Refused fuel because the car was facing the "wrong" way

[steveindenmark]

Another biker here, and this one is a pet hate of mine. Why is it necessary? I have questioned it in the past and been told:
"It's for staff safety, you might be here to rob us!". So if I WAS a robber, would you asking me to remove my helmet make any difference? Ehhh....... No!
"We need to be sure you are over 16 years old before we can dispense fuel to you". Yet in all the years this has been happening to me, it has NEVER stopped them actually dispensing fuel; the problem only ever arises when I go to pay for it. So my response to that is "Well you have already dispensed the fuel, so do you want to take the payment or not?"

I have heard it said that it is no big deal to remove a bike helmet so why not just do it for the sake of compliance? On a nice dry, mild day that might be the case. But sometimes that's not the case and it's not just the helmet. There might also be glasses to remove (for me), a balaclava in winter (which can be a real faff to get back on just right), and ear plugs. And in wet weather it is much more convenient to keep your head dry rather than put your helmet back on to a damp head.

I wonder if they ask drivers from certain religious backgrounds to remove face coverings for the same reasons? No, I didn't think so.

I think sometimes people either like to be right all the time or just like to be difficult. If you came to my house, I would ask you to remove your shoes. Would you try and argue the point

Another biker here, and this one is a pet hate of mine. Why is it necessary? I have questioned it in the past and been told:
"It's for staff safety, you might be here to rob us!". So if I WAS a robber, would you asking me to remove my helmet make any difference? Ehhh....... No!
"We need to be sure you are over 16 years old before we can dispense fuel to you". Yet in all the years this has been happening to me, it has NEVER stopped them actually dispensing fuel; the problem only ever arises when I go to pay for it. So my response to that is "Well you have already dispensed the fuel, so do you want to take the payment or not?"

I have heard it said that it is no big deal to remove a bike helmet so why not just do it for the sake of compliance? On a nice dry, mild day that might be the case. But sometimes that's not the case and it's not just the helmet. There might also be glasses to remove (for me), a balaclava in winter (which can be a real faff to get back on just right), and ear plugs. And in wet weather it is much more convenient to keep your head dry rather than put your helmet back on to a damp head.

I wonder if they ask drivers from certain religious backgrounds to remove face coverings for the same reasons? No, I didn't think so.

All over mainland Europ

Could be that I suppose; although realistically I don't think in would make any difference. Other than the location of the entrance and exit there's nothing that would stop me escaping (either the wrong way out of the entrance or round the other vehicles / pumps and out of the exit).

I did wonder if it's a security thing; both plates are attached, legible and presumably visible to the same cameras that can see the plates on the opposite ends of other vehicles..



I question it because it requires me to expend more time and effort to comply with a demand that seems both pointless and absurd.

Why would I waste even more of time and energy in walking inside the building and queueing for the privilege of inviting confrontation with someone who's already busy serving others?

What would be the likely outcome of that scenario and would that be a positive, productive use of time and energy for myself, the staff and those waiting to be served?

You seemingly approach my position as if I'm the one somehow being unreasonable and reacting disproportionately, yet go on to apparently castagate me for not escalating the situation by engaging with the staff..



Thanks - glad to find someone who shares my perspective



Yeah, under other circumstances I might have done the same, but have often turned the car around in the past to get better access without a second thought.

Seems totally intuitive - a pump's free; use it in the most whatever way is convenient as long as it's not problematic to others. It's not like I was trying to get one over on anyone else or game the system..



Because when parking in a similar position to where I would were the pump on the other side (i.e. car about level with the pump) stretching the hose over the car invariable ends up with it dragging over the roof / boot - something presumably as someone who likes their vehicles you can understand is far from desirable..?

The alternative is either to use my spare arm to pull the hose away from the vehicle (which is clumsy, uncomfortable and tiring by the time the tank's full) or shunt the car much further forward, resulting in the nose hanging out beyond the end of the pump.

Hardly ideal outcomes, no...?



Nope, I'm yet to become that vacuous.

In through the entrance, round the pumps to face the desired direction then when I left reversed out and left through the exit.



As with everything in life I'm very happy to comply with rules that are clearly for the greater good; however have issues with "because I told you so". A drop in the ocean but that's about a grand annually in lost revenue for BP.

Its pointless and absurd because you do not know the reason behind it. How much energy would you expend walking into a petrol station? Why would it be a confrontation?

There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation.

 

[Brandane]

I think sometimes people either like to be right all the time or just like to be difficult. If you came to my house, I would ask you to remove your shoes. Would you try and argue the point

Having been in that situation before, I would decline your invitation, and quietly wonder to myself why anyone would be so precious about their house. I would never consider light coloured floor coverings for that very reason. It's a house, and I want to be able to wear my shoes indoors. Each to their own, of course, but not for me. And I don't like wandering around ANYWHERE, be it my house or others, without shoes.

