NationStates Jolt Archive

So, this morning, I went to go get some gas so that I could get to school today. I stop by at the nearby Mobile gas station ($3.57/gallon *cringe*) and I pay the guy my seven bucks. It takes this guy almost ten minutes to get me into the system...and I'm the only one there at the time.

So, the pump's finally ready, and I go to pump the gas. I just stick the nozzle into where it goes, set it to automatic, and start chillin', waiting for the pump to click so I can pop it out and get on with my life (mind, I've turned my head to look at my surroundings rather than watch the insanely expensive pricing of the gas deplete my finances).

Well, it doesn't click. Instead, I hear a beep, so I turn my head back to the pump, and the bloody pump is stopped on $26.37. I have to do a double-take on the price, and then start putting the nozzle back in the pump. I start to walk back into the store to talk to the clerk. Well, he comes running out before I even get within three meters of the door, and he says, in broken english, "You pay now, or I call police."

I stand there, dumbstruck. Did this fool just accuse me of stealing? So, I get into a discussion with this man, who can barely understand what the hell I'm saying, and finally we get another clerk to come to the gas station.

Now, here's where my question comes in. The second clerk says that I can come back and pay the difference later. The question is, is it me, the customer, who should be liable for the mistake and should pay the difference? Or is it the clerk with broken english, who is more than likely new to this job (let alone the country), who should be at fault and pay the difference from his paycheck this week?

my first reaction: you got fucked, pay attention next time

not really all that much you can do the poorly speaking English guy most likely wants a bonus or something

So, in America, you pay first, then they set the pump to stop when it reaches the amount you paid? Well, if it didn't stop at the amount you paid, it's his damn fault.

Wouldn't you eventually buy those gallons of gas you got by mistake now anyway?

Around here I wouldn't expect the pumps to stop automatically anyway; but if it's a reasonable expectation where you are, then I suppose it's not entirely your fault for not paying attention..

snip*

In my opinion you should not have to pay. I would pay in the interest of kindness, but you most certainly should not have to.

you got the gas. you werent arrested. go back and pay the rest as soon as you can.

You took $26.37 worth of gas. You should pay for it. That you didn't meant to take that much isn't the clerk's fault, broken English or not.

You took $26.37 worth of gas. You should pay for it. That you didn't meant to take that much isn't the clerk's fault, broken English or not.

Is it not the clerks fault for not setting the pump to stop at $7.00?

I'm seriously very tempted not to go back and pay the difference, but my problem is will I get sued by Mobile if I don't?

Argh...I hate the American legal system...

Is it not the clerks fault for not setting the pump to stop at $7.00?

They can do that? :confused:

Is it not your fault for paying no attention? Both of you spaced out, obviously, but you actually got something out of it, he didn't. So you pay for it.

They can do that? :confused:

Yes. Every time I get gas I just turn on the nozzle and leave it in the tank's aperture. The reason it stopped at a higher price than $7.00 is because the clerk screwed-up.

I'm seriously very tempted not to go back and pay the difference, but my problem is will I get sued by Mobile if I don't?

Argh...I hate the American legal system...Is it a problem for you to pay?
Is the gas more expensive there than elsewhere? You may have gotten more than you bargained for, but are you worse off for paying it? I mean, I can understand you're displeased at the situation, and the clerk's incompetence. But shit happens; is it really a problem in this case?
Of course, if it's a systematic problem at that station, then it might be worth serious complaints. I suppose you could send a complaint to their head office anyway; because it's bad service.

I suppose, overall, you wouldn't be worse off for paying (since you got the gas); and you can complain about it to try and get it back. That way you're covered both ends.

Yes. Every time I get gas I just turn on the nozzle and leave it in the tank's aperture. The reason it stopped at a higher price than $7.00 is because the clerk screwed-up.

I would say not your fault, but I don't know what the law would say. What happens for example if you walked into a shop and a sales assistant had priced up an item say $5 cheaper, is he obliged to let you have it at that price?

