Held Hostage in Filling station for 25 Euro!

Paparazzo

Spudmonkey wrote: »

When I was working in a petrol station I had 50 quid take off me for drives offs, my girlfriend had about 200. This was written into our contract so it was within the owners rights to do this. Frankly it is no fun working a day for nothing.

I know a contract is void if some thing illegal is written in. Is this legal? I doubt it.

Jumpy

You cant legally be held.

Just leave. Get the money, then come back.

If they physically restrain you then happily sue.

If you leave and dont come back though, then you are a dorty thief.

xE

Although it was extreme, I suppose prevention is better than cure for them.

finnegan2010

Kimono-Girl wrote: »

*jumps off horse*

i wasn't referring to the actions of the staff,

i was refering to the fact the op said in his post he tried to use a card which the banks have issued many warnings and publications of, that stopped working last year,

***** Answered this I DIDNT ! And had no knowledge of it********

he also didn't know his laser pin, i havent worked in retail for over 2 years and before i left we were issued with a warning from our bank that if a card has a chip you HAVE to use the pin, no more signing for things,

****When did i say i didnt know my pin number? I asked could he put it through without the pin to see if it would make a difference i KNEW the pin. So get back on that high horse lol ****

the op was a fault for these reasons,





sorry op i thought you were using a regular bank card pre-chip, and had your new laser on you.

but yeah its always a good idea to check the atm first, and remember your pin!

Spudmonkey

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Is that legal? If someone fills up and then drives off without even coming into the shop how is it your fault?

We went to the citizens information board, didn't really know who else to go to, and they said if it was part of your contract then it was.

At the start they used use it more as a threat than anything else but after a spate of incidents, they started taking it from wages.

There was an unusual system in place in that shop, there were three tills, all with access to the main petrol till, however it was the person on "top" till who had responsibility. Even though anyone could release the pump.

Maybe we had a case but we didn't chase it any further.

Kimono-Girl

finnegan2010 wrote: »

The bank recently WITHOUT advising me cancelled my old ATM card, To replace it with a new style one.

see i saw this ^ as the old pre-chip ATM bank cards (you said old like :P)

finnegan2010 wrote: »

asked could he put Laser through without using the pin. He tried wouldnt work.

and this usually when people ask for the pin not to be used its because they don't know it. i took it that your card wasn't working,and you didn't know your new cards pin, not that they replaced your pin!

finnegan2010 wrote: »

yes i assumed and made an ass out of myself, but sure whats new....thats just me!

kiddums

You should have started crying OP.
No one knows how to deal with a crying adult.
/problem

mickydoomsux

What kind of a buffoon fills up their car with petrol when they don't actually possess any actual physical currency?

Could you not have used your head and tried to withdraw cash from the ATM before you put petrol in the car, OP?

FreudianSlippers

mickydoomsux wrote: »

What kind of a buffoon fills up their car with petrol when they don't actually possess any actual physical currency?

Could you not have used your head and tried to withdraw cash from the ATM before you put petrol in the car, OP?

Nobody should have to do this in 2011.

antodeco

jesusinaglanza wrote: »

Lies...this never happened..

Can you provide evidence that it didnt?

I can... I was there. It was me.

120_Minutes

The best thing I ever did was get a topaz fuel card. It's like a laser for petrol, and it's paid a month in arrears. So I can fill up to my hearts content if I'm broke and not have to worry bout it till payday.

carbsy

120_Minutes wrote: »

The best thing I ever did was get a topaz fuel card. It's like a laser for petrol, and it's paid a month in arrears. So I can fill up to my hearts content if I'm broke and not have to worry bout it till payday.

Only at Topaz stations, of course.Not much use if you're running low and not a Topaz in sight.

ilovefridays

Ali Babba wrote: »

You get people trying to pull scams everyday especially in filling stations, you wouldn't believe the stories, I worked in one many years ago and it opened my eyes to how devious people can be so sorry OP, i'm with the guy behind the counter, i've seen the kind of carry on and if the guy behind the till lets you off he or she has to make up the monies owed. (Can't believe you wouldn't carry twenty or thirty euros with you though.)

The OP was willing to leave his passport and driving licence with the garage and the reg no. of his car.

mickydoomsux

OisinT wrote: »

Nobody should have to do this in 2011.

Well Ireland hasn't quite reached 2011 yet. Anything even remotely related to commonplace technology is pretty much 50/50 in this country.

JohnathanM

mickydoomsux wrote: »

What kind of a buffoon fills up their car with petrol when they don't actually possess any actual physical currency?

Could you not have used your head and tried to withdraw cash from the ATM before you put petrol in the car, OP?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKYQ5ibxslI

Fighting Irish

OisinT wrote: »

Nobody should have to do this in 2011.

different matter all together

bom21

It happened to me in Lidl, scanned everything at the checkout and then realised the card was at home, not in my wallet.
I was mortified, told the girl the situation and said i don't live far be back soon. I went home and i was back in the store within 5 mins, only to see the girl twiddling her thumbs waiting and a line of about 20 people with red faces glaring at me. They didn't even open another till. I avoided eveyone's eye contact. Never again, I now always check before I go.

listermint

Fighting Irish wrote: »

different matter all together

Im sorry, no its really not.

Im paying through the nostrels for the convience of Credit Cards and Laser cards..


So move to this century mate. I ALWAYS pay for petrol with my card. Ive never ONCE had an issue.

If the credit / laser card machine is not working in the station, then the proprieter should put a sign indiviudally on every single pump. FACT. This gives me the cashless customer in 2011 an opportunity to walk away.

stovelid

finnegan2010 wrote: »

Ok Tongue in cheek with the hostage part;) but let me explain
!

Stopped reading here.

120_Minutes

carbsy wrote: »

Only at Topaz stations, of course.Not much use if you're running low and not a Topaz in sight.

Location app for my phone means that never happens.

pickarooney

It might if your phone runs low.

El Horseboxo

Happened me a few years ago at my local station. I filled up 20 euro and went in to pay. The fella behind the counter told me it was fake. I had a look at it and it was definitely a fake. I had just grabbed it outta my jeans and must have got it back in the pub the night before. I only had a few coins and no cards with me so i couldn't pay. Didn't have my phone either and since i live alone i'd no one to call and don't know mates numbers off hand. I told him i'd leave my driving license with him and he can write down my reg number and that i'd be back in less than 10 minutes. But he wouldn't accept that. I told the fella to call the Guards if he really feels like it and that i'm leaving my driving license with him and i'll be back. Another fella putting crisps on the shelf came over and tried to block the door but i just walked past him. You should have done something similiar OP. Me hole would i be staying somewhere for an hour.

Bigcheeze

120_Minutes wrote: »

The best thing I ever did was get a topaz fuel card. It's like a laser for petrol, and it's paid a month in arrears. So I can fill up to my hearts content if I'm broke and not have to worry bout it till payday.

Yeah I have one of those type things except mine is better because I can buy anything I want with it, not just Topaz petrol. It's called a credit card.

Fighting Irish

listermint wrote: »

Im sorry, no its really not.

Im paying through the nostrels for the convience of Credit Cards and Laser cards..


So move to this century mate. I ALWAYS pay for petrol with my card. Ive never ONCE had an issue.

If the credit / laser card machine is not working in the station, then the proprieter should put a sign indiviudally on every single pump. FACT. This gives me the cashless customer in 2011 an opportunity to walk away.

Yes but we all know that the system you talk about isn't in place, so for the OP, this whole situation is his own fault

Greenmachine

Something crucial is missing in this story. The Op tried to use the atm, but when unable to requested to use his laser without his pin. How did he use the atm in the first place, and did he seriously think someone would take a laser transaction without a pin.

finnegan2010

Ok for the last time

Laser in atm With CORRECT PIN (didnt work)
Laser in Machine at till with correct pin (didnt work)
Was saying card not valid
I asked what if it would work by BYPASSING the pin number i remember long ago i saw someone doing this in an off licence. I think the guy had forgot his pin number and so he signed a docket instead and he was able to bypass the pin. It was just an idea i had thats all, Alas didnt work. I think were all ok this thread has gone on long enough :eek:
Close thread please mods purty pleasee

AnonoBoy

finnegan2010 wrote: »

Ok for the last time

Laser in atm With CORRECT PIN (didnt work)
Laser in Machine at till with correct pin (didnt work)
Was saying card not valid
I asked what if it would work by BYPASSING the pin number i remember long ago i saw someone doing this in an off licence. I think the guy had forgot his pin number and so he signed a docket instead and he was able to bypass the pin. It was just an idea i had thats all, Alas didnt work. I think were all ok this thread has gone on long enough :eek:

When I realised that you weren't posting this from the filling station and were still being held hostage this thread lost all appeal for me.

cornbb

Ye're being a bit too hard on the OP. I always pay for petrol by Laser, I always check that I have my card on me before I start pumping but I think it would be a bit much to ring the bank and make sure it hasn't been cancelled every time...

Greenmachine

AnonoBoy wrote: »

When I realised that you weren't posting this from the filling station and were still being held hostage this thread lost all appeal for me.

Oooh I'd watch that. Can't understand people who refuse to carry cash. My ex used her laser for everything must have cost her a fortune in withdrawal and transaction fees.

Snakeblood

bom21 wrote: »

It happened to me in Lidl, scanned everything at the checkout and then realised the card was at home, not in my wallet.
I was mortified, told the girl the situation and said i don't live far be back soon. I went home and i was back in the store within 5 mins, only to see the girl twiddling her thumbs waiting and a line of about 20 people with red faces glaring at me. They didn't even open another till. I avoided eveyone's eye contact. Never again, I now always check before I go.

This does not speak highly of the Lidl staff.

AnonoBoy

bom21 wrote: »

It happened to me in Lidl, scanned everything at the checkout and then realised the card was at home, not in my wallet.
I was mortified, told the girl the situation and said i don't live far be back soon. I went home and i was back in the store within 5 mins, only to see the girl twiddling her thumbs waiting and a line of about 20 people with red faces glaring at me. They didn't even open another till. I avoided eveyone's eye contact. Never again, I now always check before I go.

I thought Lidl was cash only?

finnegan2010

In any event im not violent so after my brother settled my bill, i casually walked to the door but before bolting for the car...
I shouted back over my shoulder in a Computery Voice
"YA MAMA WAS A SNOW BLOWAAA" ALA Johnny 5 from the film Short Circuit. As we drove from the forcourt i could be seen to wave an Angry fist at my captives ! Case Closed.
What i Learned was allways have a few squid JUST IN CASE !

mikemac

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I thought Lidl was cash only?

Lidl is cash or debit card, they don't take credit cards

prinz

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I thought Lidl was cash only?

Cash and debit cards. Just no credit cards.

mickydoomsux

Yeah, Lidl require payment before you get your goods. What a novel idea.

The reason the checkout line was held up in the example was that the registers in Lidl have no "lay away" function (means they can't temporarily suspend a transaction to let other people off like other supermarkets can) so the choices are either pay and get out of the way or just leave without your goods.

They expect people to be competent enough at living their lives to actually have money, rather than just the promise of money, on them when they attempt to buy something.

keepkeyyellow

I miss my petrol station

This happened loooads of times to me but to be honest I just didn't care so I just took their reg put it on the receipt and left it there, barely anyone came back.

sdanseo

Spudmonkey wrote: »

When I was working in a petrol station I had 50 quid take off me for drives offs, my girlfriend had about 200. This was written into our contract so it was within the owners rights to do this. Frankly it is no fun working a day for nothing.

I would never, ever take a job with that sort of a contract. That's absurd.

MagicMarker wrote: »

You're at fault OP, before I got a laser card I never put petrol in a car without having the cash in my hand, I always went to the ATM first just in case it didn't work, which has happened on numerous occasions.

While I think the guys in the shop could have been a little understanding, it's not really their problem, is it?

The OP had a laser card - the issue was not that the ATM didn't work, but that the card had been cancelled without his knowledge. Unreasonable to expect him to anticipate that to be fair.

I had a card referred (station had to ring the bank) the other week, right before christmas, shop insisted on noting down the number, expiry, CVV - I cancelled the card because I let slip there was plenty of cash (that I had just been paid). Paranoid, but they wrote down the numbers and could easily have used them online.

Copper23

listermint wrote: »

Jump down of that horse there, must be superb up there at your lofty heights. Not everyone can be as clean and crisp as you.

Normal people pay by lazer everyday, or withdraw cash from the machines in the station.

The Staff here were unreasonable to the point of being stupid. Frankly if a guard was called im sure they would have laughed too.

Do you comprehend how much an irish passport is worth on the blackmarket. Why the hell would anyone willingly leave it in a fuel station for 25 quid of petrol unless they intend to come back :rolleyes:

Bang on! It was a mistake. Who hasn't made a mistake.
I can see the point the guy at the station was trying to make but the OP was being reasonable enough, it was easy to sort out.

The OP's card was cancelled and wasn't aware of it. They said nothing about being informed of it, infact they said they WEREN'T informed of it. Sorry we can't all be as morraly perfect as some :rolleyes: People make mistakes, get over it.

Father Damo

cackhanded wrote: »

He sounds like a right jobsworth

Or a foreigner. Seriously, the tightness of service staff and taxi drivers in Ireland has gone nuts.

And if you think thats racist, you are an idiot.

suitseir

Greenmachine wrote: »

Something crucial is missing in this story. The Op tried to use the atm, but when unable to requested to use his laser without his pin. How did he use the atm in the first place, and did he seriously think someone would take a laser transaction without a pin.

Take it from someone who knows, yes, you can use card(s) without pin!

OP were the attendants Irish?

markpb

Greenmachine wrote: »

Oooh I'd watch that. Can't understand people who refuse to carry cash. My ex used her laser for everything must have cost her a fortune in withdrawal and transaction fees.

Most banks don't charge transaction fees on debit or credit card transactions. In fact, BoI and AIB waive all banking fees if you do at least one debit transaction per quarter. FWIW I don't use cash either unless I know I have to. I don't psy a penny in transaction fees except for the government levy.

Amhran Nua

Ali Babba wrote: »

if the guy behind the till lets you off he or she has to make up the monies owed.

I've heard about this practise before, and I'm fairly sure its illegal.

Jumpy

mickydoomsux wrote: »

Yeah, Lidl require payment before you get your goods. What a novel idea.

The reason the checkout line was held up in the example was that the registers in Lidl have no "lay away" function (means they can't temporarily suspend a transaction to let other people off like other supermarkets can) so the choices are either pay and get out of the way or just leave without your goods.

They expect people to be competent enough at living their lives to actually have money, rather than just the promise of money, on them when they attempt to buy something.

Yes, but they do have a "cancel" option.

Waiting for the person to return is simply stupid.

skyhighflyer

I worked in a petrol station for years, and to be fair we would never have held someone there if there was a genuine mistake and they couldn't pay.

You do become a good character judge over time though.

I've let someone off on a €60 fill on the stength of a business card and phone number because the lady looked legit. Sure enough, cheque in the post two days later.

On the other hand, I've refused to let dodgy people off with a tenner without a passport / driver's licence being left in.

It's very strange that they kept you there though. As you say, nobody parts with a passport that would cost €80 to renew for the sake of 25 quid. And my thinking was that anyone who was really intent on not paying would have just driven off anyway, so if someone came in and explained to me that the ATM wasn't working I'd probaby have accepted it.

Conar

markpb wrote: »

Most banks don't charge transaction fees on debit or credit card transactions. In fact, BoI and AIB waive all banking fees if you do at least one debit transaction per quarter. FWIW I don't use cash either unless I know I have to. I don't psy a penny in transaction fees except for the government levy.

Exactly! I haven't paid transaction fee's in years and always pay for stuff with plastic.
Cash is a pain in the ass as you need to make sure you have enough and get sh&tty change to jangle in your pocket.

OP made an honest mistake so I can't see why people are giving him grief.
If anyone is a fool its the people that like to make 2 trips any time they need to do anything...1 visit to a bank machine and another to the place they want to spend money ?????

johnmcdnl

why can't they - sur ya didn't pay the bill sur

finnegan2010

suitseir wrote: »

Take it from someone who knows, yes, you can use card(s) without pin!

OP were the attendants Irish?

the attendents appeared to be from eastern european
never mentioned this fact as i didnt want to turn it into a race issue !

markpb

johnmcdnl wrote: »

why can't they - sur ya didn't pay the bill sur

If they had physically restrained the OP or stopped him leaving, it would be illegal imprisonment and they'd have a very hard time defending themselves in court. If they believed he was going to leave, they could call the Gardai and ask to have him arrested on a charge of theft.

listermint

Fighting Irish wrote: »

Yes but we all know that the system you talk about isn't in place, so for the OP, this whole situation is his own fault

Sorry I just read your ridiculous comment there, Em tbh i dont know of ANY petrol station that does not have a laser/credit card terminal build into till or seperate behind the counter. So YES the system i described is in place.

In fact I used to install POS terminals for a living, even the ****est stations in the middle of no where have them all that is required is phone line. So im slightly lost as to what you are talking about

Blitzkrieger

TBH OP, I sympatise with the staff. You claim to own a small business and you're short of 25 cash (I know, it can happen), you've only one laser card that doesn't work and you make no mention of a credit card? Then you offer to leave your passport as secuity? Who carries around their passport? You could have looked well dodgy in those circumstances. You may have be going there for 10 years but you can't assume the current staff will recognise you.

That said, I think their behaviour was a bit OTT. I'd have given them the business card, said "Call the ****ing Gardai if you like" and gone and got the money. I wouldn't have waited around like a plank for an hour. I definitely wouldn't be going back either.



Sometimes I love small town Ireland. I once put 40 punts worth of petrol into my car before realising I only had 20 in my wallet in my local petrol station. Told the guy running the till and was going to offer to give him the keys while I walked home to get the money, when he told me to just bring it down next time. I was able to just drive home and get it. Had a similar experience with 60 euros worth of shopping in the local centra recently. I was distracted talking to someone and it took me a while to figure out which pocket my wallet was in so the cashier thought I had forgotten it.

pickarooney wrote: »

Silly stone age country. Just install card readers on the pumps so you can pay before you fill up. No need to go anywhere near the oiks at the desk then.

I'd love that. Just put in the card, key in how much you want and leave it pump away. Ridiculous that we can't do this in 2011 :rolleyes: