Beware Fuel scam

[Don East Stand]

Hi

Tonight I decided to fill up my jeep with diesel, one less thing to worry about over songkran.

I pulled into the garage and rolled down my window to ask them to fill it up with diesel. This was acknowledged and I put my window back up and waited.

It might have been during a shift changeover, it was just after 6pm, but nothing happened for a good few minutes. Mai pen rai

Eventually I was aware of an attendant at the pump, and I could see the dials starting to move. I always make a point of stopping so that I can see the dials on the pump. It all seemed a bit stop start, and I realised they were not filling up my jeep, it must have been a jerry can or something similar. When the dial reached 120 THB it stopped, and everything went quiet for another minute or so.

Eventually another attendant appeared, and started to fill up my jeep with diesel, but they had not reset the dial! I rolled down my window to tell them, but they made out as if I was asking for a receipt.

Normally my tank will take around 2000 THB if below empty, although on this occasion it was showing just under a quarter of a tank left.

So when they filled up my tank and it had reached 1910 THB my suspicions were well and truly confirmed. They were trying to con a daft old farang. Well, I'm sorry, but my Scottish up bringing came out, it's not so much the 120 THB but the principle!

They asked me for the 1910 THB, but in my best Thai I told them, "No way, the dial was at 120 when they started" They retreated into the, "Sorry I don't understand you" defence. I insisted that I would only pay the 1790 THB that had actually been put in my tank. The discussions ensued for a few minutes, and I heard the cashier tell the dispenser that the farang can speak and understand Thai, I was well chuffed!

Eventually the dispenser reached into her pocket and lo and behold she had exactly 120 THB which she handed to the cashier before slinking off. I eventually was asked for the correct amount of 1790 THB, which I paid.

I know it might not have been very nice, but I made a point of asking the old cheat, where was my bottle of water that I normally receive. She grudgingly gave me one bottle. When I asked why I did not get two bottles, she replied that it was only on purchases over 1800 THB. I did not want her losing too much face by pointing out that the dial showed 1910 THB

Anyway, beware, it could happen in any garage!! I guess they reckon that some daft old farangs might not notice a hundred baht here or there when they are filling up their jeep!

[MrPlum]

Have never noticed any shenanigans, which probably means they succeeded in pulling off the heist!

[sateeb]

Which garage Don?

[bonnielass]

During a recent visit to HH, I am 99% sure I was ripped off in a small side street petrol station.

There was a already a young guy filling my car, when suddenly an older man appeared and went to the opposite side of the petrol pump being used. He removed the panel from the pump and was fiddling around but I couldn't see what we has doing and I wasn't really paying much attention. What actually tipped me off, was the look on the face of a Thai girl on a motorcycle waiting to be served - she was incredulous and almost embarrassed about the whole thing.

As it was a hire car, I wasn't sure of what my fuel bill should have been. And as a Farang woman on my own I was not about to challenge the man. But he was definitely up to no good.

Won't be using that place again.

BL

[Don East Stand]

Which garage Don?

Hi sateeb,

It was actually the Esso garage (i.e. Tesco) on Phetchkasem road near to the traffic lights at Chomsin Road.

I have been using them for over 5 years, and I don't think I've ever had a problem before, well apart from one occasion when they tried to do me out of 10 baht change! No chance with a Scotsman though

I'll still use this garage, because as I said in my OP it could easily happen in any garage, unless you're on your guard.

Take care out there, and I hope everyone has a very good and safe Songkran

[sateeb]

Cheers Don..Thanks for the heads up.

[usual suspect]

They can be very clever these attendants..you pop your filler cap, & by the time you've looked over your shoulder at them they already have the nozzle in and the pump is running..BUT what they ARE doing on many occasions is putting their (albeit small) bodies between you and the pump readout when the process starts..so yes indeed Don..IF you've let your truck roll-on so that the filler is nicely in line with the pump..it's putting you in your seat quite a way forward...and you never get to see if the attendant zero'd the clock or not.
(Then have you noticed how once the pump is running they ALWAYS walk away to the booth, & only come back when the nozzle trips-out..?? (Are they making sure the cashier has marked down the original clock-reading..that's being creamed off you..??).
So drivers, pull up short, so your in line with the pump-clock..their hose is well long enuf to go back 2 m.
Check that she/he zero's the dial 1st..you'll be near enuf..stay alert..even if that 5mins off the road seems like a rest-bite.

[PeteC]

I can remember from my self serve pumping days back home that when you raise the lever to start the pump the registers, both quantity and cost, automatically go back to zero. I'll have to look closely here to see if the same, or some places have disabled the function. Pete