NOT been asked if I'd had any fuel as well. Never. And the answer to that in your case would have been along the lines of "Oh, yes, pump 3" or "Oh, yes, the silver VW over there."...

Had you put fuel in the car? Or was it into a can?

You now have no issue in paying for the fuel you took, of course - you're arguing about the admin charge that covers the costs incurred in tracing you and informing you of your failure to pay.

Well, those costs have been incurred...

The garage have taken time to pass the case to a third-party company to chase.
That company have paid DVLA to get your name and address from your registration.
They have taken time to contact you to inform you of your error.

If you'd paid for the fuel at the time you had it, none of that would have been needed, would it?
Without that, you would never have paid for the fuel, would you?

For the sake of £30, I don't think you're going to get anywhere without disproportionate time, energy and blood pressure being invested.

I have to agree here, if I were daft enough to not check a receipt and unintentionally steal fuel I wouldn't want to waste emotional energy fighting a £30 admin charge.

Dazzlecat

Thanks for all the helpful comments. Now it's just turned into bashing me because I didn't check the receipt I'll call it quits.  Remember - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all! And remember your comments next time you are in a rush and don't check your receipt11

mobileron

Keep fighting dont listen to other people.Wasnt your fault take a cheque and leave with garage,take a photo for reference.

ontheroad1970

Dazzlecat said:

ontheroad1970 said:

Dazzlecat said:

Very helpful DB1904. We decided to pay when we entered the shop after obtaining the fuel. They admitted it was their mistake and they undercharged us.

You might get less hassle if you check the amount when entering your pin

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! We would have noticed if it was a full tank of fuel and a pint of milk, but both amounts were quite small. Plus we were about to leave on holiday with our 3 kids and a dog. Had our mind on other things. Point is not what we should have done, but what we can do now.

The issue is that it is not just the petrol station that made the error.  You made an error by not checking you were being charged the full amount.  Did they not check if you were paying for fuel as well as goods?  I would be quite surprised if they didn't ask "Any fuel?"  I always put down anything I buy on the counter and then tell them which pump.  

Criticism of your actions is not bashing you, personally.  You are partly responsible for the situation due to not checking (a) the amount your card was being debited for and (b) your receipt.  The situation would have been avoided had you done either of these things. 

The DVLA don't hand over details for free as far as I know, there is a charge for doing so.  So there have been costs as a result of your inadvertent failure to pay for fuel.

AdrianC

Dazzlecat said:

Thanks for all the helpful comments. Now it's just turned into bashing me because I didn't check the receipt I'll call it quits.  Remember - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all! And remember your comments next time you are in a rush and don't check your receipt11

Nobody is bashing you for not checking the receipt.

How much fuel are we talking about here?
Into the car or into a can?

Jenni_D

I think the OP has been clear that it was a Jerry can of fuel? (So probably 5 litres tops)

MikeWhite

maisie_cat said:

AdrianC said:

The simple fact is that you did drive off without paying for the fuel. You are now being asked to pay for it.

You say it was the garage's error, but I don't think I've ever once taken random shop toot to the till and NOT been asked if I'd had any fuel as well. Never. And the answer to that in your case would have been along the lines of "Oh, yes, pump 3" or "Oh, yes, the silver VW over there."...

Had you put fuel in the car? Or was it into a can?

You now have no issue in paying for the fuel you took, of course - you're arguing about the admin charge that covers the costs incurred in tracing you and informing you of your failure to pay.

Well, those costs have been incurred...

The garage have taken time to pass the case to a third-party company to chase.
That company have paid DVLA to get your name and address from your registration.
They have taken time to contact you to inform you of your error.

If you'd paid for the fuel at the time you had it, none of that would have been needed, would it?
Without that, you would never have paid for the fuel, would you?

For the sake of £30, I don't think you're going to get anywhere without disproportionate time, energy and blood pressure being invested.

I have to agree here, if I were daft enough to not check a receipt and unintentionally steal fuel I wouldn't want to waste emotional energy fighting a £30 admin charge.

I don't think you can "unintentionally steal".