Cinnamon Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Anyone ever had a problem like this at a petrol station? I went to my locla Esso yesterday evening, & all the pumps that feed the drivers side were busy.All the ones that feed the other side were free so I turned & faced the car the other way to use one of those ones. Done this a million times before. But,they refused to switch the pump on for me as the car was not facing the shop - apparantly they need to see the number plate. I pointed out that my car also has a rear plate,but they refused to switch the pump on for me. By this time a small crowd was watching as it was rush hour,& a car with a group of lads pulled over & started shouting at the man that he couldn't make me turn my car & for me to fill up anyhow.But I couldn't,as they wouldn't switch the pump on Very I had no choice but to get back in,turn again & use the other side,so my car was facing the shop. By this time not only were the pumps all in use,but they all had a queue too The other side pumps were STILL ALL FREE Was I the victim of a jobsworth here,or has anyone else had this problem? Oh, & when I did get to fill her up,the darn cut off didn't sork so I now have nice petroly Crocs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 How irritating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 How frustrating. I bet you were I would have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 I was livid. it took a good large glass of red to calm me down (when I got home!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I was livid.it took a good large glass of red to calm me down (when I got home!) Only one!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I was livid.it took a good large glass of red to calm me down (when I got home!) surely petrol pump hoses are long enough to reach both sides of any car?? they always are mine anyway - and i have a wide-ish estate... or do they have short hoses in Henley? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 It probably would have been, but I usually just face the other way. Never had a problem before. It didn't occur to me,to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 It probably would have been, but I usually just face the other way. Never had a problem before. It didn't occur to me,to be honest it is slightly counter-intuitive - but it is the reason that there are queues when there are empty pumps - because most people don't realise the pump-hoses are designed to be long enough to reach both sides.. just park close-ish to the pump and slightly past it so you don't have to drag the heavy hose over the roof of your car! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 How annoying Cinnamon - your way makes more sense. I've tried dragging the hose over to the other side but as I'm only 5'1", I really struggle wrestling with the hose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 how annoying what about a complaint to the manager? I personally would have taken my custom elsewhere, are there any petrol stations close enough good for having a glass of wine cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 How annoying Cinnamon - your way makes more sense. I've tried dragging the hose over to the other side but as I'm only 5'1", I really struggle wrestling with the hose! Same here. I'd have a word with the manager too Cinnamon......if all you get is clarification of the rules, then fair enough. The petrol station I tend to use has a one way system so wouldn't be able to approach the pumps from the other end, but I expect they are not all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 How annoying Cinnamon - your way makes more sense. I've tried dragging the hose over to the other side but as I'm only 5'1", I really struggle wrestling with the hose! most petrol stations round here would be a total nightmare if people tried to drive in both ways - it would cause absolute chaos..... they operate on a one-way system for very good reason - traffic flow... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Oh, that explains it then. Thank you Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 My little car is awkward to fill with petrol, so I have to use the pump that is the same side as the tank. Usually I have to wrestle with the nozzle upside down and it does make my hand ache after a while (and it keeps clicking off even if it isn't anywhere near halfway). I don't like to drape the thing over the car because I don't want to scratch the paintwork (still new). Yesterday when I tried putting the nozzle back in the cradle, I dropped it because I couldn't grip it any longer - so embarrassing, fortunately I had emptied any excess from the pipe first so no petrol on the floor. I think your idea was good. That is a stupid argument about the number plate - this isn't the US - perhaps they are going by their rules - was it Texaco? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 It was Esso. And it does have a one way system, well an entrance & exit anyhow, but people do a u turn to fuill up on the other side all the time,then drive around the pumps to go back out the right way. Forgot to mention also that while I was there filling up a big van came in & turned,& HE was allowed to fill up with the rear of the vehicle facing the shop Don't know why they picked on little old me - I feel a strongly worded letter coming on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keanie Bean Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Definately a jobsworth! Dont they just make your day , prime ministers in the waiting ( or so they think). Sarah.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I drive a diesel car and for years i've filled it up using the HGV pumps at my local garage cos: a)I dont have to wait in a queue-its always empty. b)Cos its for trucks-it fills my car up in less than 1 minute. But now they wont let me and when i asked why they said "its for lorrys only and isnt suitable for cars".Theres no difference between car diesel & HGV diesel and anyone who tells me different is a liar! I used to be a blooming truck driver so this is like trying to teach granny how to suck eggs!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 that's car discrimiation that's what that is.. only HGV's allowed.. no no no.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I have been known to have mental blanks at the petrol station a couple of times and have had the pump at the wrong side Esso was fine, the hose was plenty long enoough. But I only just made it at Morrisons - and I only have a Clio ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I can't understand their reasoning in that, I think that in all the circumstances they would remember you and, although I know that most fuel stations have CCTV and Number Plate recognition systems - would it be too much hassle to write down a number with an old fashioned pen and paper? Having said that, I usually use the wrong side when there are queues and haven't yet found a pipe that won't fit round my Touran. I am reasonaly tall though and maybe that makes a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bokbokbok Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'm with you on this one Cinnamon. After many unsuccessful attempts to fill up on the wrong side where I have had to get back in to the car and drive back or forward to reposition it close enough or banged the hose off the car or had to hold the nozzle upside down .. I now refuse to fill up on the wrong side and have many times done a U Turn like you did. If they had tackled me like this, only if I was driving on fumes, would I have stayed and filled in their poxy station! I would have been out of there faster than a bat out of hell! I hate people being stupid and passing their stupidness on down the line because no one points out their stupidness to them! As time goes on the rage will die down but I am dying to know if you acted on your impulse to complain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'd say contact the manager as well Sarah! I can't understand why new petrol staions with lots of space aren't built in the Continental style - with space after the pumps so that you move your car to a larger area while you go in to pay. This helps prevent queues building up and if you need to shop or visit the loo as well as just pay for fuel then you aren't holding up a lot of other people. The Tesco station is one of the newest in Stratford - and they have a big space for queues....but no room for people who need to do more than just pay and leave, even though it has a well stocked shop and toilets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Sounds to me like you should definitely get clarification on why they can't read the number plate on the rear of your car and also why a van was allowed to do it but you weren't . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yes,I am sending a letter to them.....its being written tomorow when the family are not here to distract me. I am sending it to the manager & also to Esso customer services Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'm with you on this one Cinnamon. After many unsuccessful attempts to fill up on the wrong side where I have had to get back in to the car and drive back or forward to reposition it close enough or banged the hose off the car or had to hold the nozzle upside down .. I now refuse to fill up on the wrong side and have many times done a U Turn like you did. I know it's fun to rant, but surely I can't be alone in seeing that allowing people to drive in ajnd out of petrol stations as they please - ignoring the one-way system - would simply cause chaos??? by all means rant away - but I don't think it is unreasonable for a petrol station to have a one-way system. I don't understand their reasoning about cameras and number plates - BUT - I (for one) would be very irritated to drive into a petrol station the right way and find myself then blocked in by someone facing the wrong way and causing general traffic chaos. the answer is either to queue like everyone else - or park by a pump in such as way as you can easily fill up either side. for quite a while I drove a transit van - I don't ever remember finding a pump hose that did not reach around that..... Lesley's after-pump parking idea is a good one - especially in the days of petrol stations that double as mini-supermarkets - and the person in front of you leaves the car at the pump after filling up and then proceeds to do a monthly shop!! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
