Free Gas-would You Do The Same?

Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were driving around my neighborhood when the gas light on her car came on. Gas was 10cents cheaper on her side of town, so we figured we'd just put in enough gas to get to her side of town. We pulled into the gas station and there was a cashier wearing a bright red shirt that said "Trainee" on it. I gave him $3.00 to put on our pump. I started pumping the gas and sat down in the car to talk to my girlfriend. After realizing the pump was still going, I looked over and saw the pump was at $15.00 and still going. "oh crap, I handed him one of my twenties," I thought, but after checking my wallet I realized all of my money was accounted for. I let it keep pumping till it finally stopped at $30.00. I put the hose back, closed my tank, and drove away.

So the question is: What would you do in this situation? Would you stop the pump when you realized what happened? Would you go inside and pay for the extra gas? Or would you do what I did?

lvDave @ May 12 2008, 01:52 AM
Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were driving around my neighborhood when the gas light on her car came on. Gas was 10cents cheaper on her side of town, so we figured we'd just put in enough gas to get to her side of town. We pulled into the gas station and there was a cashier wearing a bright red shirt that said "Trainee" on it. I gave him $3.00 to put on our pump. I started pumping the gas and sat down in the car to talk to my girlfriend. After realizing the pump was still going, I looked over and saw the pump was at $15.00 and still going. "oh crap, I handed him one of my twenties," I thought, but after checking my wallet I realized all of my money was accounted for. I let it keep pumping till it finally stopped at $30.00. I put the hose back, closed my tank, and drove away.

So the question is: What would you do in this situation? Would you stop the pump when you realized what happened? Would you go inside and pay for the extra gas? Or would you do what I did?

ok did you give him a 20 or not?.....well technically it is stealing but honestly I probably still drive away because I see it like this they (oil companies) steal sooo much money from us why not take something if they decide to give you something back? and as for the trainee,... well shit happens I screwed up at my job when I was in training it is a loss that companies take all the time I broke a whole stack of dishes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

J-man @ May 12 2008, 02:24 AM
ok did you give him a 20 or not?.....well technically it is stealing but honestly I probably still drive away because I see it like this they (oil companies) steal sooo much money from us why not take something if they decide to give you something back? and as for the trainee,... well shit happens I screwed up at my job when I was in training it is a loss that companies take all the time I broke a whole stack of dishes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

J-man @ May 12 2008, 12:24 AM
ok did you give him a 20 or not?.....well technically it is stealing but honestly I probably still drive away because I see it like this they (oil companies) steal sooo much money from us why not take something if they decide to give you something back? and as for the trainee,... well shit happens I screwed up at my job when I was in training it is a loss that companies take all the time I broke a whole stack of dishes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I would have did exactly what you did except I would have drove away whistling

Maybe I shouldn't reward incompetence, but if I get extra change when buying things (this has happened a few times) I give the money back right away. I would have told them of the mistake.

The gas station isn't the reason for the high prices (generally), it's the refineries on all the way up to OPEC.

here in oregon we dont pump our own gas, but if i was in that sort of situation i would have done the same thing you did.

This has happened to me twice I think...both time they said don't worry about it...lucky I guess

Oh yeah and by the way...THIEF (IMG:style_emoticons/default/excl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/excl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/excl.gif)

I hope that gas station you ripped off has camera's and got your tag number, and it comes back and bites you in the ass. You know they prosecute people for "drive-offs", no questions asked. It would of been smarter/ wiser to go inside and explain your situation, give them your driver's license or something for collateral, go borrow the $$ and and go back and pay.

Keith @ May 12 2008, 03:44 PM
I hope that gas station you ripped off has camera's and got your tag number, and it comes back and bites you in the ass. You know they prosecute people for "drive-offs", no questions asked. It would of been smarter/ wiser to go inside and explain your situation, give them your driver's license or something for collateral, go borrow the $$ and and go back and pay.