I received a letter from Forecourt Eye, demanding I pay for fuel and an admin charge for driving off after getting fuel at a Shell Garage just outside Coleshill in Birmingham. This garage has no pedestrian access and sits on a busy dual carriageway. I had used the service station to put fuel into my car, then went in to pay and get some water and sweets to get me on my way, I paid with my card, tap and go, after informing of the pump I used, was asked if I wanted a receipt and I said no thank you and carried on my way. It seems that the service person inside did not add the fuel to my bill, and just charged me for my water. I had not noticed they had not added the fuel, I taped and went. I asked Forecourt Eye to review this as it was not a drive off but an error / mistake by the service station staff. I was happy to pay for the fuel as it was just a mistake by the staff but do not see why the admin charge should be paid for due to their mistake at the till.They refused and the letter advised that if I did not pay I would be banned from drawing fuel from all petrol stations. When you tap and go so often no one reads the figures and just assume that the staff are doing their job correctly.I was horrified to think I’d done a drive by and disgusted at this company, accusing me of being a criminal…so much so that after reading all these reviews of this repeated experience I wonder if the attendants or forecourts are on some sort of commission from this process. Might get legal advice and maybe a freedom of information request. Here was forecourt eyes response:Thank you for your enquiry. Fuel Payment Transactions When you obtain fuel or other goods from a forecourt operator you enter into a contract to pay for those goods and services. You are required to pay on the spot for fuel and other goods obtained before you depart a fuel forecourt premises. It is your responsibility to ensure a transaction through a card reader is completed before leaving the premises. You should review your receipt and report any errors or discrepancies to the shop immediately. While cashiers play a crucial role in processing payments and providing assistance, they do not have the same level of knowledge about your purchases. Therefore, it's your responsibility to verify the accuracy of the transaction and address any issues with the cashier before leaving the shop. If you leave without successfully paying for your fuel, the forecourt operator is entitled in law to recover their debt by reasonable means. Forecourt owners report details to Forecourt Eye Ltd to recover what they are owed under the contract and the administration fees incurred in this process. In the UK, taking fuel from a petrol station and leaving without paying is considered a criminal offense. The relevant legal provisions can be found in the Theft Act 1968 and the Theft Act 1978, which cover the offense of theft. Appeals against administration charges are not accepted. If a customer leaves without successfully paying for their fuel or goods, the forecourt operator is entitled in law to recover their debt by reasonable means. Our subscribers report details to Forecourt Eye Ltd to recover what they are owed under the contract and the administration fees incurred in this process.
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