Is Gas stations ripping us off on top of oil companies?????

@bfarrier1 (2082)
United States
June 18, 2008 5:52pm CST
Gas stations are ripping us off on top of oil companies ripping us off..............................when can we catch a break???????????? Read Below -------Original We saw on the news the other night that this is happening everywhere. Brian pumped exactly one gallon of gas. The price did not match the cost of one gallon, it was higher. He went inside and complained, got a refund. There is also a number on each pump that you can call and complain. This is a true story, so read it carefully. On April 24, 2008, I stopped at a BP gas station in GA. My truck's gas gauge was on 1/4 of a tank. I use the mid-grade, which was priced at $3.71 per gallon.When my tank is at this point, it takes somewhere around 14 gallons to fill it up. When the pump showed 14 gallons had been pumped I began to slow it down, then to my surprise it went to 15, then 16. I even looked under my truck to see if it was being spilled. It was not. Then it showed 17 gallons on the pump. It stopped at 18 gallons. This was very strange to me, since my truck has only an 18 gallon tank. I went on my way a little confused, then on the evening news I heard a report that 1 out of 4 gas stations had calibrated their pumps to show more gas had been pumped than a person actually got. Here is how to check a pump to see if you are getting the right amount: Whichever grade you are using, put EXACTLY 10 GALLONS in your tank, then look at the dollar amount. If the dollar amount is not EXACTLY 10 times the price of the fuel you have chosen, then the pumps are rigged. In my case as I said the mid-grade was $3.71 9/10 per gallon; my dollar amount for 10 gallonsshould have been $37.19. I wish I had checked the pump. It doesn't matter where you pump gas, please check the 10 gallon price. If you do find a station that is cheating, contact the state Agriculture Department, and direct your comments to the Commissioner--info is on the gas pumps. Please don't delete this until you have sent it to all people in your address book. We need to put a stop to this outrageous cheating of customers. The gas companies are making enough profits at honest rates.
3 people like this
7 responses
@wildplace (154)
• Germany
18 Jun 08
Wow-they arenĀ“t under control in the USA? Here in Germany they have an Institue controlling the pumps called the "Eichamt". They take care for these things. So every scale or pump is wearing a sticker of the Eichamt and the year they were controlled by them. If you pay for pound, you get the pound. If you pay for the litre gar, you get the litre gas. Otherwise the Eichamt would close the shop or gas station because of breaking the law.
2 people like this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thanks for your response,as for as I know we use to be controlled maybe that station was just doing this illegally.I will be watching for it from now on though.Welcome to mylot it is a great site have fun.
2 people like this
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Gas companies are ripping people off, that's for sure. Here in California we don't generally have the extra gas problem mentioned here because the state often has people out checking gas stations for this sort of misbehavior and if caught, the gas station is closed down :) The gas people are not ripping me off, as my car does not run and I am not likely to fix it anytime soon LOL
2 people like this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thanks for your response and after reading this article I will be watching more careful,I usually just pull in and have them fill it I never even thought about the gallons.Have a great night.
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I don't put much credibility into emails as sources, but I wouldn't be surprised anyway. We're getting ripped off everywhere else, so why not? You know?
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Well I dont know how very true it is but I tried it today when I got gas and mind you that I know 5 cents is not much but that is what I came up with I was charged 5cents more than the gas I got.How many customers did they have today? Thanks for the comment and have a great evening.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I already pay close attention when I pump gas, you better believe that! I think they're pretty strict with it in Pa. and inspect the pumps frequently, at least I hope so. I haven't been ripped off, of that much I'm sure, not since the prices have gone through the fricking roof. Most of the stations here are privately run and I don't think the owners make much on the gas to start with. I think it's a shame because I'd actually feel a bit better if some of the profits were going to a local business owner instead of to the greedy-guts oil companies. Annie
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I agree with you on the local business owner needs to make bigger profits,thanks for your comment and have a great evening.
• United States
18 Jun 08
Thanks for a great tip. It's just crazy. We are already spending an arm and a leg on the stuff. I know most stations don't make much from selling gas, but cut us some slack. I have heard of this before and have been watching when I hit the pumps.
2 people like this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Your most welcome and after reading this article I will be watching from now on,gas is high enough without being ripped off.Thanks for your response and have a great night.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
I'm from the Philippines and i had friends who had these kinds of experiences. My husband actually knows a guy who works in the energy sector and he indeed validated this kind of rip-off. What these gas station managers overlook (or they may be a part of it) is that when the "gas boy" puts in the nozzle into the vehicle (NOW YOU CAN'T SEE IF GAS REALLY COMES OUT OR NOT, releases the clip and the meter starts running, THE FIRST FEW PESOS (philippine currency) are getting CHARGED but there is NOTHING BUT AIR COMING OUT. So what the government did was make "surprise calibrations" and they shut down/ penalize gas stations with uncalibrated pumps. They also calibrate octane ratings so you get the right gasoline for your car. Even after all this though, its all just getting harder because gas prices keep going up and the different taxes on gas implemented in our country keeps it expensive.
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Gas stations that do this should get shut down/penalized we pay enough for gas these days.Thanks for the comment and have a gret evening.
• Alexandria, Virginia
18 Jun 08
very interesting
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thanks for your response and welcome to mylot.