Police have just been, BP reported me as a drive off

[maddiemay]

I am upset and angry for two reasons, first being I only expect to see the Police at my door when there's been an accident or death (and have) Second, it was the cashiers mistake not me driving off without paying! I was taking my son home yesterday early evening, called into the petrol station to get fuel and cigarettes and our evening paper, used my card to pay, picked up my purchases, the guy handed me the receipt and off I went thinking no more about it.

Tonight at just after 9pm, the police arrive, after I had stopped panicking that someone had been hurt or worse, they said they had, had a report of a drive off and that I had paid for my other things but not the fuel. I went on-line (with them still at the door) to check my account and indeed only the other items had been charged. I had a moan about it not being as they had said and or it had been reported, and to look at the cctv, they said they had and I could clearly be seen looking at the pumps and saying the pump number and to just pop along and pay for the fuel and that would be that.

I was so angry, I phoned the petrol station and they told me they reported it before looking at the cctv and realising it was their mistake, but could I make the payment now over the phone, I said no I wouldnt as it was their mistake they can jolly well come and collect it, I gave them my address, saying I was going to make a formal complaint about it.

I just had to get that off my chest, Ive had a rubbish day and that has just finished me off.

Thanks for reading my rant

[fairyprincess5]

From your point of view its not nice being in this situation, however human error does occur these days.

[Badger247]

Totally un-acceptable.

 

 

Write to the chairman of BP - and cc in as many main board directors via email. This usually sets the hares running. Mention local press and publicity etc.

 

You can usually figure out the Chairman or CEO's email address on line if you can get the name.

 

You should not have had to go through this.

 

Badger

[maddiemay]

Thanks Badger, I'll have a nosey around and see who I can find

Mddie

[Its WAR]

I sold something to a customer last year. There were two friend buying similar items at the same time. One spent £68 and the other £168. I wrongly entered both sales as £68.00. Shame I couldnt get the police to collect the extra £100. I had to write to the credit card company and ask them to send a letter to their customer asking her to send me another £100. I havent had it yet.

[ashmk]

Did BP ever come to get there money back ?

[maddiemay]

No they haven't, dispite me giving them my address the day after the incident. The filling station is franchised, BP investigated it and the garage told them they had written and apologised to me, as I had not had any such apology I wrote to BP again and said I was not happy that they had investigated the matter fully, its now been referred to the next level in the complaint process, but that was in December!

[sneaksms]

So you didn't listen to the staff member when they (presumably) told you the total amount, nor did you check the amount coming up on the card machine, nor check your receipt.

Seems like the chances of not realising the mistake are pretty low - surely you'd realise that 20 litres of fuel and a packet of gum comes to more than 60p? (made up these numbers to illustrate a point).

I agree sending the police over was overkill, but it's doubtful you didn't notice the mistake before hand.

[MaxxPower]

Why should it be up to the customer to spot the mistake? The garage made the mistake, therefore they should be responsible for fixing it. Lord knows if the customer makes any mistakes then stores will wash their hands of any responsibility, why can't the customer do the same?

[sneaksms]

Yes, they should be responsible for fixing it (as in they should collect the money from the OP at the OP's convenience).

The impression I got from the OP's post is that they tried to chance it, thought they got a free tank of fuel - and knew full well that a mistake had been made before the police turned up.

[gil_jnr]

Have you ever seen the notices in cornershops that state "Mistakes cannot be rectified once the customer leaves the premises"?

 

Perhaps the same could apply to your situation with BP? The cashier made the error and you, in all innocence did not realise until you had left the premesis and the police turned up on your doorstep and informed you.

 

Their error, their loss

[kwaks]

This is a very common thing, more common than you think.

 

It is a civil matter and the Police will not get involved again. The key here being you made an offer to pay. However lets look at what probably happened before getting too steamed up about it.

 

Cashier mistakenly does not add the fuel to the total sale.

 

Cashier realises their mistake and is faced with the prospect of having his wages docked.

 

Cashier decides to declare it a "drive off" in order to save disciplinary/deduction.

 

Now the Police SHOULD have looked at the tape before visiting you, as should the supervisor/manager. However up to that point they were probably taking the word of the cashier and believing you had made a genuine error.

 

Lesson to learn? Check the amount before entering your pin, might not be in your favour next time.

[dragonkeeper]

tifo

 

nicely put

 

and to the point.

[MARTIN3030]

2 posts unapproved.

Please keep on topic without the use of comments that are insulting,flaming,or not relevant.

[tifo]

2 posts unapproved.

