Are you being fleeced?
Discussion
Does anyone actually pay attention to where you buy your petrol and what you get for your money?
I've been doing a little study for myself about fuel consumption and have found that several petrol stations out of the many that I have visited this year, some have been more than a little off in terms of the amount of fuel you get for the money you pay.
Obviously, it's one of those purchases where you expect everything to be fine and you never scrutinise it, but when you're spending close to £100 per fill-up, it literally pays to look a little deeper.
I appreciate that there can be variances in the equipment for various reasons and that some operators are under pressure to maximise sales but when you advertise prices ~2ppl lower than all local stations (ensuring maximum interest) and are found to be up to +3pp/l out - consistently - it's all a bit of a piss-take, isn't it?.
I've been doing a little study for myself about fuel consumption and have found that several petrol stations out of the many that I have visited this year, some have been more than a little off in terms of the amount of fuel you get for the money you pay.
Obviously, it's one of those purchases where you expect everything to be fine and you never scrutinise it, but when you're spending close to £100 per fill-up, it literally pays to look a little deeper.
I appreciate that there can be variances in the equipment for various reasons and that some operators are under pressure to maximise sales but when you advertise prices ~2ppl lower than all local stations (ensuring maximum interest) and are found to be up to +3pp/l out - consistently - it's all a bit of a piss-take, isn't it?.
Are you saying that the measurement of fuel is out, or that the big signs outside don't match the little signs on the pump as regards pence per litre?
If its the former, I'd be dubious that that's the case - they are calibrated quite often IIRC.
If the latter, I do make a point of reading the price before filling up. Mostly because I've accidentally filled a Cayenne up with Super before, and that was a rude shock.
If its the former, I'd be dubious that that's the case - they are calibrated quite often IIRC.
If the latter, I do make a point of reading the price before filling up. Mostly because I've accidentally filled a Cayenne up with Super before, and that was a rude shock.
liquidken said:
The advertised price for example is £1.32pl. The price on the individual pump states the same figure but it delivers 59.74l of fuel which should equate to £79.39. Instead, you get charged £81.17
f
k my maths brain can't work those out!How did you notice? Are you rainman or did you get suspicious and get the calculator out?
Considering checking next time I fill up.
liquidken said:
The advertised price for example is £1.32pl. The price on the individual pump states the same figure but it delivers 59.74l of fuel which should equate to £79.39. Instead, you get charged £81.17
if this is true, then take photo as evidence and report to trading standards. It's not legal, and I'd be surprised if it was happening - but if you can evidence it, then do report it..I'm a maths mong. However, it's easy to work out.
The only reason I investigated was due to me wanting to know my real world fuel consumption (comapred to my OBC) as my commute has increased sizeably.
I wanted to make sure I was getting a decent return or could improve it as much as possible as petrol to get me to work is petrol wasted in my eyes. Especially when it's over a £320 a month spend at present. As it turns out, some stations aren't playing by the rules!
The only reason I investigated was due to me wanting to know my real world fuel consumption (comapred to my OBC) as my commute has increased sizeably.
I wanted to make sure I was getting a decent return or could improve it as much as possible as petrol to get me to work is petrol wasted in my eyes. Especially when it's over a £320 a month spend at present. As it turns out, some stations aren't playing by the rules!
liquidken said:
I'm a maths mong. However, it's easy to work out.
The only reason I investigated was due to me wanting to know my real world fuel consumption (comapred to my OBC) as my commute has increased sizeably.
I wanted to make sure I was getting a decent return or could improve it as much as possible as petrol to get me to work is petrol wasted in my eyes. Especially when it's over a £320 a month spend at present. As it turns out, some stations aren't playing by the rules!
Understood, but what made you check the price?The only reason I investigated was due to me wanting to know my real world fuel consumption (comapred to my OBC) as my commute has increased sizeably.
I wanted to make sure I was getting a decent return or could improve it as much as possible as petrol to get me to work is petrol wasted in my eyes. Especially when it's over a £320 a month spend at present. As it turns out, some stations aren't playing by the rules!
I get checking mileage and such, you need to know how many miles you have done and how much fuel you've put in. But when did it occur to you that the maths might be out on the pump?
I'm not trying to be funny, it's just I can't understand why you'd do it, (I mean it's been a good thing if you can prove it and get your money back) did you end up getting different economy figures from different petrol stations? Or where you working out £ per mile as opposed to MPG?
freecar said:
Understood, but what made you check the price?
I get checking mileage and such, you need to know how many miles you have done and how much fuel you've put in. But when did it occur to you that the maths might be out on the pump?
I'm not trying to be funny, it's just I can't understand why you'd do it, (I mean it's been a good thing if you can prove it and get your money back) did you end up getting different economy figures from different petrol stations? Or where you working out £ per mile as opposed to MPG?
