How to ensure you are not being shortchanged by your fuel station attendant

Europa

June 12, 2017 9:28 AM

Fuel station scams are not new, and some 'friendly' petrol pump staff would continue such nefarious activities to make extra money.

___6821769___2017___6___12___11___wpid-fuel

Many of us have been victims or have witnessed others being ripped off by trusted petrol filling stations. This practice has become so common at several petrol stations across the country. It is rather unfortunate considering consumers have had to grapple with the skyrocketing price of petrol.

From manipulating with the fuel machines, intervening the dispenser nozzle, and using unnecessarily longer dispenser pipe, some fuel station attendants would continue to use several tricks to cheat the customer.

But how do we prevent these tricks?

A sourcefrom the National Petroleum Authority has been speaking with Pulse.com.gh on some of the ways consumers could avoid being shortchanged at the pump.

“Every filling station has what we call a 10 litre can. It is calibrated by the Ghana Standards Authority so if any consumer thinks the station he is buying from is shortchanging him or her, he has the right to request for that can for them to check whether the litres being pumped from the machine is the exact litres he or she is receiving. Aside that if they still feel like they are being shortchanged, they can report that station to the authorities,” he said.

He added: “there are measurements on the 10 litre can so if for example you pump 10 litres from the machine, it reads the litres that have been pumped. That 10 litres should read on the can.

“When you are being fuel, you always see it being read but then if this consumer feels that even though he is seeing 5 litres being read on the machine he still feels he is being cheated, then the 10 litre can is there for that purpose.”

So how does the 10-litre can work? Heexplains.

“So you pump 10 litres into the can, and the measurement it will rise up to that 10 litres. There are some allowable measurements and you will see clearly if it is a little below or a little above 10 litres. So if it reads 10 litres on the dispenser, in the can it should rise to the 10 litre level. If it is not in the 10 litre level, then the person is being cheated," he said.

Verification fuel instruments

The Ghana Standards Authority does periodic checks on fuel stations across the country to ensure that their verification fuel instruments and wind scales were not tampered with for cheating the unsuspecting public.

But then, as the source from the NPA puts it, some fuel station attendants “calibrate the pumps, and put fuse on it so if it’s broken they would know but then you can agree with me that this cannot be done every day at the fuel station."

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

Get rewards worth up to $20 when selected to participate in our exclusive focus group. Your input will help us to make informed decisions that align with your needs and preferences.

I've got feedback!

Europa