Full service attendant didn't hear her right?

[IamEmancipated]

My mother in law told me a sucky story the other day about visiting the local full service gas station. Since I didn't have anything to do with it, I just sympathized, but then I got to thinking about it and wondered how it should have gone.

She know how to pump gas but she goes to the full service station in the mornings at 4 am before work, because it's easier and she's lazy. (She admits to that.) This time she asked the gas attendant for $20 in gas. He takes her debit card to put in the machine, then starts pumping after handing her card back.

Apparently he didn't hear her correctly, or something; he pumped out close to $50 and filled the tank entirely. Mother in law was peeved something fierce since she barely had enough to cover that in the account. She was lucky, she thought, that she DID have enough because it was the day before payday and she'd recently bought four new tires.

My wondering started when I got to thinking about what your typical SC would do, and how the gas station would deal with that. If you don't have enough money and the person either didn't hear you right or whatever, what is the proper protocol in that situation? I'm surprised mother in law didn't throw one of her patented HissyFits™.

What do you think? Should mother in law consider writing a letter to the company or the store, or something? And how does one deal with that, should the gas attendant accidentally put you in overdraft?

[Aethian]

See this is why when I go to a full service I will say I only have X to cover the gas, please don't try to go over. With inserting the amount I want to spend. Usually the attendant recites back what I've said to be certain then. But then finding full service stations in my neck of the woods is getting kind of hard.

[Pixilated]

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of full service is that it's a good idea to watch the gas pump to avoid exactly this sort of thing ... which would not be helpful advice at all in your MIL's situation!

Going to corporate seems excessive in this particular case -- it sounds definitely like an accident. When the attendant told me the total I would have said something immediately, "What? I said I only wanted $20!" and at least give him a chance to apologize -- since that's about all he could do at this point; he could hardly take the gas back.

If it happened again, that's when I'd go to somebody over the attendant's head ... store manager, and corporate if the manager wasn't helpful.

If the attendant has put in more than you can pay for ... wow, I don't know what you would do in that case. I've had a few cases where I've put gas in and then found I didn't have my debit card ... they've let me go after taking down half a page of identification information, LOL. I'd probably do something similar here: offer up the necessary information and say I wanted to come back when the manager/owner is in to discuss the matter.

[rose_metal_nz]

Over here, if they put in "extra" gas then you have to wait while they get in a machine that will actually suck out the additional amount not kidding - there's a local guy who has one, it's on the way to my Mum's place
Don't think they charge for it; tho the attendant will probably get stung over it.

[IamEmancipated]

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of full service is that it's a good idea to watch the gas pump to avoid exactly this sort of thing ... which would not be helpful advice at all in your MIL's situation!

Going to corporate seems excessive in this particular case -- it sounds definitely like an accident. When the attendant told me the total I would have said something immediately, "What? I said I only wanted $20!" and at least give him a chance to apologize -- since that's about all he could do at this point; he could hardly take the gas back.

You know, I think my mother in law is a fairly smart person, but she's so passive-aggressive she wouldn't kick a dog that was biting her until it let go, was out of earshot, and she could talk my brother in law or husband to doing the complaining. I'm relatively certain that she does watch the pump to make sure it's the right amount (since every time I go with her she does this). She was just being PA and not advocating for herself. That's why I asked her if I could post about it here before doing so; she's notorious for her delayed reactions.

I wouldn't suggest going to corporate myself, either, I just threw it out there.

And I was curious about taking it back, heh, I thought surely that's a stupid idea for anyone involved. Most people would call a friend and bum the rest of the money off them until payday to cover it should it become a concern. I think mother in law is cranky at her bank, and that's why she doesn't carry cash. She told me that in order to see her account balance she has to withdraw money, which I think is unusual for an ATM transaction, so she has me check it for her over the bank's online functions.

Over here, if they put in "extra" gas then you have to wait while they get in a machine that will actually suck out the additional amount not kidding - there's a local guy who has one, it's on the way to my Mum's place.

I KNEW there had to be some weird thing for that! Somewhere in my brain I thought, surely, it's possible. Curiousity wins again!

[PepperElf]

peeved something fierce since she barely had enough to cover that in the account.

i've never over drafted on gas. the gas stops pumping if the account runs empty

[IamEmancipated]

i've never over drafted on gas. the gas stops pumping if the account runs empty

I didn't even know they did that. Most places I've been to just ask for an amount and then pump it for you. Though, I don't pay with a card, just to be sure. I'll let my mother in law know that it's possible the gas station is set up like that, it should make her feel better. Thanks!

[Pixilated]

i've never over drafted on gas. the gas stops pumping if the account runs empty

How does that work? Do you connect up with your account somehow before you start pumping?

[Pixilated]

*large snip* I think mother in law is cranky at her bank, and that's why she doesn't carry cash. She told me that in order to see her account balance she has to withdraw money, which I think is unusual for an ATM transaction, so she has me check it for her over the bank's online functions.
*snip*

I've never heard of that. Usually you can get your balance easily at an ATM machine just by punching the right button(s).

So your MIL's a PA -- oh dear, LOL. I'm related to one of those ... they give themselves more heartburn over things than any incident is worth!

[Jetfire]

Up here the machine will try to preapprove for an amount. Either the exact amount if you request it, or some larger amount than most gas tanks (Local Costco preapproves for 125$ CAD on fillup requests), so the pump knows they can get at least that much out of you.

But most Full Serve places I've seen, the debit machine wouldn't be connected to the pump so they may not be able to do that. (well maybe networking they could nowadays but it wouldn't be obvious)

[Pixilated]

Ah, okay, I know what you're talking about. I've used the 'preapproved' option once or twice -- the first time resulted in a call from my credit card company within half an hour, LOL, because it triggered an "unusual activity" alarm somewhere in their system.

[IamEmancipated]

Part of me wants to think she's being difficult regarding her ATM transactions---my husband has the same type of card but it never charges him to view his account balance. Maybe it's the ATM she uses, I dunno. Maybe she's just trying to avoid going to the ATM altogether and using me as a surrogate banker. It's not a problem, just weird.

I did tell her about the machine that takes out your gas (she "humph"ed about that) and that some places won't intentionally overdraft you. She helpfully pointed out that the amount removed left around $5 on her card. I also mentioned that if it happens again, she should let the store know that the gas attendant isn't paying attention. I think she's let go of the whole thing by now, so she's not as worked up about it.

[mariamousie1]

That happened to my mom once- the guy wasn't paying attention and filled up the whole tank instead of the amount she wanted. Luckily the guy realized his mistake and said she didn't have to pay for any gas. So my mom got a full tank for free.

I'm not sure if she should say something. It seems like the kind of thing that should be dealt with at that moment.

[Barracuda]

I've actually had that happen, where I clearly stated I wanted $10 in gas, the attendant acknowledged it, then didn't watch it and pumped $20 on my card anyway. I complained, the cashier gave me $10, and told the attendant he'd just paid for my extra gas out of his next paycheck for not paying close enough attention. Problem solved.

[Pixilated]

Now that's good customer service! And I bet the attendant keeps a better eye on the pump next time ...