If you use something like fuelly to track your MPG you'd notice it pretty quickly, as it'll do the maths for you - if the numbers don't match, then there's a discrepancy either in your entry, or in the receipt.I get checking mileage and such, you need to know how many miles you have done and how much fuel you've put in. But when did it occur to you that the maths might be out on the pump?
I'm not trying to be funny, it's just I can't understand why you'd do it, (I mean it's been a good thing if you can prove it and get your money back) did you end up getting different economy figures from different petrol stations? Or where you working out £ per mile as opposed to MPG?
I use Excel to track my fuel, and the way the part relevant to this works is thus: I enter the amount of fuel I put in, and the price per litre as advertised (because it's interesting/sickening to also track the price of the fuel over time, not just the amount I'm using). This is then automatically used to calculate the amount I paid.
That figure has never, ever been wrong against the one on my receipt.
So, what, you're grabbing the Super pump and being charged (as in your example there) 135.9p rather than 132.9p as you'd have seen for Regular on the sign?
That figure has never, ever been wrong against the one on my receipt.
So, what, you're grabbing the Super pump and being charged (as in your example there) 135.9p rather than 132.9p as you'd have seen for Regular on the sign?
freecar said:
Understood, but what made you check the price?
I get checking mileage and such, you need to know how many miles you have done and how much fuel you've put in. But when did it occur to you that the maths might be out on the pump?
I'm not trying to be funny, it's just I can't understand why you'd do it, (I mean it's been a good thing if you can prove it and get your money back) did you end up getting different economy figures from different petrol stations? Or where you working out £ per mile as opposed to MPG?
I put a formula into Excel (before I started using an app on my phone) so it showed the disrcrepancy. I get checking mileage and such, you need to know how many miles you have done and how much fuel you've put in. But when did it occur to you that the maths might be out on the pump?
I'm not trying to be funny, it's just I can't understand why you'd do it, (I mean it's been a good thing if you can prove it and get your money back) did you end up getting different economy figures from different petrol stations? Or where you working out £ per mile as opposed to MPG?
McSam said:
So, what, you're grabbing the Super pump and being charged (as in your example there) 135.9p rather than 132.9p as you'd have seen for Regular on the sign?
The pump had diesel and unleaded only.The only reason I mention it is that it clearly very easy to pull the wool over peoples eyes. Everyone takes it for granted that you get what you pay for. Whilst it's not a huge amount of money (although it obviously builds up over the year) it's the principle of it that galls me the most.
The big garages (Shell, BP etc) have always been perfect. It's the small indie stations that
I don't have a 0.233p coin.liquidken said:
The pump had diesel and unleaded only.
The only reason I mention it is that it clearly very easy to pull the wool over peoples eyes. Everyone takes it for granted that you get what you pay for. Whilst it's not a huge amount of money (although it obviously builds up over the year) it's the principle of it that galls me the most.
The big garages (Shell, BP etc) have always been perfect. It's the small indie stations that
It's interesting. Are you saying that the pump itself had a different price per litre showing at the time you were drawing fuel to the one that was advertised? That's just unfortunate and you could probably get them to give you the price on the big forecourt board.The only reason I mention it is that it clearly very easy to pull the wool over peoples eyes. Everyone takes it for granted that you get what you pay for. Whilst it's not a huge amount of money (although it obviously builds up over the year) it's the principle of it that galls me the most.
The big garages (Shell, BP etc) have always been perfect. It's the small indie stations that
Or are you saying that multiplying the price per litre that was showing on the pump at the time you were drawing fuel by the amount of fuel on the pump readout does not actually equal the amount you're asked to pay? Because if so, that's quite incredible and obviously illegal, and as has been said, a photo to Trading Standards or just into the kiosk should be more than enough to get it sorted.
How confusing, obviously the OP has made an app that he wants us to download.
But seriously amazed if this is the case.
Having said that I complained to Trading stds about one local station. I went in with the Mrs car on just over quarter full, and managed to put 3 ltrs more than the full tank capacity in. Garage didn't want to know and in fact were quite rude in response to a polite enquiry.
Trading standards took a month to follow up and of course by then everything was hunky dory.
Still convinced something went wrong on that pump that day despite it showing zero when started pumping.
But seriously amazed if this is the case.
Having said that I complained to Trading stds about one local station. I went in with the Mrs car on just over quarter full, and managed to put 3 ltrs more than the full tank capacity in. Garage didn't want to know and in fact were quite rude in response to a polite enquiry.
Trading standards took a month to follow up and of course by then everything was hunky dory.
Still convinced something went wrong on that pump that day despite it showing zero when started pumping.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff