This email was sent to me by a friend whose cousin is the Ridgetown, Ont. fire captain. To my American friends, I'm sure this wouldn't happen in the US, but just in case you may find this little story interesting.
This is true. It happened to them three weeks ago somewhere in Ridgetown on our way to Kingston. The pump should have totaled @ $38.00 (and change). When the receipt was printed, and she checked it was $ 47.00 (and change).
She got mad, went inside the store, asked for a calculator and let them do the math. They refunded her. She told them that if they cheat, they had better make it right. Normally, her husband would skip printing the receipt.. Not her
We saw on the news the other night that this is happening everywhere.
Brian pumped exactly one liter of gas. The price did not match the cost of one liter. 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 March 24, 2009, I stopped at a gas station in Chatham. My truck's gas gauge was on 1/4 of a tank. I use the regular grade, which was priced at $0.885 per liter. When my tank is at this point, it takes somewhere around 45 liters to fill it up.
When the pump showed 45 liters had been pumped, I began to slow it down. Then, to my surprise, it went to 50, then 55. I even looked under my truck to see if it was being spilled. It was not. Then it showed 60 liters on the pump. It stopped at 62 liters. This was very strange to me, since my truck has only a 65 liter tank. I went on my way a little confused, then on the evening news I heard a report that 1 out of 10 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 LITERS 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 $0.885 per liter; my dollar amount for 10 liters should have been $8.85 . I wish I had checked the pump. It doesn't matter where you pump gas, please check the 10 liter
price. If you do find a station that is cheating, contact the MTO, and direct your comments to the Commissioner, the info is on the gas pumps.
We need to put a stop to this outrageous cheating of customers. The gas companies are making enough profits at honest rates.
Al and Peggy
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Good advice .. know what your paying and know what your getting for what you paid
Wow - I am leaving in a few minutes to go shopping - - will test it. :-P
Wow - I guess I never really paid that close attention! I will from now on!
I never pay attention, but will now. That would make me hopping mad. Thanks for the tip.
Just one more thing, right?
Good Advice. I have a bad habit of never looking at my point of sale receipts at the market, stores, & the Gas Station. They just hand me the slip & I sign it. So if there are any discrepancies, it is my own fault. But this is food for thought. Thanks
Good information. I am going to watch the pump more.
Thanks for pointing this out -- gotta double check every single things these days don't we.
This is an absolute disgrace. Everyday it is something else. Thanks for the post Al & Peggy!
You might want to read more here...
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/cheating.asp
Hello! Do you all believe that you can detect cheating at the gas pumps so easily? The total amount for 10 liters can still be $8.85 in the above letter, but you could get less gas. To "rig" the gas pump, it needs to give less gas than it says it is giving. By charging more for the gas than the stated price, it is too easy to detect.
The paragraph from above is stating that more gas was shown to be pumped than was actually being pumped.
"When the pump showed 45 liters had been pumped, I began to slow it down. Then, to my surprise, it went to 50, then 55. I even looked under my truck to see if it was being spilled. It was not. Then it showed 60 liters on the pump. It stopped at 62 liters. This was very strange to me, since my truck has only a 65 liter tank. I went on my way a little confused, then on the evening news I heard a report that 1 out of 10 gas stations had calibrated their pumps to show more gas had been pumped than a person actually got."
So, my conclusion is that the 10 liter pump test will not show you that you are getting less gas than you paid for.
The real test would be to buy a gas container that has a known volume. One US gallon, 2 US gallons or 5 US gallons. Convert to liters by multiplying by 3.8. Then fill it up to see if it comes out to 3.8, or 7.6 or 19 liters.
Hi Joe, Bob & Carolin, Debra, Gene, Claudia, Andrea, Valerie, Billie & Eric:
We checked out: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/cheating.asp as Bob above suggested. You may want to as well. Maybe we should have before we posted. Also very good points by Joe Huard.
However, it is partly true and was an excellent reminder to watch our bills and receipts. It wouldn't be the first time errors have been made, innocent or otherwise.
Thanks all for visiting.
I received this email too, and quite frankly, I was shocked.
Shocked that people don't check their receipts each and every single time.
I check them, and to date, I have not had a 'bad' one. Hopefully that will continue. :)
Thank you for the great fortune (cookie). :)
Al & Peggy,
You have got to be kidding! Don't they have inspecors for this thing? One more thing to worry about.
Terry and Sylvie, we have got to admit, there have been times, we just sign the check and run. Not anymore!
My friends make fun of me because I'm been checking the 10-gallon price since 1977 when I bought my first car. At first I did it simply out of curiosity, but then, in 1979 with the gas shortage, it turns out that some pumps weren't exactly right.
I have my own personal gasoline attendant so I never have to worry about filling the car with gas or checking receipts -- LOL.
Can't believe your have to check something like this and its been going on since 79!!!!!
We are sooo jealous Jim! Bet you even get one of those fancy car washes and detailing done too right?