“Petrol Pump Scam: Customer Foils Cheating Attempt at Heera Petrol Station”

“Petrol Pump Scam: Customer Foils Cheating Attempt at Heera Petrol Station”
PANAJI: Yesterday, at around 1 pm, a fight was foiled between a customer and a petrol pump attendant at Heera petrol station, opposite Kadamba Bus Terminus in Panaji, thanks to the timely intervention of another customer.
A tourist, who was a customer at the petrol station, got into an argument with the attendant for not showing him the reading on the petrol pump. The attendant had filled the tourist’s scooter with petrol when the reading showed only ₹37.00 instead of starting from ₹00.00 and charged him ₹100.
The tourist was explaining the situation to other customers waiting in the queue, saying, “Do you know how petrol pump attendants cheat you? You must always check the reading on the pump and keep an eye on the funnel pipe while removing it at the end. They often keep a sizable amount of petrol in the pump and remove the filler immediately once the reading shows your desired amount, causing you to lose a few points despite paying the full amount.”
Some customers argue with the attendants, while others simply ignore the situation and leave without arguing, thinking, “It’s not my problem.” However, some people catch the attendants cheating and confront them.
Many customers may have noticed that the reading on the pump never starts from ₹00.00. Instead, it often shows ₹3 or ₹4 to begin with. Once the pumping machine starts, the reading changes.
In a similar incident, a customer went to Kantak petrol pump opposite Ferry Point in Panaji at night. The reading showed ₹100, but the attendant charged him ₹200 after filling only ₹100 worth of petrol. The customer brought this to the attendant’s attention, but it was of no use since there was no evidence once the petrol was pumped.
It is alleged that petrol pump attendants accumulate points and earn thousands of rupees every day by cheating customers. A petrol attendant reportedly told a daily customer that company representatives or petrol pump owners sometimes adjust the settings to round figures, resulting in the attendants earning extra money.
A wise customer always insists on buying petrol worth ₹175 or ₹225 to avoid being cheated. Many customers have noticed that attendants refuse to give them petrol in a transparent water bottle, citing that it is prohibited.
After researching the matter, many people have concluded that petrol pump attendants earn a meager salary but lead lavish lifestyles. It is alleged that they cheat their owners by filling extra petrol for their friends and collecting money from them later.
Several videos on YouTube expose the tactics used by petrol pump attendants to cheat customers.