Pre-pay petrol stations

[V8Granite]

Around Birmingham way I fell upon 2 Shell petrol stations that wanted payment before they would run the pump. I was low on diesel but hate partially filling so just kept going.

To me this was always a sign you were in a shithole area with people stealing petrol.

Is this common over the U.K. as I’ve only seen this on the continent.

The cardboard sign didn’t make it seem very official.

Dave!

[jamcg]

I’ve not come across any around my way in Teesside but it wouldn’t surprise me to find one

[integrale_evo]

Nope, never seen one, but Birmingham is exactly the place I would expect to see one.

Saying that, I rarely use anything other than Tesco’s pay at pump where you’ve already put your card in before filling anyway.

[mik]

How does that work? Pre-authorisation for upto £x before they start the pump, and then you have to go back in? Or just drive off?

[Rich B]

Tesco ones do that. You put your card in and approve up to £100.

[mik]

Yeah Asda is e same - I thought Dave was describing a conventional pump setup where they want you to go in and pay first.

[Carlos]

I thought Dave was describing a conventional pump setup where they want you to go in and pay first.

I think he is. I used to pick my sister up from University near Salford and it was the same there, no pay at pump and you had to go in and pay an amount, then fill up and go and pay the difference. They even had security screens inside like you used to have in banks.

[V8Granite]

Exactly that, I thought he meant that I had to use a pay at pump as he was saying pay first over the tannoy. When he said no pay him first I said I didn’t know how much I needed and he said 40 or £50 so I just drove off.

I never use the pay at pump as normally I’m over £100 anyway and I need a full tank as petrol stations are pretty much the worst part of driving.

I need to fit the bigger tank after Christmas, we seem to be stepping closer to Mad Max

Dave!

[Mito Man]

Yeah years ago in some small Gulf somewhere in Kent. I kept waiting for the attendant to turn on the pump but she eventually came out and told me to pay up front first.

Haven’t been inside a store to pay for close to a year now as I just use pay at pump. When Tesco had their fuel vouchers you had to pay in store for them to accept that but that was pre-covid.

[Nathan]

Was this at night Dave?!

Around Birmingham way I fell upon 2 Shell petrol stations that wanted payment before they would run the pump. I was low on diesel but hate partially filling so just kept going.

To me this was always a sign you were in a shithole area with people stealing petrol.

Is this common over the U.K. as I’ve only seen this on the continent.

The cardboard sign didn’t make it seem very official.

Dave!

[V8Granite]

Was this at night Dave?!

Around Birmingham way I fell upon 2 Shell petrol stations that wanted payment before they would run the pump. I was low on diesel but hate partially filling so just kept going.

To me this was always a sign you were in a shithole area with people stealing petrol.

Is this common over the U.K. as I’ve only seen this on the continent.

The cardboard sign didn’t make it seem very official.

Dave!

It was early morning, roughly 4:30 ish.

Dave!

[unzippy]

Sound like America. Go in, hand them some cash - no idea because it's holiday money, no idea about tank capacity because it's a hire car and they flog petrol in funny units of volume.
Fill up and then go back in again to get your change.

Ball ache.

[dinny_g]

A few places round here have “Full Prepay” at the hatch on the night shift...

Weirdest one I experienced was needing my Passport to buy fuel on Lanzarote. Never asked for that before or in Gran Canaria a few years later...