Petrol - Driving off without paying

Mr.T

Mr.T

Mr.T

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Joined
6 Nov 2004
Posts
798
Hi,

As title says I believe I did this a couple of days ago :eek: . To cut a long story short, I got petrol, went in ( to pay), and came out only paying for a drink and some chocolate. I went wrong because I assumed the guy put the petrol on the bill since he was staring at me when I was filling up, also due to the fact I was only person at station ( also I should have checked amount..). However, when I checked my statement I only had a bill for a pound, this raised alarms since 40 pounds of petrol was acquired.

Now what I am wondering is how come the police have not been round, since this occurred on the 16th. Makes me think the number plate recognition system is not working.

Anyway, I'm going to go to BP tomorrow morning and sort it out. Am I right in thinking they will just have it on computer and I can just pay it now?
 
Well I'm not an honest enough person so I'd just go back, buy some more petrol and if they say something then fine, just admit you knew nothing about it, show him that you did actually go in and pay for something etc etc

But if they don't say anything... happy days! :p
 
I was filling up in Morrison's the other day and when paying I noticed that the automatic number plate recognition had every plate wrong.
 
TripleT said:
Well I'm not an honest enough person so I'd just go back, buy some more petrol and if they say something then fine, just admit you knew nothing about it, show him that you did actually go in and pay for something etc etc

But if they don't say anything... happy days! :p
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I agree.

Going in and trying to pay for it now would just seem weird and sorta random especially if it's busy at the time.

Imagine the looks :eek:
 
I imagine they would have an automatic number plate thing or keep a manual list by checking cctv. I would definately go back and pay in the morning.
 
TripleT said:
What are these automatic plate thingys?
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They are used to record the plate of any cars that drive off before paying. The details are supposed to be passed around local stations so they can stop selling you fuel if you are likely to nick it.
 
You don't live near me do you?

The Alton Herald said:
Petrol 'runner'
A motorist filled his blue Vauxhall Astra with petrol at an Alton garage and drove off without paying. The theft from the BP garage in Butts Road happened at 7.39pm on Saturday.
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:p
 
R3DBuLL said:
I agree.

Going in and trying to pay for it now would just seem weird and sorta random especially if it's busy at the time.

Imagine the looks :eek:
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Yeah, how wierd that someone might be honest or have some integrity. What a freak. :rolleyes:
 
This is my understanding of the situation so please don't take it as gospel.
Unless there is a reason to suggest that you deliberately set out to avoid paying for the petrol (e.g speeding off, trying to cover your face etc) the police would not have recorded this as a crime at this stage and would advise the garage to try and seek reimbursement via civil proceedings in the first instance.
Providing the garage have your numberplate on their cctv (unlikely they won't) than they would write to the dvla and request your address in line with the data protection act as they have a valid reason for it and then write to you and take things from there. From what I have heard about the DVLA I believe this takes roughly 3 weeks which would explain why you have not heard anything yet.
I'd call in there next time you are passing as if they are trying to contact you it will make things easier for you both in the long run.

Hope that helps,

Jonny
 
Belmit - No :)

Also it was only 40 pounds of petrol, in my opinion not worth the hassle of trying to dodge paying it. I did phone the BP up tonight and they said if I want I can come in tomorrow and sort it out.
 
It's the cashiers fault for not taking your money.

You offered it on a plate, and in a court of law you could say anything happened at the counter, like the cashier just let you off without paying the petrol. This would be embarassing and costly to the company that the £40 they let you slip away with. CCTV will have you walking in and out the shop after filling up, there's not much else you could have done apart from being more alert!
 
Dup said:
It's the cashiers fault for not taking your money.

You offered it on a plate, and in a court of law you could say anything happened at the counter, like the cashier just let you off without paying the petrol. This would be embarassing and costly to the company that the £40 they let you slip away with. CCTV will have you walking in and out the shop after filling up, there's not much else you could have done apart from being more alert!
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Erm no. It was his duty to say that he had filled his car up with Petrol. In court, if it was his word against the cashier's, and the cashiers says "he didn't say anything about petrol" who do you think is going to win?

He should go back, explain the situation and pay for the fuel.


Edit: To the OP - this isn't a snipe at you! I know it can be an easy mistake to make, especially if paying by card.
 
it depends how honest you are. maybe he was new on the job and already got sacked for the shortfall or will have to pay for the mistake himself.

Actually, this story has something of the Punch and Judy Show ring about it - they walked out of some supermarket on more than one occasion without paying for a stack of wine etc. Their defence in court was the checkout girl couldn't count so it wasn't their prob and they didn't really try to hide it in the first place. Twice in a row! As you do!! :o)

Let's face it - unless they tally the shortfall to your registration number or your fizz on the in-shop cams, the decision's yours! You can be honest, pay for the gas and maybe get the guy off the hook in the bargain. Or risk the old bill comin' callin' on some half-assed pump'n drive rap.

If you opt for the 'hey i got free fuel' option, then this opens up a whole new career choice for you - probably a politician in modern blitain. Cos once you've persuaded some plague of half-wits that you're really honest, you're preoccupied with the rights of the little people etc etc, and they're dumb enough to vote you in, you'll move far beyond the petty benefits of a forty-quid driveaway. The opportunities will be endless - fiddling expenses, 600-thousand dollar bribes that won't rate a mention over the evening pitza, multiple mortgage fiddles, cash for questions, offshore accounts in any name you fancy, holiday homes hither and thither, backhanders, bungs... the world, basically, will be your lobster...
 
At first this was accidental theft, it was an honest mistake and you won't get in any trouble for it.

However, you are now aware that you haven't paid for the petrol, and if you decide not to pay it will become deliberate theft.

Its upto you, but you were prepared to pay in the first place, so why just pay for it?
 
Dogbreath said:
Yeah, how wierd that someone might be honest or have some integrity. What a freak. :rolleyes:
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Ooooh personal is it :p

Sticks and stones.......


You must be in a good mood or is that normal?
 
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R3DBuLL said:
Ooooh personal is it :p
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:).. he has a point though. If I over heard a conversation from a customer who came in to pay for something they forgot the previous day, I wouldn't be-little them etc. Infact, I'd probably smile at them.
 
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