 

[albion]

I seem to be stating the obvious. It is a health and safety thing.
If it was an, at the ready pump, then the driver has the discretion.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Having been in that situation before, I would decline your invitation, and quietly wonder to myself why anyone would be so precious about their house. I would never consider light coloured floor coverings for that very reason. It's a house, and I want to be able to wear my shoes indoors. Each to their own, of course, but not for me. And I don't like wandering around ANYWHERE, be it my house or others, without shoes.

I would always comply with this unless I had a good reason not to

e.g. my Dad was disabled and needed the irons on his legs that attached to his shoes
which was why our house was a "shoes allowed" house

but if someone else had a "shoes off" house then I would comply

 

[Electric_Andy]

I would ask you to remove your shoes. Would you try and argue the point

I would argue the point if you said "can you remove your shoes because we think you'll rob us and run away". Which is effectively what the petrol stations are saying about all people with helmets and face coverings

 

[Bristolian]

I almost always take my helmet off when fuelling the bike but then again I only ride it in the summer so adverse weather isn't normally an issue and I don't wear a balaclava underneath. It's just one of those things I've always done.

In the car, I just pull up to the next available pump no matter which side it's on. I've yet to find one where I can't get the hose to reach across the back of the car - an E-Class Merc so not a small city car.

What gets me is watching people get out of their cars and not knowing which side the filler cap is on. So many drivers appear to be ignorant of the fact that there is a little arrow on the fuel gauge that points to the filler cap side - they've been common fittings for at least 30 years.

 

[Gunk]

A few days ago I stopped at the usual BP petrol station to refuel. Being busy all of the pumps on the passenger side (where my filler is located) as you drive in were taken, so I drove around them, approached from the other side and pulled up to one of the free pumps which was now on my passenger side since I was facing the opposite direction.

There I waited, nozzle in hand trying to achieve eye contact with the staff in the kiosk as they can sometimes be slow to OK fuel delivery. Eventually one notices but instead of turning on the pump asks over the loudspeaker "can you turn your vehicle around please?" being unable to communicate with them verbally I raise my hands as to question their request. They simply repeat it with no further explanation, so I return the nozzle, get in the car, turn it around and drive to the Shell garage on the other side of the road.

This is the first time I've been subjected to such a request in nearly 30yrs of driving - has anyone else experienced similar?

Frasers on the A44?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I bet they thought you planned on doing a 'runner'

It would be easier if there was less distance to cover, returning hose and getting back in drivers seat.

 

[DaveReading]

I bet they thought you planned on doing a 'runner'

In reverse.

 

[raleighnut]

I think sometimes people either like to be right all the time or just like to be difficult. If you came to my house, I would ask you to remove your shoes. Would you try and argue the point

I know some people who if they took their shoes off you would want them to put them back on ASAP,

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I know some people who if they took their shoes off you would want them to put them back on ASAP,

My Dad was a Chiropodist
He was OK with socks - but very much against bare feet due to transfer of nasty things

I grew up always wearing something as he was disabled and couldn;t feel his feet
and as he had to wear solid shoes it was very easy for him to accidentally step on you foot
so I learned to always wear shoes/slippers

 

[Time Waster]

So this thread has turned into bikers thinking they can do what they want!

Just like on the roads (lived, cycled and drove near devil's bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale so I'm used to speeding bikers on the wrong side of blind bends, with "think bike" signs before virtually every big bend). I trust those complaining about obeying the petrol station rules don't ride their bike contrary to the regulations that apply to be road users.

Btw part of me thinks the balaclava, glasses, helmet thing is a you problem. The station requires you to take the helmet off, what you have to do to comply isn't their problem.

 

[a.twiddler]

Aah for the good old days when a petrol pump attendant would save you all that bother!

Fuel fillers were in some strange places when I was a petrol pump attendant in the school hols at the age of 16, and petrol was 3 shillings and sixpence a gallon.

Some Fords would have them under the rear number plate, which folded down. Some Jaguar models had one each side. Hillman Minxes had them on the rear panel next to the number plate, like several other badge engineered cars like Humbers. I remember one car having a filler cap hidden under the offside rear light reflector. The Hillman Imp, as I recall, had it under the bonnet, which had me scratching my head for a bit. Things like Wartburgs would turn up where you had to be sure to get the oil and petrol mix right, being a two stroke.

Most drivers knew something about their cars then. It seems amazing that modern drivers don't know which side their filler cap is, when they must be forever accessing them to fill up.

 

[midlife]

Fuel filler cap side is on the fuel gauge in the dash. There is a helpful arrow.

 

[Time Waster]

I think there's also the forgetfulness side to filler cap location. If you've got more than one vehicle they could have the cap on the wrong side. If you're mostly not using your motor vehicle your could forget which vehicle has the left cap and which the right. The more cars the more likely you find the cap on the wrong side.

I know people will a lot of motor vehicles and with the dash arrow often being very discrete and that if you even knew about it there's still a good chance you pull up on the wrong side.

Personally I've done it with new to me cars which is another way you see this happen. So to be amazed at this must make you feel so superior in your little minds. Jeez it's no big deal doing it so why so many ridiculing it? Why not ridicule the OP for deliberately doing so at least of it's a mistake there's an excuse for it.