A very common issue faced by our "mango" people is that they have been cheated by a petrol pump guys. If we check closely, most of us have been cheated once in our life by these petrol pump guys. Let's try to bring and discuss the tricks used by them so that our common people can be more careful next time and save themselves from being duped.
1. Returning lesser amount: Its been widely practiced trick by the petrol pump guys. You ask them to fill up 100 Rs petrol and give a 500 Rs note expecting to get the return of 400 Rs back. These guys are so clean in their hand tricks that they will first pull up 3 notes of 100 's and count in front of you in such a way that you will feel they counted 4 times. People come is two wheeler become victim by this trick. They create urgency after giving the notes and you just take the 3 notes of 100 Rs from them and scoot away. Later you realize that you have been cheated. In case if you happen to count the notes in front of them and found only 3 notes, they politely pull another 2 notes of 50 Rs as if he was not done in returning the complete change to you. At last you didn't have chance to catch them red handed.
2. An another trick which I have noticed is that while filling the two wheeler, they talk non sense to divert your attention from the meter. They normally say that there are lots of dirt deposited near the tank cap and need your attention to clean. You then move your eyes from the meter and check the tank cap. Within the fraction of second, they stop the fuel flow and show as if they are done with filling. So basically you will be paid more for less fuel.
3. Petrol pump guys also divert attentions by asking your debit care pin number while filling up the fuel. As soon as your eyes go away from the meter, they cheat on you by putting lesser fuel on that.
Few stations asks the customer to come inside the office to punch the pin. Once you leave your car unattended, they put lesser fuel on that.
4. Sometime they use a revers trick. Suppose you ask them to put a fuel of 500 Rs, While filling up the fuel, they pretend as if they are busy talking to someone and then end up putting more fuel inside your tank. Suppose in the example, they put the fuel of 580 Rs. Now they will demand you to give another 80 Rs.for the extra fuel went inside. If you argue, they become so arrogant that they end up making noise and you fearing the public humiliation, give the extra money.
5. When you ask them to fill petrol for Rs 1,000 , the attendant fills up the oil only for Rs 200 . When you ask him why he didn't fill up for Rs 1,000 . He will give a innocent smile and say that he heard Rs 200 and he will fill remaining Rs 800 , he resets the meter and fills up another Rs 800 petrol and you pay Rs 1,000 (200+800).
Whats the scam here ? The problem is that he never resets the meter to 0 , he continues from the Rs 200 point itself and go till Rs 800 , so in reality you only get the petrol worth Rs 800, but pay Rs 1,000 . The trick here is that when he says that he is resetting the meter to 0 and moves towards it, at that some moment, another team mate of attendant will disturb you with some stupid questions.
Putting less fuel to returning lesser change by cheating people is a habit of most of the petrol pumps here. Its our duty to be alert. Never be in hurry while filling up fuel. Always let them fill the fuel completely, close the cap and then give the money. No matter how much urgency they create, don't move from your place till you complete your transaction. Check the change twice. If you have to give the debit card, ask them to wait till you finish putting the fuel in the cab. Its always a best practice to get down from the car and then fill up the fuel. If you keep yourself inside the car, there is a higher chance of getting cheated by these guys. Putting complaint may hardly be helpful in India, but yes you can be alert by yourself... Happy driving guys..
