Post: #1

I recently rented a car and had to fill it 50 km before returning it, still said F but figured I'll do the honest thing and get it topped up a few blocks from the place to avoid any potential hassle. It was all full service and the guy got another 3.5 or so L in which made sense for 50km based on mileage I was getting. So both places found the same "full".

This week I get billed $10/~9L to my CC (they allege they use market rates for fuel). I emailed the rental place and they said "it's standard procedure to fuel regardless, different gas station attendants vary and might not fill to 100%, possible airlocks in lines etc. but trust us."

Now to me I think this is bullshit. Two gas stations within 30 minutes found the same "full", but these guys say the tank was actually 20% empty. It certainly isn't about the $10, but out of curiosity and because I hate when companies try to do little thefts like this since they're likely doing a lot, but could it be possible? Fight the charge on principle?

Post: #2

delete

Post: #3

Post: #4

Stop making fun of OP, I want to learn something about cars!

Post: #5

It is bullshit. This is how they make more money.

Post: #6

I was waiting for the why waste your time on $10 response... Honestly if it was just that I'd probably let it go, but they also put a ~1k deposit charge(not a hold, even though I asked and that's what I was told), then refunded difference. So I'm also out visa's generous buy/sell spread (11%) on a grand. Since I need to call visa anyways, I was wondering if I should just say "oh and by the way I think the fuel charge isn't right". I can see the 'it's not worth you time' argument, but as rpg says it's how some companies play dirty, and it isn't right. Why do couples spend all their assets and more fighting each over what's become a negative household pie?

Post: #7

Paging El Mech !

Post: #8

You could try filling it up all the way when you start, then fill it up when you drop it off, and send them a bill for the difference.

Post: #9

(01-26-2016 11:16 AM)billbudsocket Wrote:  Who cares? Why waste your precious time on something so unimportant? The fact that you thought this was worth making a thread about it is telling.

Why waste your precious time commenting on a thread about something you don't care about or even have something useful to add?

That you wasted your own time typing that comment is telling.

G

Post: #10

Mods please move this to the Deep Forum.

Post: #11

They probably do this to everyone, and since it's just 10 bucks, nobody does or says anything, thinking "guess it didn't really fill it full when I refueled". Lots of companies do this (not car rental to topoff charge specifically) and it's how they make an easy million per month without any effort.

Post: #12

I'm not going to put out a hard number, but I'd be surprised if the fuel shutoff from gas station to gas station varied more than 1-2 liters for the same car. 9 liters? Bullshit.

I agree it's probably something they pull on everyone. Same way apartment complexes or landlords try to charge cleaning fees against your deposit even if the place was detailed by Mr. Clean himself when you moved out. They're aiming for the "it's too small to dispute" window where most people won't bother fighting it.

Post: #13

They're trying to get one over on you.

"Full" will be roughly the same every time if you let the pump shut off automatically. Yeah can usually squeeze an extra liter or two in the top of the tank and the filler neck if you let it settle a bit.

Post: #14

(01-27-2016 03:20 AM)Sooth Wrote:  They're trying to get one over on you.

"Full" will be roughly the same every time if you let the pump shut off automatically. Yeah can usually squeeze an extra liter or two in the top of the tank and the filler neck if you let it settle a bit.

This is bad for your car and potentially dangerous.

Fuel produces fumes, which is fine, because your fuel tank is equipped to deal with them, but it's not designed to deal with the pressure created if the tank is overfilled. There are warnings about this on every fill handle.

Not sure how serious this is and if they posted warnings are just an example of too much regulation, but since there is little to be gained be squeezing a few extra drops in, it doesn't seem like a worthwhile proposition to blatantly ignore warning labels.

Post: #15

I don't get the mockery of this, At worst it could have simply been worded better.

Regardless, I have seen this many times in my life. From rental companies doing shady shit to gas pumps pumping 22 gallons in a 20 gal tank. Granted I've never worried much about it, just made note of the shady places and avoided them.

But remember the old superman (I think) scam, where you round off the remainder of a transaction and put it into A bank account? Imagine if you could do that with gas pumps. Charge an extra .01 cent at the end, no one would ever notice. It could easily be programmed into the pump software. Or just make the flow meter read a small fraction more than it measured.

Post: #16

(01-27-2016 07:23 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  ...to gas pumps pumping 22 gallons in a 20 gal tank.

Not to get too side tracked, but you just reminded me of seeing one of those US expose shows like Dateline or something 20 years ago that investigated this very thing. Found a lot of cheats, but the most the most brilliant was this one station that consistently gave people shitty mileage, but which always was bang on when they tested it. Turns out they had programmed it to be accurate at 5, 10 or 20 gallons or whatever the size of the weights and measures people's test tanks were, and then massively off at the points in between.

Post: #17

Quote:But remember the old superman (I think) scam, where you round off the remainder of a transaction and put it into a bank account?

Also referenced in Office Space

Post: #18

(01-27-2016 07:23 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  But remember the old superman (I think) scam, where you round off the remainder of a transaction and put it into A bank account? Imagine if you could do that with gas pumps. Charge an extra .01 cent at the end, no one would ever notice. It could easily be programmed into the pump software. Or just make the flow meter read a small fraction more than it measured.

I purposely try to hit a round number in dollars, gently caressing the handle as it is approaching. I swear, around 90% of the time, it will click over that extra cent just when you think it has settled where you want it.

Post: #19

OP, which car rental company pulled this crap? Sounds like something only one of the small independents would try, and as others noted they probably do this with all of their customers.

Post: #20

You could try to dispute the charge with your credit card company, but that's likely to backfire on you since the rental company has made it pretty clear that it thinks the charge is legitimate.

Realistically, the best way to try to hurt the company is to lodge a complaint with any national, provincial, or local consumer protection agencies that have jurisdiction.

And if there's ever a class action lawsuit against the company (assuming Canada has those), make sure you try to get a cut of the settlement fund (class actions almost always settle). If you're lucky, you might get a $5 or $10 check if you can prove you rented from the company.

Post: #21

(01-26-2016 09:53 PM)Dusty Wrote:  Mods please move this to the Deep Forum.

Damn you Dusty. After I read OP I quickly scanned the thread for the obligatory "Mods please move this to the Deep Forum" but was disappointed I was beaten to the punch.

My favorite PMTTTDF thread is this one (you beat me to it here too ): Why the h*** do people remove corn husks at the store?

Post: #22

(01-27-2016 11:54 AM)Habano Wrote:  Realistically, the best way to try to hurt the company is to lodge a complaint with any national, provincial, or local consumer protection agencies that have jurisdiction.

Agreed. You can also leave a negative Yelp review with details. Was this a small independent agency or a large national chain?