I was treated like a criminal at BP

[ufo_investigations]

I went to BP about 30mins ago to fill my tank. I grabbed the pump to fill up and a voice came over the loud speaker saying "PREPAID ONLY".  They refused to allow me to fill up so had to go inside to prepay an amount of $80 without knowing how much I needed whether it was higher or lower. It turned out the pump stopped at $80 as the operator pre-programmed that exact amount. I have been buying fuel at this particular place for 12 years. They wont see me again!

[joz*garage]

one of the servos i frequent (that has a terrific food menu) has a video screen installed.. set-up purely to replay people who drive off without payin'

        at the back wall of the counter

whilst waiting to be served, i was surprised to watch how many culprits caught on their surveillance camera, lol. and i bet theres 's way more

  coz i didnt view the whole video...could be more editions too

they said it was for a deterrent, if you drive off without paying..you'll be exposed for all to see (being charged by the cops isn't enough for them, but fair enough too, theyre within their rights

& this particular servo you can not pay inside after 10pm, it's prepaid outside at the window

[cherry*135]

A big chain store (electronics, furniture, white goods) near where I live had a photo board of security camera photos of people caught in the act of shoplifting (still photo clearly showing them slipping a DVD or something inside their jacket, their face was identifiable). It was a big board on a stand just as you entered the store. They were made to take it down. Not sure if they did that voluntarily or were forced to by law.

[fourandsixpants]

my fav servo placed signs on one line of bowsers about a year ago....the ones that are positioned for the fastest 'get away' etc.....anyhoo, the signs request that you pre-pay before starting the bowser, after 3pm. I asked why and was told they have too many non-payers. I would not have the guts to drive in, fill up and take off without paying.

.....I get into enough trouble every day as it is without adding stealing fuel to my agenda LOL!

[mugssy65]

Am one of our local stores had a board that showed shoplifters doing what they do, they were forced to take it down because until the offender has been to they are presumed innocent.

[ufo_investigations]

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@annies_fancy_dress wrote:

I'm sorry you felt insulted UFO, it's not your fault.

It's an unfortunate result of our lifestyle, too many things needed and not enough money being earned.

I think this is where are headed, the prepay system.

Most places expect you to pay first when you want something, it's just that at petrol stations you get the goods in your possession and are in a position to abscond before you pay.

I hope the service person was polite when you went in.

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The first thing I said to the operator when I walked in was "HOW DO I PREPAY WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH IS GOING TO FIT IN THE TANK?" She said if it went over she would put the $$$ back onto the credit card. I think she felt awkward though. The petrol station is assuming I'm a thief. As far as I understand you only become a thief IF you leave without paying.

When we go to a supermarket we fill the trolley and then we line up and pay. I have heard of cases where people have stormed out with a full trolley and not paid. There is one place we shop at regularly where they have CCTV images of the trolley thief and it asks to report these people if you know who it is. That is a thief.  I was only wanting to fill up and then pay. BP assumed me guilty of being a thief without me committing any crime. The lady being polite doesn't cut it the action was far worse than any politeness. If they want security they should employ petrol station attendants or have some kind of mechanism where you put your credit card in the petrol pump. We are not all criminals.

How about when we go to a restaurant. I sometimes spend $150 eating at some flash joint with my wife. We always pay when we finish. What now, are we supposed to prepay for that too?

A crook is only a crook if they don't pay!

[cherry*135]

Do they have this pre-paid rule only in the early hours of the morning - midnight to 6am? When there are very few people out.

As others have said, from early evening at some smaller petrol stations ,when there is only one staff member is present they close entry to the shop part of the petrol station and you stay outside and slip your money/card through a slot at the bottom of a barred window. Pay after receiving fuel (I have never been there after 8pmish).

It would depend on what the area was like, what security measures individual petrol stations implement.. for the safety of their staff and to minimise fuel theft.

[cherry*135]

In everyday life honest people are subject to rules that have had to be put in place because of dishonest people,

[punch*drunk]

About 20 years ago a new servo was built near me that had those spikes that stopped you going out the way you came in and drive through checkouts. So you pretty much couldnt leave without paying. It didnt last long that way, not sure if it was because people didnt like it or maybe they thought they'd make more money with a shop that people had to walk through to pay. Maybe the extra money spent in store offset the occasional drive off?

I wouldnt care if I had to prepay, only inconvenience is not knowing exactly how much. I always fill my car rather than a set amount.

[freddie*rooster]

Oh dear UFO go have a nice hot coffee and relax - "Don't worry be Happy"

[i-need-a-martini]

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@ufo_investigations wrote:

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The petrol station is assuming I'm a thief. 

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Oh rubbish.

The petrol station is protecting it's stock and, more importantly, it's staff. Should they allow their staff to be exposed just because YOU feel like a thief. Of course not!

If you have shopped there for 12 years then I suggest you get a prepaid card that is always topped up and then you can fuel up more quickly in the future.