Comments on: Do petrol pumps pinch my pennies?

By: mal macdonald

mal macdonald — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:07:13 +0000

AT LAST I brought this to the attention of the cashier at my local ASDA and told her that I was not going to pay the extra 1p just on the thought of 1p x 1000 customers per day equals £10 per day x 365days equals £3650 per year which is a fair amount of undeclaired revenue for an already high charging commodity,which is a modern form of highway robbery

By: J-P Stacey

J-P Stacey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:31:04 +0000

Some pumps seem to drip or recalculate or *something* as you put them back on the hook. I’ve had this happen visibly before - as I’ve put the pump back I’ve watched the display click over - but never without my knowledge. And it’s only happened perhaps two or three times that I can remember.

It could be that a whole forecourt, fitted with the same batch of pumps, has the same problem throughout. Never ascribe to malice etc. etc. but raise a hoo-hah over it, definitely.

(The debate as to why we all aim for round-number amounts of petrol, regardless of payment method, is to be had another day, I think! )

By: mal macdonald

mal macdonald — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:52:36 +0000

the petrol pumps are wrongly caliberated and should be retested by customs & excise as it is wrong to operate with faulty pumps.even military pumps have to be checked on a regular basis if the books show a discrepancy there should and is an enquery so the argument that the pumps drip or leak or even distribute excess amounts don’t even enter the argument

By: Alan Wallace

Alan Wallace — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:33:18 +0000

Interesting theory, my local garage (ESSO) actually has a dish of coppers on the counter that you are free to use if you run over by a few pence.

I’m not sure if the garage owner puts them there or if other customers leave their spare penny change(I do) but it’s a nice gesture anyway.

By: Do Petrol Pumps Steal Pennies? / UK Personal finance blog and money information, tips and links / Money Watch

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:36:49 +0000

[…] Paul Annett ponders on whether petrol stations are involved in some penny pinching by adding a penny onto every transaction, in the hope it goes unnoticed and raises plenty of extra […]

By: DaveC

DaveC — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:54:59 +0000

I agree, it’s a problem.

It’s irritating, however I’m more concerned about feeling like a nerd at the counter… not knowing to question a penny or walk away feeling cheated.

Bugger!

A cool website that I used to use a lot is www.petrolprices.com they’re starting to pick up on areas of interest to do with petrol scams too.

By: mal macdonald

mal macdonald — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:40:32 +0000

petrol at over £1.09 a ltr what a rip off we were promised years ago when oil was discovered in Scotland that we would be one of the cheapest in europe I’ve never benefitted from it has any body out there? maybe just maybe it could have given the government a few extra bob as well as the filling stations .can you imagine running a business at a loss?if the owners of said forcourts are to be believed.no its too much coinsidence that the amount of pumps trickle the odd pence out of its captive customers.tackle the staff after all they would let you know if you paid short for your liquid gold.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:43:58 +0000

I always fill to a value that ends in zero’s but my last three fills included those extra pennies… I even shook the nozzle to prove it was clear of drips, then when I returned it to the holder the penny added on! - At current prices 1p is equal to 10ml of fuel… you would definately notice two teaspoons of fuel dripping out? There’s something fishy going on!

By: Comluc

Comluc — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:07:59 +0000

Hear in the U.S. seems the pump will almost never land on the exact amount you want, aways seems to end up a penny or two over the amount I have offended wonder about this.They are so hard to regulate, the pump I mean. Looks like they are getting all they can from a person. Jerks.

By: Frank Eye

Frank Eye — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:54:16 +0000

If large petrol co’s are doing this it explains why the small retailers go out of business. This is why I did TWENTY-FOUR FORMER FILLING STATIONS as well as my own nostalgia. See my site www.frankeye.co.uk and check your impressions against the reality of my archive.

By: mike briggs

mike briggs — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:08:20 +0000

same experience happened twice did not take notice
but noted on second occasion
will be informing trading standards

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:08:30 +0000

I am so happy someone has brought it up it really annoys me. this happens everytime i fill up now!!! the screen b4 i pay says £30.00 then when i get to the cashier £30.01!!!

By: Rachel Munday

Rachel Munday — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:45:01 +0000

I’ve noticed a few times that if you jiggle the pump nozzle to get that extra bit out it pushes it up by a penny even though you’ve taken your hand off the handle bit.

Given the extortionate rise of fuel prices its probably gone up a penny in the time it takes you to cross the forecourt!!!