Paying before you pump law looking to be put in place

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Knalus

I dislike how it's assumed I'm a criminal - which is what it seems these "laws" imply. An ever increasing number of which assume I'm up to no good.

I also dislike how business owners may no longer be allowed to run their business as they see fit, but rather must comply to this regulation to the inconvenience of them and their customers. If this was the decision of the business owner, that's fine. I would just never use that pump again. If it's a law, well, pointless and overly meddling bureaucracy.

I'd say this law is a lot like the smoking ban.

A lot of restaraunts wanted to go non-smoking but it would be detrimental to business. By passing smoking legislation the province leveled the playing field for those that wanted to offer that option.

This is similar to me. There are probably a lot of stations that want to go this route but can't because they'll lose business. The province is just implementing legislationt hat will level the playing field. No one wants to be a first mover because it'll hurt business. I'd assume there is some sort of industry group that is pushing for this so that no one has to do it first.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Once again, a few ######bags ruin it for the rest of us. Like Street Pharmacist says, it will now result in decreased store sales, because I will now have exactly zero incentive to go in, pay, pump, get in line again to get my receipt / refund. I'll just pay at the pump and away I go.

I thought that gas stations relied on the in-store business to keep them afloat, since they make very little on the gasoline sales themselves?

The family owned a gas station for a lot of years. Gas brings people to the store, general goods covers operating costs, tobacco and lotto put food on the table at home.

[You Need a Thneed]

I'm not a fan.

Very often, I'm going inside to buy something else anyway, with the new law I'll have to do two transactions for what used to be one.

Also, I generally find it quicker to go inside to pay. Pay at the pump machines are some of the slowest technology ever created.

I actively avoid Pay-at-pump only pumps and stations. I'll get over it if a law did come into effect, but I'm not a fan.

Still, it makes a lot more sense then the Oregon law than doesn't allow you to pump your own gas.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Knalus

I dislike how it's assumed I'm a criminal - which is what it seems these "laws" imply. An ever increasing number of which assume I'm up to no good.

I also dislike how business owners may no longer be allowed to run their business as they see fit, but rather must comply to this regulation to the inconvenience of them and their customers. If this was the decision of the business owner, that's fine. I would just never use that pump again. If it's a law, well, pointless and overly meddling bureaucracy.

Agreed, this is a dumb law, thats all. Why does something like this need to be law, if a gas station doesn't want to enforce paying at the pump, isn't that there risk?

If all the gas stations want to only allow pre-paying that is also their choice, there is no reason it has to be a law.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Anytime they need an American zip code, I just use 90210.

Yeah, that's never worked for me, on account of the credit card actually requiring the correct zip code of whoever owns it.

If that wasn't the case, they might as well instruct people to punch in 5 randon digits.

[Ace]

Originally Posted by Byrns

I don't mind paying before pumping in Canada, but in the USA it's a PIA because the pumps want a zip code, and postal codes don't work.

Zip Code: 00000 works for me 70% of the time

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm not a fan.

Very often, I'm going inside to buy something else anyway, with the new law I'll have to do two transactions for what used to be one.

Also, I generally find it quicker to go inside to pay. Pay at the pump machines are some of the slowest technology ever created.

I actively avoid Pay-at-pump only pumps and stations. I'll get over it if a law did come into effect, but I'm not a fan.

Still, it makes a lot more sense then the Oregon law than doesn't allow you to pump your own gas.

You wont have to do 2 transactions if you go inside, pay for your gas + whatever else you wanted. Then go outside, pump your gas and leave.

[d_phaneuf]

maybe it's just because they don't need to be upgraded because people are so used to getting gas before they pay in Alberta, but the pay at the pump machines in Vancouver are fine

I haven't had a problem with one that I can remember in the last two years, and it takes about 30 seconds to do it

less time than walking inside and paying a cashier

[Regulator75]

I think it's kinda annoying. I want to fill my tank up, not put exactly $30.00 in.

