I probably made some random person mad today...Follow

I pulled up to a local gas station on my way home to fill up. Got my debit card out and swiped it at the pump. Went to plug in my PIN and noticed it was sitting at the "Select Grade" screen. I swiped it again, thinking it didn't read my card right. Nothing, still just sitting at the "Select Grade" screen. I put the cap back on my tank and was prepared to drive around to the next pump, assuming this one was broken. But then I thought "What if it accepted my card, and now wants me to pump... someone will fill up on my card!". So I decided against pulling away and instead grabbed the nozzle and selected the grade. It started pumping, I put about 60 dollars in, and then put the nozzle back. It completed the transaction and went to the "Thanks" screen. So I looked around a bit, no receipt printed.

I walked into the store and waited in line for the cashier. I asked if there was a balance to be paid on my pump, she said no. I explained to her what happened, that I thought someone left the pump ready to be paid automatically, and I didn't notice when I pulled up to it. She just said, "Well, looks like someone else paid for your tank of gas."

Went to the grocery store, got home, and checked my bank online. The grocery store payment was shown, but there wasn't even a set aside amount for the pay at the pump. Seems like someone really did end up paying for my 60 dollar fill up.

What would you have done? I kind of feel bad that someone's credit card or bank account probably just got charged 60 dollars. I tried backing out of the initial transaction, pressing Cancel, lifting/placing the nozzle. But nothing seemed to work. I used it not wanting it to be my card it had ready to charge and someone else using it. It seems as though it wasn't my card it had prepared though.

If you feel guilty enough go back to the station, tell them you want to put $60 on a pump, and then drive away.

Hit cancel and started the transaction again. But apparently you tried that, so... I might've driven away, but I would've been worried it had my card already approved, too. I guess I may have then tried to go in and asked the cashier to reset the pump.



Whoever it was will most likely dispute the charge, and the gas company will eat the $60. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

This is why banks and things have insurance. That person will probably be able to claim back that $60, assuming they can prove they didn't fill up at that point in time.

I don't understand how it's free if someone else is unknowingly paying for it.

Eating at home as a college student is free. Very simple concept.

Ok, so he was wrong and stupid. He clearly thought that if he left, he might be paying for someone else, but it never occurred to him that maybe that was what was happening to someone else? A moment of stupidity that lead to him doing something wrong and avoidable.

Honest doesn't make it right.

I kind of blame the attendant in this case, at least partially. She should have been able to check the last four digits of the card that paid the transaction against the last four digits of your card easily enough. She didn't even suggest that, apparently. It should have been easy enough to reverse/cancel the transaction and properly charge you for it.

Edited, Aug 13th 2011 10:23am by Spoonless

This. But then, I'm an opportunist.

Shouldn't a pump cancel out a CC transaction after so many minutes?

I would guess that someone went to prepay with cash, the attendant put it on the wrong pump, and when the customer went to tell them it wasn't working, they just put another transaction on a new pump without canceling out the old one. I have no sympathy for people who shortcut their job, so free gas for you.

Filthy rich, I'm not. Honest though, I am. I also correct a cashier when they give me back too much change. While I love getting something free as much as anyone else, I don't want to see someone else get shafted because of me.

I don't think Tirrith is a bad person for what he did, I just think he could have been a better person.


Edited, Aug 13th 2011 7:24pm by Uglysasquatch

I'm from NJ. I don't pump my gas. :)

All this seems like hassle that could have been avoided if your states cared to create jobs. :P