Please keep on topic without the use of comments that are insulting,flaming,or not relevant.

 

sorry .... but i didn't say anything wrong, only corrected the poster.

[maddiemay]

Sheeesh, there are some nasty people out there, just to clarify to the people who are insisting I knew about the cashiers error.

 

A) The cashier was Indian, not my first language sorry!!!

 

B) The Police were happy no crime was commited and lets face it they HAVE seen the footage, whereas you have not.

 

C) No !!! I do not always check the amount, I expect people to be able to do the job they are paid to do, I'm clearly more trusting and honest than some people

 

D) Do you really think I would be so upset and bother to post on CAG if I had really meant to do it.

 

Dont judge others by your own standards, would be my advice.

[tifo]

A) The cashier was Indian, not my first language sorry!!!

 

The point of my post was that the TERMINAL was in ENGLISH, it doesn't really matter whether the cashier was Native British (if there is such a thing) or not. It's YOUR job to see what you pay for.

 

It was a mistake i understand but not only the cashier's.

[maddiemay]

A cashier who's recently made a mistake by any chance??????????? Get over it I have!

I know the cashier was solely to blame and so do The Police and thats all I care about.

[tifo]

A cashier who's recently made a mistake by any chance??????????? Get over it I have!

 

No, but i don't like people being picked upon cos of their 'color', i.e. he was Indian so the terminal must have been in a foreign language. That's ridiculous.

 

I think YOU need to get over it, it's your mistake for not checking what you were paying for, we all look at the terminal when we key in the PIN code.

 

Anyway, that's my last comment on this thread, 'obviously' you were not to blame.

[dragonkeeper]

I am so sorry to have posted on this thread.

 

martin3030 (site team) removed 2 unapproved posts i wish he had removed mine as well.

 

;¬) soggy tissues 10 paces at dawn :¬)

 

you bounder take that you cad

 

[MARTIN3030]

I am so sorry to have posted on this thread.

 

martin3030 (site team) removed 2 unapproved posts i wish he had removed mine as well.

 

;¬) soggy tissues 10 paces at dawn :¬)

 

you bounder take that you cad

 

 

Martin unapproved 2 posts yes for reasons which were outlined.

Soggy tissues or 10 paces at dawn were not a consideration.

I am an unpaid volunteer who gives my time on the site and have been here since 2006.

I have lots of time for people whether here for bailiff issues,Bank Charges,or whatever.I dont claim to be in a position to answer everything and am continually learning.

I cant say I have been called a bounder or a CAD before-you are entitled to say what you will,but as a moderator and part of CAG Admin team,I also deserve some respect and will exercise my duties as appropriate.

Your tone of reply suggests a little conflict which I will let go -but will not put up with continuing.

Lets leave it there.

And like I said previously continue the thread without the need for inuedo racial remarks or comments that are off topic or limits to the discussion.

 

Moderation will follow if this continues regardless of whether I am guilty of being a Bounder OR Cad.

 

This goes out to all posters.

Edited April 28, 2010 by MARTIN3030
timeout adds

[perplexity]

Reading the thread, impartially, it seems to me that this was limited from the start. The Op had clearly stated that "I just had to get that off my chest".

 

Short of any more of a purpose than that, with no particular issue to pursue, there is nothing more than that to discuss.

 

[the_maverick]

Maddiemay,

 

I own a chain of shops and trust me I have been on both sides. I have been undercharged for something and not said anything, and I have certainly undercharged someone, but when I have sending the police after them was not my first thought!!

 

And lets face it the garage would not be chasing after you if you have paid too much. (they would probably laugh about it and pocket the extra!!)

 

They screwed up at time of purchase and you benefited, and good luck to you. They should have taken it on the chin but to claim you were a thief to make up for there error...too right you should not pay them anything!

 

But dont waste anymore time on it....go a drive in this lovely weather in your fully filled car!

[AtlantisZPM]

It is hard what to make of this I am the kind of person where if i do something all the time I switch to autopilot. As for the garage there is a high possibility they realised there mistake and instead of taking the hit they contacted the police. You could maybe put in a grievance with the police officers that visited you with no evidence. Maybe the police should investigate the petrol station wasting there time?

[dragonkeeper]

Hi martin3030

 

lol

 

I was not refering the bounder, cad comment to you. the comment was in jest (pistols at dawn to the death) about the two posts that were removed. i read them before they where removed, the fact they re-posted omiting the offence remarks made me sorry i posted into thread.

It was quite right to remove them.

 

lol and more lol

 

carry on the good work