Or do they refund you the difference if you pre-pay for $30.00 and only get $25.00

[moon]

So if using debit you have to guess at what it will cost?

And if you go over you go into the store and get a refund?

If that is the case it is a pain in the ass but probably not something to get worked up over.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

I think it's kinda annoying. I want to fill my tank up, not put exactly $30.00 in.

Or do they refund you the difference if you pre-pay for $30.00 and only get $25.00

Of course they'll refund you the difference.

Hell most places I've been where you have to pay before you pump, I usually just hand them my credit card and say, "Hold this for pump #2".

[Calgaryborn]

I just go to a local station here in Creston B.C. who is family owned and operated. They don't legally have to ask me to pay up front and never do.

The biggest problem with the law is it is policing where it doesn't have to. Without the law any station could as a policy require pay up front and some did. Now even if you have never had a problem it is illegal for you not to request payment up front.

In B.C. the law came about because a gas jockey tried to stop a gas & dash and was dragged while he hung on and I guess eventually run over. He died. Workers Compensation Board decided that businesses needed to require pay up front to prevent this happening again.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Anytime they need an American zip code, I just use 90210.

Originally Posted by Byrns

Yeah I tried that and it didn't work when I was in FLA in Feb., and I tried 3 different stations while I was down there...

If 90201 doesn't work you can sing Sour Suite by The Guess Who to yourself:

Whatever happened to images cause now they’re gone
And worn-out phrases just keep a hangin’ on
Whatever happened to homes as opposed to houses
The conversation sinks as the evening drowses
It’s just like 46201.
It's just like 46201.

[bizaro86]

It's not a cash grab, but I'm not sure I see why the gov't needs to be involved in this. If it's that big a problem for the police, just stop investigating those calls. Problem solved.

If it's that big a problem for gas station owners, they're all grown ups, they can set their policy any way they like. There's an independent station up in the NE (near sunridge, I think) that has had this policy for some time. Again problem solved, less interfering bureaucracy.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Anytime they need an American zip code, I just use 90210.

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Yeah, that's never worked for me, on account of the credit card actually requiring the correct zip code of whoever owns it.

If that wasn't the case, they might as well instruct people to punch in 5 randon digits.

I used 90210 when in Anaheim/San Diego about 2.5 years ago and it worked every time for me.

Also when I lived in Houston in 2005 I used the zip at the hotel which was not where my credit card was listed at and it worked as well.

Don't know if it has changed since then or if it worked because the zips were in the same general area as the gas stations but I never had an issue when using zip codes not attached to cards in the past.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by moon

So if using debit you have to guess at what it will cost?

And if you go over you go into the store and get a refund?

If that is the case it is a pain in the ass but probably not something to get worked up over.

There is already a debit system in place at the pay pumps. You authorize for a certain amount and it will either stop pumping once you reach that amount or charge you for what you pumped. So if you authorize for $50 and pump $45, it will only charge your debit $45 no refund required.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Yasa

You wont have to do 2 transactions if you go inside, pay for your gas + whatever else you wanted. Then go outside, pump your gas and leave.

No, you can't just do a fill up that way.

I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to program the same software into the inside payment terminals though.

Still, a little annoying. Nothing life changing, but annoying.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Burninator

There is already a debit system in place at the pay pumps. You authorize for a certain amount and it will either stop pumping once you reach that amount or charge you for what you pumped. So if you authorize for $50 and pump $45, it will only charge your debit $45 no refund required.

Well I guess that shows how often I use debit at the pump!

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by moon

I used 90210 when in Anaheim/San Diego about 2.5 years ago and it worked every time for me.

Also when I lived in Houston in 2005 I used the zip at the hotel which was not where my credit card was listed at and it worked as well.

Don't know if it has changed since then or if it worked because the zips were in the same general area as the gas stations but I never had an issue when using zip codes not attached to cards in the past.

Hmm, weird.
I've never been able to use my credit card at a pump that asked for a zip code. I've even tried 90210, and 00000

[moncton golden flames]

i don't like this until the pumps take cash and can give change.