Petrol Station Confusion: Moving Before Paying?
Hey everyone, I just had a rather odd experience at the petrol station, and I’m hoping some of you can shed some light on it.
I pulled into a busy station today and parked behind a car that wasn’t being filled up. I assumed the driver must have gone inside to pay, so I waited patiently. With a long line of cars behind me, I figured it wouldn’t be too long before they returned.
Turns out, I was wrong.
Suddenly, two kids jumped into the car, and I caught a glimpse of a third in the backseat. I thought to myself, “Great, the older kid must be paying while the mom keeps the AC running since it’s sweltering outside.”
Then, a young man came out of the station, hopped in the front seat, and I thought, “Alright, that makes five of them; they can’t possibly be waiting for anyone else.” By this point, cars were stacking up behind me due to the station’s layout, leaving me no room to maneuver to another pump.
So, we waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Finally, I turned off my engine and approached the car to see what the hold-up was. When I asked the driver what was going on, she simply looked up from her phone and said she was waiting to pay. I was stunned—waiting to pay?!
I double-checked and confirmed that she hadn’t paid yet. She said she would move forward so I could use the pump. I mentioned that I thought I couldn’t fill up until she had settled her bill, and she condescendingly insisted that I could go ahead.
This leads me to a couple of questions. I’ve always been under the impression that cars can’t move until the payment has been made, and the few times I’ve seen someone fill up before the previous customer’s payment have caused chaos at the station. Is it now acceptable to fill up before the previous person has paid, and does it lead to any issues?
And even if she was right about being able to move, why would she just sit there while all these cars were waiting for her to get going?
After calling her out for being inconsiderate, I finally managed to leave, still in need of petrol. #winning
EDIT: Thanks to everyone who commented! It’s reassuring to know that while it might not be preferred to fill up before the previous person has paid, it’s not technically against the rules. I appreciate the support—it definitely eased my frustration, although I still wish I could have filled up instead of driving off in a huff. XD
As for that woman, I still think her decision-making was puzzling, but I’ll move on. Thanks for taking the time to read and share! <3
It sounds like you had quite a frustrating experience! It’s definitely understandable to feel annoyed when someone doesn’t seem to be following the usual etiquette at a busy petrol station. Traditionally, most people wait to pay before moving their car, so it can be puzzling when someone does the opposite, especially when others are waiting.
It’s good to hear that you found some clarity in the comments about the situation. People’s thought processes can be quite different, and while it might not make sense to us, sometimes there are reasons behind their actions that we don’t see. While waiting in line, it can be frustrating to see someone who seems indifferent to the queue.
At least now you know you’re not alone in feeling this way! It’s always better to vent a little and move on, rather than letting it eat at you. Hopefully, your next visit to the petrol station goes more smoothly! Safe travels!