Fuel spillage, clothes ruined 27 October 2022 at 5:53PM in Consumer rights 10 replies 621 views

Hazel1980

Filling up in a large supermarket petrol station the pump didn't click off when it reached the top and fuel squirted out back covering trousers and trainers. Fill up once a month to the top and never had this problem. 
Manager took £10 off the bill and said there'd been a spillage earlier which was evident by the sand on the floor, also when he took the pump fuel was running from the nozzle still and he was closing that pump from then.
Have emailed and put a claim in for clothes (£40 trainers, £20 trousers so not excessive). After a few emails asking for clothing receipts etc they've come back today saying an engineer has found no faults and offered a £20 voucher to use in store.
That offer is not really adequate and I'm not convinced an engineer has actually looked at it. 
Or am I fighting a losing battle and just begrudgingly take the £20 as there's not much I can do to prove it was a fault on the pump a week after the incident. 

powerful_Rogue

The figure you have for the trainers and trousers - £60, is that the cost new? If so, you can't claim for betterment.

Are they totally ruined, can you not wash them?

Hazel1980

It was a lower amount for the new for the trousers as they were older so wouldn't expect full amount. The trainers were hardly worn so was how much they cost originally as can replace to be exact pair for £40. 

Wouldn't attempt to wash them, not sure my aging washing machine would cope with diesel and trainers in it. The socks were soaked too so it had literally soaked right through the trainers into the sole etc.

powerful_Rogue

Hazel1980 said:

It was a lower amount for the new for the trousers as they were older so wouldn't expect full amount. The trainers were hardly worn so was how much they cost originally as can replace to be exact pair for £40. 

Wouldn't attempt to wash them, not sure my aging washing machine would cope with diesel and trainers in it. The socks were soaked too so it had literally soaked right through the trainers into the sole etc.

So how much were the trainers and trousers new and how old are they?

Can you not take them to a laundrette? Diesel does wash out, so a replacement is unnecessary.

If you don't accept the current offer, your only option will be small claims court where you'll have to justify your claim.

Hazel1980

They have replied with a reduced offer as good will so I'll go away not due to the age of the clothing but because they said there was no fault to begin even though there was evidence of previous spillage. 
I do think the claim we put in was very reasonable, we cleaned the car ourselves and wiped all the interior down from the smell so wasn't just the clothing but we dealt with the car ourselves. 
Disregarding the amount they are maintaining there was no fault despite the contrary evidence. 

Hazel1980

So I'm guessing not much I can do without small claims court? 

Aylesbury_Duck

Hazel1980 said:

So I'm guessing not much I can do without small claims court? 

Pretty much, if you reject their final offer.

TELLIT01

You've effectively been given and/or offered half of what you wanted.  For the sake of £30 I would be inclined to cut my losses rather than waste the time on it. 

pinkshoes

Hazel1980 said:

So I'm guessing not much I can do without small claims court? 

In a small claims court you will need to prove that the pump was at fault. The supermarket have had someone look at it and it wasn't at fault.

Pumps use a venturi pressure system and have a small pipe in the nozzle that sucks in air from your tank. When it gets fuel on it, the pressure increases and it causes the pump to cut out. Pumps are more likely to be faulty due to fuel not coming out smoothly, so some of it dribbling onto this pipe and altering the pressure, so the handle keeps clicking and cutting the flow.

Is it possible you didn't have the nozzle in fully causing it to spill?

You will lose in court with the evidence from the supermarket and they will suggest it was user error.

Could you get the trainers and trousers dry cleaned?

deannagone

I had a partner who was a mechanic, I'd have to wash diesel soaked clothes on quite a few occasions.  It might take a couple of washes, possibly soaking in biological washing liquid as well, but was always able to remove the diesel and its odour.  Try and wash them a couple of times, you might be surprised. You won't lose anything by trying.

Jumblebumble

Hazel1980 said:

They have replied with a reduced offer as good will so I'll go away not due to the age of the clothing but because they said there was no fault to begin even though there was evidence of previous spillage. 
I do think the claim we put in was very reasonable, we cleaned the car ourselves and wiped all the interior down from the smell so wasn't just the clothing but we dealt with the car ourselves. 
Disregarding the amount they are maintaining there was no fault despite the contrary evidence. 

How ,can they possibly maintain no fault with a straight face when the manager saw it would not turn off ?

"also when he took the pump fuel was running from the nozzle still and he was closing that pump from then."