Unusual occurrence at the gas pump today,

[CrispyQ]

although I didn't notice it until I got home.

I was in a hurry but needed to fill the tank. I drive a little Toyota truck. I always wait until I'm almost empty. The absolute most I've ever put in was a little over 11 gallons & it was on fumes that day!

I scanned my credit card at the pump & it asked me to scan it again, so I did. While the pump was fueling I washed with windshields so I wasn't paying close attention.

Later, when I was home, I checked my receipt & was startled at how much I had paid! Then I checked the number of gallons & it said 18.65. WTF?! I know my little truck does not have an 18 gallon gas tank!

So I was pissed that somehow the previous gas that was pumped got charged to me & even more pissed that I didn't pay attention at the station, because, what recourse do I have now? But then I looked closer & I noticed the last 4 digits of the credit card were not mine. Also the time stamp on the receipt was an hour an a half earlier than when I was there. I think that my charge was put on the previous customer's card.

I went online to check my account because usually, by the time I get home, anything I've charged on that card shows as a pending charge. There is nothing. I will keep an eye on my account, but I think the previous customer bought my tank of gas. This person's lucky I drive a little truck!

How could this have happened? What closes the previous transaction? Wouldn't it be putting the pump handle back into the pump? I feel badly for the other guy, but there's not anything I can do. But I'm more perplexed at how this can happen.

Has anyone ever had something like this happen?

[Donnachaidh]

1. Did you contact the gas station about this?

I'm sure they could look into the situation for you. You have the receipt and the account number for the previous guy's card.

[deadmessengers]

2. Seems obvious to me.

The first thing that came to mind for me is that the last person to use that pump didn't take their receipt. You took the last person's receipt, and left your own behind.

[NutmegYankee]

4. That's my thought

The pending payment should show up soon.

[CrispyQ]

7. Duh, I didn't even think of that.

:eyes:

I'm surprised it's not in my account though.

on edit: Thank you for being nice about it. A lot of people would have snarked. :hi:

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Your slip must have jammed up behind that one.

Happens where I get gas all the time.

I get home and find the receipt was for a previous transaction. I check my account online and it's always for the amount I pumped.

Don't lose any sleep over it.

[Hoopla Phil]

5. As others have said. First verify your own account for the amount.

Then if there is still a problem you may want to contact the station. BUT, after you've already left it is already too late - legally speaking.

I once had a gas pump show that I put 13.xx gallons into my 12 gallon tank. I reported that station to the weights and measures department in my state. They are the agency in Texas that makes sure that all the grocery store scales and gas station pumps (ect.) are correctly calibrated.

[Suich]

9. Welcome to DU, Hoopla Phil!

:party: :toast: :party:

[shanti]

6. this is what i was told to do

by a co-worker, when using my cc to get gas. make SURE that after your transaction is complete, to press DONE or cancel, or whatever closes the transaction out. don't just leave.

[RoyGBiv]

8. Couple things ...

What others have said about your getting someone else's receipt is probably the issue. This happens all the time.

Having had some experience working and maintaining these pumps, I'll tell you a couple other things that can happen.

What typically closes the transaction is hanging up the pump, but problems can arise here when a person doesn't place the pump hand in the holder correctly. In other words, the switch isn't triggered. You *should* notice this, though, because the display won't reset to 0.

And that brings me to this. Always, always, always check the display to make sure it resets to zero. Other than the potential of filling up on someone else's dime (which one can view however they like according to their own ethical standards, rounding errors and poor programing can cause some of the pumps to reset to something other than zero. If this happens, do not simply start pumping gas and complain later because there's no way for the station attended to check this after the fact. If you'll notify the attendant immediately, the pump can be locked down and serviced before it rips you off.

As for the pending charge to your credit/debit card, these transactions are not always reported in real time. The last station where I worked had pumps that functioned in the following manner: When the card was swiped, the system would contact the authorization server and do a pre-authorization for $50. If this came back approved, the pump would then reset and allow the customer to pump gas. If it came back unapproved, the customer was asked to see the attendant. After the transaction was complete and closed, the amount of the transaction was held in a cache on the station's computer system. When the cache was full or at 2pm, whichever came first, the transactions were uploaded, which would result in the "pending" charge on your bank/credit card account.

[CrispyQ]

11. Thank you for all that great info!

Funny how things like this happen the time you aren't paying attention. Or do they happen because you aren't paying attention? :crazy:

Thank you for your informative & thoughtful post!

:hi:

[petronius]

10. You probably just got the wrong receipt - if the previous customer didn't

take it, then there would have been two in the printer slot - yours probably rolled behind the other, and you grabbed the old one...

[Kansas Wyatt]

14. Bingo!

My rule: Before I pump, I check for a receipt. When the pump prints my receipt, I verify the information on it. If the pump fails to print my receipt, I go in and ask for one.

[Tashca]

12. That's weird

I pumped at least 25 gallons today and my receipt only said 11???.....hmmmm..:fistbump:

[CrispyQ]

13. I'd happily pay for your gas, Tash!

;)