Drive off notice for non payment of fuel

ontheroad1970

Money_Grabber13579 said:

ontheroad1970 said:

jimjames said:

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

I can see exactly the situation you're in, I've done it a few times myself albeit that items were all included in my bill. Pay contactless it's very easy to just tap and not get a receipt and not check the amount. Not very MSE, but very easy to do.

Indeed, but the OP also made an error, and they have some responsibility for the situation they are in.  The garage or their agents have had to incur costs in establishing where the OP lives in order to chase the debt - costs they won't get back in any other way  - like the fee that DVLA charge for the OP's details.  If the OP doesn't pay it then other customers will through increased prices. Perhaps there is a compromise that can be made to take account the joint blame involved further down the line.

I don’t see why the OP is at fault here. They have clearly stated that the garage have admitted that it was their fault so that can only mean that they were told about the fuel at the time and still didn’t charge for it.  How reasonable is it that the OP didn’t notice when being asked to pay? Totally. Buying £20 of other stuff and £5 of fuel is a situation where a total bill of either £20 or £25 could be reasonable, unless you’ve added up the price of the store items as you’ve collected them (and very few people do that and I don’t think it is reasonable to expect everyone to do that).

It would be completely different if it was £60 of fuel and a packet of chewing gum, as that would be obvious to everyone. Plus, with the reluctance of shops to provide receipts unless you ask, it’s not going to be particularly easy to check afterwards either.

I’ve said it before, too many people on this board seem to take great enjoyment in just telling posters they are in the wrong, even if it isn’t anywhere near as clear cut as that.

Where has the OP stated that they told the cashier about the fuel?  Perhaps you can quote it?  I asked whether they had been asked "any fuel?" when they presented other items for payment, but that question was ignored.  I've never not been asked that question when presenting other items at a fuel station.

I didn't say that the OP was completely at fault but they do share some of the blame.  It is the customer's responsibility to check their receipt, and to check the amount before authorisation.  Had the OP looked at their receipt at any time, then they would have noticed that they hadn't paid for the fuel.  Therefore they are not without responsibility for the situation.

Manxman_in_exile

Dazzlecat said:

... the lady who served us confirmed that she had made a mistake and not charged us for the fuel, only for some other items that we had paid for...

I'm impressed that after a period of two months had passed that the lady at the filling station could confirm that she had made a mistake.  They must have dealt with 100s if not 1000s of transactions in that time.  

bazzyb

Manxman_in_exile said:

Dazzlecat said:

... the lady who served us confirmed that she had made a mistake and not charged us for the fuel, only for some other items that we had paid for...

I'm impressed that after a period of two months had passed that the lady at the filling station could confirm that she had made a mistake.  They must have dealt with 100s if not 1000s of transactions in that time.  

Presumably not hundreds and thousands of people who left without making full payment? As they have clearly reported it to whoever they use for pursuing the debt then it probably would be more memorable than one of the other transactions. 

Jumblebumble

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.

You have provided huge amusement today
The garage employee did not do their job correctly and so the garage incurred costs as a result  which you think the OP should now pay for ???
Perhaps the OP should also pay for the time that the employees boss took to reeducate the employee.
No way would pay the £30.00 

littleboo

On the assumption that it wasn't a glaring error. I agree. The consumer can expect the retailer, the expert in providing the goods and service, to provide an accurate bill. If they fail to do that, the consumer shouldn't be expected to incur costs for the retailer to rectify their mistake.

sheramber

If the OP knew the   cost  of the batteries and they were charged that amount , then they should have realised they hadn't been charged for fuel.

MacPingu1986

What littleboo said. Assuming there was no attempt by the OP to avoid paying for the fuel. An innocent mistake made by the garage which the OP didn't pick up on - but equally has no duty to pick up on - there's no ordinary duty on a customer to check receipts or validate prices. 

If the garage later notices their mistake then it's fair for them to make contact with OP to obtain the payment mistakenly not taken - but not to charge the OP admin fees for doing so.

As to what you should practically do... Depends whether the £30 admin fee is worth the hassle of trying to get the garage to back down/potentially defend any potential future claim (probably unlikely over such a small amount)- personally I'd probably pay it to save any future grief.

Arklight

So here we are again. Is this the case of an innocent motorist taken for the ride of their lives?

Or a fuel-injection fiddler who thought they had made out like a bandit?

What happens when you arrive at a shop expecting a large bill, but you drive away like Mario Andretti with a much smaller one?

On the basis of my legal expertise (which like everyone else here is absolutely none), the thrill of being undercharged and racing out of the shop with your buttocks clenched, certain that any moment you will be called back, is rarely worth the threat of cold, hard time. 

sheramber

Also, consider whether you wish to use that  garage in the future.

Brie

I have in the past been given incorrect change when paying cash.  I wouldn't expect to have the bailiffs at my door a month later about the money owed and having added an admin fee.  If I gave someone a tenner and was given change for a 20 and didn't notice I would happily give back the difference if it was proved. I would not be happy to pay extra due to their error.  

Yes - I have had this happen and rushed out of the shop and not notice until I was on the bus to work and was still trying to figure out why I had too much ££ on me.  And yes - when it has happened and I noticed in the shop I have made a joke about it and corrected the error before leaving as I wouldn't want someone to be docked their wages for slipping up.