The other day, my brother called me and frantically asked me, “How do I know if the gas pump is actually giving me all the gas it is charging me for?” Many people wonder the same question when it now takes somewhere between $40 and $80 to fill up your vehicle with gasoline. You can look and see if your gas gauge reads Full, but did that gas pump really give you all the gasoline that you paid for? My husband and I owned a convenience store and gas station for six years. There are a few ways a gasoline retailer can rip you off at the pump.
Here Are a Few Facts About How Gas Pumps and Gas Retailers/Distributors Operate
Every fuel wholesaler, distributor and retailer that sells gasoline, diesel, or biofuel in the U.S. is regulated by a state agency. It doesn’t matter if the fuel tanks are Above Ground or Below Ground, the seller must still comply with state regulations if they operate any kind of fuel tank or pump. State regulations require that gas retailers provide monthly statistics regarding the performance of each of their gas tanks and gas pumps. The gas and fuel pumps must show that they are properly calibrated and the fuel and gasoline tanks must show pressure test numbers indicating that they are not leaking.
When a gasoline pump is properly calibrated, that means the number of gallons of gasoline it is pumping matches the dollar amount the pump is charging you. There are two major kinds of fuel pumps used at most gasoline retailers:
There is the modern pay-at-the-pump kind that is all computerized. With this kind of gas pump, it is very difficult for a gas retailer to charge you more than what the gasoline pump is pumping. These pumps are usually hooked up to a computer in the store that alerts the retailer if the pump appears to be out of calibration. If a pump is out of calibration, most state laws require that the gas retailer place that pump out of service and fix it before it is used again. If the pump shows negative calibration statistics on the report to the state, and the retailer does not place it out of service and fix it, the gas retailer can face some very stiff fines and possibly lose their license to sell fuel. In some state-of-the-art computerized pumps, the fuel pump will automatically shut down if there are any problems with calibration or leaks.
Then, there is the older mechanical gas pump that is calibrated by the store owner. It is easier for a store owner to rip you off with these kinds of gas and fuel pumps. However, we had these kinds of gas pumps at our Mom and Pop business, and if our pumps mechanically became out of calibration, our very aware customers let us know about it. We would immediately put the gas pump out of service and called a pump repairman to come out and fix it. This also gets reported to state regulatory agencies on the monthly report. Gas retailers that do not act honestly can face stiff penalties and possibly loss of their license.
If You Think You Have Been Ripped Off at the Pump
It is very important no matter which kind of gas pump or fuel pump you use, to check the receipt you get with your gas or to watch the pump numbers as it is pumping. If the gallons of gas pumped do not match the dollar amount the pump charged you, report it to the store owner or cashier BEFORE you leave the gas station.
If the store owner or cashier is honest, they will check the pump, shut the pump down, and give you the correct amount of gasoline from another working pump. If they do not do this, save the receipt and tell them you are going to report this error to the state regulatory agency.
Scroll to the end of this article to learn more ways to protect yourself from getting ripped off at the gas pump.
Other Ways to Get Ripped Off at the Gas Pump
The other thing that sometimes happens when times are tough and gas prices spike, is the kind of gasoline that sits in the underground fuel tanks is not always what it is supposed to be. This is a huge violation of law with state regulators for both gas retailers and gas distributors. There have been cases where a gas distributor and/or a gas retailer will put regular grade gasoline into the underground tank that is used for mid-grade or premium gasoline. The reason: the regular gasoline costs less to supply to the retail consumer.
Some store owners sign contracts with gas distributors and big oil companies to brand the type of gas the store uses, like Exxon, Shell, etc. Other stores use off-brand gasoline and fuels. From a consumer standpoint, you may want all the great performance qualities of a branded gasoline like Exxon or Texaco. The branded gasoline and fuel cost more money. Sometimes, when times are tough and gas prices spike, the fuel dropped into a branded tank is really just off-brand fuel because it is cheaper. This is another huge violation of state laws. If a store owner or gas distributor gets caught doing this, they can lose their contract with the major oil company who branded their gasoline.
Also, if a gas distributor or a gas retailer gets caught doing this they will face stiff penalties and possibly lose their license to either ship fuel or sell fuel. Nevertheless, it does happen and most times the consumer does not know it. If you suspect a gas station is doing this, call the state regulatory agency and report your suspicion. The state regulatory agency will send out an inspector, unannounced, to test the fuel in each of the tanks.
If your vehicle starts having performance problems after recently filling up with gas, take it to a repair shop and ask the mechanic to check your gasoline for grade and quality. If it does not match what you paid for at the gas station, report suspicious behavior to the state regulatory agency. They will send an inspector to the gas station.
Best Ways to Keep From Getting Ripped Off at the Gas Pump
Get to know your neighborhood store and make sure they are honest gas retailers. Big oil companies own only 5% of all gas stations. Gas distributors or Mom and Pop owners own most gas stations. If you think the gas you are getting is not the reputable brand you are paying for, you can contact the branding company that will send an inspector to the store. A gas distributor or retailer can lose their branding contract if they sell generic gas from a branded tank.
A quick way to see if the gas pump is properly calibrated is to stop the gas pump after you have pumped only one gallon of fuel. See if the gas pump reading under dollar sales matches what is posted on the store sign for one gallon of that type of fuel. If it doesn’t match, turn off the pump, close your fuel cap, lock your car, and contact the store clerk immediately. Have them do the same thing with that pump. Pump another gallon and see if the error happens again. If so, demand the gas pump be put out of service and reported. Move to another pump and continue the process of fueling.
Check your total gallons and dollars on your gas pump receipt and at the gas pump while you are filling up. If there are errors, report it immediately to the store owner or cashier.
Learn what state agency regulates gasoline sales in your state. Bookmark their web site and report any violations you find with a gas retailer in your state.
Photo Credit: Zokheim
Released to Public Domain at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MobilgasPumpsAntique09162007.JPG
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