Yeah, it's a problem if I pay it. I'm not living off my own dime anymore because I haven't been able to get a job since September. My grandparents (bless their souls) have been fronting my gas and food since I started school. If I were receiving unemployment, I'd pay them back, but the damn unemployment office says I don't qualify.

So basically...I'm fucked if I do, I'm fucked if I don't...

are you worse off for paying it?
Better off, probably, since gas prices are rising rapidly and he would have to pay more in all likelihood if he buys the gas later.

... you will have a hard time proving that you gave $7.00.
I'll pay it, and next time, pay attention to the numbers.

Yeah, it's a problem if I pay it. I'm not living off my own dime anymore because I haven't been able to get a job since September. My grandparents (bless their souls) have been fronting my gas and food since I started school. If I were receiving unemployment, I'd pay them back, but the damn unemployment office says I don't qualify.Well, you can explain to your grandparents what happened; I'm sure they'd understand. In the long run it shouldn't matter if they front a bit more gas money now instead of later. It'll take longer before you need to buy gas again, after all.
And as Tmutarakhan said, in the long run you might be off cheaper. (If you manage to get past the immediate cash flow problem.)

its not your fault the moron doesn't know how to set the pump. With gas prices as high as they are, I say enjoy the free gas and don't pay.

Here's what you do.

Call the police.
I'm sure hey would love to give you advice here. If the gas station pressures you, involve a lawyer, press charges on their misconduct. They have financial records, machine records, and CCTV systems all that will back you up if this is true. If they decide to put someone unable to do their job in charge, they are clearly in the wrong and need to be taught so.

Is it not the clerks fault for not setting the pump to stop at $7.00?

of course it is.

that doesnt mean he shouldnt pay for what he got. he was going to buy more gas later anyway wasnt he?

he was going to buy more gas later anyway wasnt he?

Of course. It still is not his problem.

I would say not your fault, but I don't know what the law would say. What happens for example if you walked into a shop and a sales assistant had priced up an item say $5 cheaper, is he obliged to let you have it at that price?

Yes, typically. I have bought items that appeared priced incorrectly. When I inquired as to what to price actually was, I was allowed to buy the item at the incorrect pricing. It is simply good business. If you accidentally put too much ante in a poker pot, the money has to stay there.

Aside: I would feel moderately irked at an employee threatening me with the police because he committed a mistake. If I ran the gas station I would apologize for that conduct, then tell the customer not to worry about the excess gasoline.

Yes, typically. I have bought items that appeared priced incorrectly. When I inquired as to what to price actually was, I was allowed to buy the item at the incorrect pricing. It is simply good business. If you accidentally put too much ante in a poker pot, the money has to stay there.

Aside: I would feel moderately irked at an employee threatening me with the police because he committed a mistake. If I ran the gas station I would apologize for that conduct, then tell the customer not to worry about the excess gasoline.

that would have been the right thing for the station manager to do--check the video then apologize for the error. the poor soul who has to buy less than 2 gallons of gas probably isnt going to have the extra $20 that came as the employees mistake.

but since he didnt and skaugra was going to end up buying that much gas over time he should pay for it over time.

And to think when i bought my truck back in 03 it cost my 25$ to fill it up now its freaking 60$. Now as for the gas issue id pay it back. You got screwed. Everyone gets screwed every once in awhile

Is it not the clerks fault for not setting the pump to stop at $7.00?

They can do that? :confused:

It's standard practice when you pre-pay.

that would have been the right thing for the station manager to do--check the video then apologize for the error. the poor soul who has to buy less than 2 gallons of gas probably isnt going to have the extra $20 that came as the employees mistake.

but since he didnt and skaugra was going to end up buying that much gas over time he should pay for it over time.

I believe he should pay the station, for that is what I would do. However, I by no means think he should be forced to. $20 is more to the customer than the business, and forcing a customer to pay for the business' mistake (even if the customer in question benefited from that mistake) is wrong.

I believe he should pay the station, for that is what I would do. However, I by no means think he should be forced to. $20 is more to the customer than the business, and forcing a customer to pay for the business' mistake (even if the customer in question benefited from that mistake) is wrong.

i do agree with you.

it was outrageous to threaten to call the cops.

I don't think some people understand how pumping gas in the US works. You pay a certain amount and the pump is supposed to stop at that amount. You don't need to pay attention. Some people go to the bathroom or buy stuff in the store while the gas is pumping. Lots of people don't stand by the pump.

You can't be held liable for a mistake that they made. They won't sue you, it's too little an amount. Even if they did want to sue, again, you aren't liable. If you feel like paying it, go ahead. But don't feel like you HAVE to.

And you don't need to prove you gave him 7 dollars. It is supposed to stop at whatever amount you gave them. So according to the computer, you paid 23.whatever. The problem of proof would occur if you received less gas than you paid for, and then you need to prove you paid more. And don't listen to all this, "next time pay attention." Do whatever you want at that gas station while its pumping. I have never heard of people being forced to stand in front of the pump to make sure it gets the right amount.

I don't think some people understand how pumping gas in the US works. You pay a certain amount and the pump is supposed to stop at that amount. You don't need to pay attention. Some people go to the bathroom or buy stuff in the store while the gas is pumping. Lots of people don't stand by the pump.

You can't be held liable for a mistake that they made. They won't sue you, it's too little an amount. Even if they did want to sue, again, you aren't liable. If you feel like paying it, go ahead. But don't feel like you HAVE to.

And you don't need to prove you gave him 7 dollars. It is supposed to stop at whatever amount you gave them. So according to the computer, you paid 23.whatever. The problem of proof would occur if you received less gas than you paid for, and then you need to prove you paid more. And don't listen to all this, "next time pay attention." Do whatever you want at that gas station while its pumping. I have never heard of people being forced to stand in front of the pump to make sure it gets the right amount.

its neither safe nor legal (in many states) to leave the car unattended while pumping gas.

which still doesnt make him stupid.

its neither safe nor legal (in many states) to leave the car unattended while pumping gas.

which still doesnt make him stupid.

Even if it is illegal, it isn't illegal so you observe the amount of gas you pumped. You could be next to your car and not look at the pump at all.

Man, it sounds like the clerk made a mistake and tried to cover his ass, in the wrong way.

Personally, I'd pay for the gas, though I'd talk to a manager about the situation, like paying later on, if I didn't have the money to pay for all now.

However, I don't really think that you 100% have to pay for the clerks mistake. It would just be the nice way of resolving the situation.

I think the most fair way to resolve this, however, would be the gas station just ignoring the 20 bucks, or docking the clerks pay by 20 bucks.

Even if it is illegal, it isn't illegal so you observe the amount of gas you pumped. You could be next to your car and not look at the pump at all.

thats why i said it still doesnt make him stupid.

Did the clerk give you a receipt? I would assume not, then make hell with the manager of the station over it, since he is required to do so unless you tell them not to. Also, it would be wise to contact the police as someone already suggested to see if the gas station has any legal footing, and to ask how to file a complaint against the business if necessary. Though, I question on how you failed to notice that it too three times longer than usual to fill your tank; which is something that might come up if legal action occurs. . .

changing my answer...

if it's a pump where payment needs to be rendered first, as in cash to the teller or a card of some sort, then you can prove your payment.

you need to request an audit to be done on that machine. right then and there. if you paid cash, and the machine's memory should show that payment was recieved. then an audit will show how much you paid (this is the physical cash in the register).

once it's shown that you paid $7.00 and recieved $29.00 of gas, you can then argue that the additional $22 must be a gift from the store since the service clerk has total control of how much gas can be removed from the machine.

however, this has to be done before you left the station. you can insist that the manager be called and an audit be done on that machine right then and there.

for over 3x the charge, yes, I would also call the police because they are accusing you of theft, or worse, forcing you to pay for something you 1) didn't ask for in that amount 2)couldn't afford at that time 3) paying for the employee's mistake