Pre-pay petrol stations

**Pogo2** · 23rd October 2006, 13:09

Dont you just hate it. You pull into a service station and the pump says pre pay. You walk up to the counter and perhaps wait until people to be served. When you get to the counter and say that you want to fill up the attendant says go ahead (without pre paying) What a waste of time.

What cant service stations only use pre pay at night or something.

Possibly done to eliminate "drive offs" but a pain for us law abiding citizens.

Does anyone else find this to be a pain in the bum or is it just me. Next time I'll think I'll have a word to the attendant about their stupid signs!

**Sniper** · 23rd October 2006, 13:11

I just start filling and only go in if the pump doesnt work and ask for them to turn it on. No point in chatting to the attendant, they arent the ones who put the signs up, they just do their job.

**Highlander** · 23rd October 2006, 13:22

Generally refuse to pre pay my fuel (cell phone is different). I want to fill, not have a guess at how much it needs.

Last one I pulled up in I picked up the hose looked at the atendant and pointed to my tank. When he nodded I filled up then went in and paid.

**crashe** · 23rd October 2006, 13:29

Mobil is prepay 24/7 which is a pain in the butt... cos of the people driving off and not paying.

Shell refuse to unlock the pumps after 10pm

I tend to usually go to BP....

If I have to refuel when they have gone over to prepay (after 10pm)
I try to get the guy/gal behind the counters attention and signal to unlock the pump...

Most will do it... occassionally they will refuse.
Even after explaining that bikes dont just take $10 or $20 worth of gas as it does depend on how much fuel in in the tank.
Most are very good........

I had a dude at a mobil refuse point blank at 9.55pm..... lucky for me I was staying just up the road for that night. Next morning I went in... they apologised for the newbie attendant on the night before..
That newbie was obeying the memo sent out to the letter... hadnt learnt about bike riders and the size of there tanks... guess he knows now.

Another Mobil and I was trying to get the pump to work (daytime). It wouldnt start to let the fuel out cos the attendent hadnt released it from the last person using it.... damn frustrating to have to walk all the way in to tell them to unlock it....... I got a huge apology from them and a FREE hot chocolate.

**Titanium** · 23rd October 2006, 14:06

Never had a problem, either in the cage or the bike .......

Just get the petrol guys attention and the liquid flows out .....

Must be what I ride / drive ...

**Devil** · 23rd October 2006, 15:12

Originally Posted by crashe

Mobil is prepay 24/7 which is a pain in the butt... cos of the people driving off and not paying.

Must just be the ones you go to :P I rarely see them on prepay. Only at night or for the pumps furthest from the Shop.

I always go to mobil because of eftpos at pump. No forking around, dont hvae to worry even if it is on pre-pay you still get to fill the tank and dont have to take your helmet off.

**notme** · 23rd October 2006, 15:21

Luckily for me, i have Shell and BP fuel cards. If pumps are on prepay, simply holding up the fuelcard so they can see always (so far) gets it unlocked.

**Karma** · 23rd October 2006, 15:26

Originally Posted by Devil

Must just be the ones you go to :P I rarely see them on prepay. Only at night or for the pumps furthest from the Shop.

I always go to mobil because of eftpos at pump. No forking around, dont hvae to worry even if it is on pre-pay you still get to fill the tank and dont have to take your helmet off.

Yeh, pay at pump is good stuff, plus my bike seems to like their 98 octane stuff they've got, so Mobils good enough for me,

**Wenier** · 23rd October 2006, 15:44

Yea never had a problem with gettin it unlocked. But then i haven't found one that is locked during the day.

And go the 98 it good shit. Whats happening weasel nice to see ya upgraded.

**Big Dog** · 23rd October 2006, 15:49

Originally Posted by Pogo2

Dont you just hate it. You pull into a service station and the pump says pre pay. You walk up to the counter and perhaps wait until people to be served. When you get to the counter and say that you want to fill up the attendant says go ahead (without pre paying) What a waste of time.

What cant service stations only use pre pay at night or something.

Possibly done to eliminate "drive offs" but a pain for us law abiding citizens.

Does anyone else find this to be a pain in the bum or is it just me. Next time I'll think I'll have a word to the attendant about their stupid signs!

The attendants do have the ability to overide the prepay and will do so if you ask to fill.
Most attendants will do this if you wave (or otherwise get their attention) while they can read your license plate.
Keep in mind they are just doing their job and do get in trouble if there are too many drive offs.

If you want to be annoyed by this security measure be annoyed at the people who drive off without paying deliberately.

**Highlander** · 23rd October 2006, 15:59

Originally Posted by Big Dog

If you want to be annoyed by this security measure be annoyed at the people who drive off without paying deliberately.

The annoying part is being treated like a crim. What hapened to innocent until proven guilty?

**thehollowmen** · 23rd October 2006, 16:00

If it is prepay, and they don't have a nightpay window so I can keep my gear on, I'll just head to another station.

Quite frankly I can't be arsed pissing around and being treated like a criminal.

**scracha** · 23rd October 2006, 16:37

You've gotta see it from their point of view though. The attendants are just doing their jobs. The garage owners probably make less than $1 on 50 bucks worth off gogo juice (most make more from the shop side these days) so a drive-off really hits them where it hurts. I prefer the credit card fed pumps myself. 24/7 and don't even need to get off the bike.

**sunhuntin** · 23rd October 2006, 16:39

i finish work at 7pm...my boss is trying to get prepay used after that time, when there is only one staff member on. if there are too many drive offs attributed to one staff member, then it comes out of their pay...same with cheques that bounce [if the person isnt on our cheque list]

i can understand why stations do it, i only go to bp, and the sites here in town all know me [staff member] i try and make sure i top up during the day.