Petrol station “etiquette”

MawBroon you go girl! There’s a lot of reasonable posts on here relaying various stories and they’re not deserving of a load of nasty and sarky comments. Situations are not all the same for people and they deserve more consideration.

Does anybody ever think to pull forward when they have filled up and there is a queue behind them at the pumps?

I would Maw but there is nowhere to go! If I am using the pump nearest the petrol station building the only place I could move to would be away from the forecourt and then it would look like I am driving off without paying!

I too despair of the forecourt faffer.

The person in front of me yesterday filled up, paid after doing a shop in the payment area, then came out and got some tissue to clean his windscreen and lights! I'd been stuck behind him for over ten minutes and there was a queue behind me! I was muttering and hissing so much about his lack of awareness that I almost exploded.

Some people did better by moving on to other pump areas as they emptied. They layout of forecourts tends to cause these jams.

The introduction of coffee machines has made it all much worse I think. It seems to attract the drivers of larger vehicles which can block more than one pump at a time while a leisurely cuppa is being consumed in the shop, probably then followed by a loo visit and a few sweets for on the road!

I have no problem waiting for the previous pump user queueing to pay for fuel, but I wish there was a separate pay-point for those of us who are purchasing only fuel, It's so irritating when people fill up with fuel, then do their shopping, and then queue to pay.

I agree that it is not always convenient to pull forward before paying - it depends on the size of the fuel station, and it's true that it can be looked on as suspicious if you move your car before paying.

sarahellenwhitney

Until fairly recently there was a garage in Ascot which had serviced pumps. They did oil, water and tyre checks too and you paid the man who did all that and he brought you the terminal.
I expect there are other places too.

Yes Nanaand Grampy that happens in the garage I use most frequently. Last year I was waiting to pay for a few groceries when the "alarm" went off, cue Manager dashing outside to see if it was a drive off, no just some stupid person idiot moving their car before paying for petrol. Pumps aren't released until petrol is paid for.

I always pull forward to the first pump if I can allowing cars to use the one behind me. I have been on 2nd pump & had to wait until driver of the car in front of me has finished their shopping

Life is too short........

I filled up at tesco few weeks ago and was behind a vehicle. I got out and opened my cap to start filling up. As I was doing this the vehicle in front started up and moved off. I had nozzle in tank waiting for pump to be authorised. Chap behind me in large 4x4 started waving his hands about and gesturing for me to move to pump in front just vacated I ignored him and continued to fill my car up. Arms now live a windmill and lots of gesturing from man behind plus forehead slapping. As I walked to kiosk to pay he beeped his horn so I waved. Told the ladies when I was paying and they said well once we authorise pump you should not move until fuel is paid for and did I want to do any shopping while I was there . He was still gesturing as I strolled back to my car and I waved enthusiastically as I pulled away. I've had to wait for slow/elderly/huge cars that take forever to fill up/ dithering car owners who decide to clean their car whilst at pumps etc. It's life so I just have to suck it up or fill up very late at night when hardly anyone around

Somebody who has worked in a petrol station has confirmed that you can't put fuel in your car if the previous driver hasn't paid, OurKid

The pumps are not unlocked until they've paid.

If you buy your petrol in a busy garage with a shop the chances are you might be held up if the person in front of you is taking their time but if I needed the loo and a tube of fruit gums I would expect them to wait.

Who knows, they might take even longer.

My local petrol station is not even self service, you have to wait for them to come and serve you, then you go in with them to pay and anyone queueing just has to wait. It's really nice and chilled, friendly chat whilst they fill your tank and somehow they even mange to stop the pump on the full £, I always go at least a penny over!

I think it's a shame petrol stations are so often connected to shops that are getting bigger and bigger, encouraging people to food shop before paying. Also there should be a till that is strictly petrol only, surely that would help this tricky situation

Oops, didn't mean to post twice! Sorry.

Merlotgran and Pamela, I think you may be right. Don't the pumps work with the till, so they can't be used until the transaction is complete? Maybe someone who has worked in a petrol station could confirm.

Merlotgran and Pamela, I think you may be right. Don't the pumps work with the till, so they can't be used until the transaction is complete? Maybe someone who has worked in a petrol station could confirm.

My little local Tesco has a few parking places to one side. After I have filled up I move to a parking spot before going in to pay. I don't fill up there very often because many people leave their car at the pump and disappear into the store for ages. Probably doing some shopping. As a result there is frequently a queue of cars waiting their turn, and often backing up onto the main road, causing a traffic hazard.

It's worse when they see someone they have not met in some time, it starts "fancy seeing you". Then they start a conversation. I am waiting to get to the pump with steam coming out of my ears. In the end I told her to move. Not polite I know but I was in a hurry.

MawBroon Firstly, it is easy for those who have petrol stations on their doorstep to criticise. When the petrol station is a several miles away and driving there and back uses petrol, petrol gets bought when one have enough errands to justify going out to do five or six other things as well.

The ebb and flow of cars at petrol stations has little to do with busy times or not. I have driven past a petrol station, heart sinking as I need to go there and it is chock full. I return five minutes later and it is completely empty. Perhaps whoever criticised you should study some maths, especially queuing and games theory.

Most of my local petrol stations have large shops attached and some people seem to do the weeks shop when they buy their petrol and be gone for nearly 30 minutes. Such petrol stations usually have parking places in front of the shop and if I am going to be buying more than a bottle of water I just drive forward a few yards into one of those parking spaces. They are rarely all full.

Just read the threads after the one I responded to on page 1.so after my last post, Merlot, ???

Merlot, if there is only one person in the car it’s pretty obvious, I would think, that one couldn’t fill up whilst one pays!

Here in Malta, we also don’t have to pump our own fuel. An attendant comes out to do it for you, you pay him cash and off you go.

In the US, all pumps are pay at the pump. If you want to pay with cash instead of a credit card, you must go and pay before you can use the pump.

Personally, I don’t let my tank go below half full/empty before filling up.

Laura Meredith.
Don't know what part of the world you are but please enlighten us to how you then pay for your fuel.? The guy who puts fuel in your tank? or you go to a cashiers desk, not usually are they next to the pumps, then wait in the queue while other folk are choosing their bars of choc or wanting change for the drinks machine?

MawBroon. In response to your 11.21 message I agree with you. I thought it was a bit much too. I think some of the people on here must be perfect. Not me. I’m slightly imperfect.

I usually find that around ten pm at my local 24x7 petrol station gives you the pick of the pumps as those who dither around in the day are either in the pub or at home .Ok who, you may ask, wants to venture out just to fill your tank.? I do have the Tesco Extra nearby and as its usually quiet in there at that time, no screaming kids, so much the better to do some shopping. DH would always fill up or do a top up at that time having been late for work on many occasions due to queues or the' take your timers' that we all come across.

Thank goodness I live in a part of the world where we get service! A man to put in the fuel and a man to clean the windscreen etc.

You actually shouldn't move . Your car is supposed to stay at your pump until you've paid. The reason is that the station assistant has to check on his computer, what is the last amount taken from your pump, and he charges you for that. If you've thoughtfully moved forward and someone else is using that pump, the assistant can't see how much you used.