Topic: Petrol stations

[Spill]

A friend of mine is emailing this to MCN. Has anyone else come up against this sort of behaviour?

Today I pulled into a Shell petrol station on Grafton Street Milton Keynes.
I tried to fill the tank up but was told over the loudspeaker system to remove my helmet before petrol would be issued.
I refused to do this & went into the shop to find out why.
I was informed that they needed to see my face as I might drive off without paying.
Needless to say I took my business elsewhere.
Interestingly enough when I called their customer service number I was told this was their policy to make sure I was over 16 so I could legally buy petrol.
Two points, do 16 year olds ride 900cc motorcycles & would they request sunglasses hats or even a burka  to be remove before buying petrol in case they drove off without paying?
Could you bring this to the attention of your readers as I feel they may like to exercise their right to buy petrol elsewhere, as motorcyclists do not seem to be trusted.

[Darkmonster]

We just pay 1st over here....surprised its not more commonplace back in England

[Weaver]

Quote (Spill @ June 26 2007,06:30)

& would they request sunglasses hats or even a burka  to be remove before buying petrol in case they drove off without paying?

Of course not if in a car - everyone knows that car drivers are always honest decent people who would never forget to pay for their petrol, nor steal it (and the car).  

[scorps]

i had that once and just went over to all the pumps and took the nossles out of the holders and drove off
i was gona drive back past to watch the attendant having to come out to replace them all to stop the bleeping on his machine inside '>

[Yogibear]

2 Points:-

1) Why were they in milton keynes in the first place were they lost?

2) We know how paranoid petrol stations are over us not paying so I am gonna start a new religion where it is offensive to remove your motorcycle helmet whilst paying for fuel. I shall call it motorcycling-ism,all followwers will have to practice the aret of nto removing thier helmet whilst fueling, I expect it to catch on!

[riz K5]

I’ve had this happen to me too! Funnily enough it was a Shell garage too.

I’m a currently suing Shell for assault, don’t know if anyone read my thread sometime ago about this, but I got into an argument over a penny with the cashier. I was so angry, and as I left the shop I pulled ALL the pumps out. The casher come racing out with his hand behind his back and ended up throwing a opened tin of spaghetti hoops all over me! Now I know I shouldn’t have pulled the pumps out, but that does not give someone the right to assault you!  

I called the police and made a report of assault (which the cashier admitted to) and am now in negotiations for an out of court settlement. I now try not to use Shell, well certainly not the one in palace anyway.

[Alba]

why on earth is this such a big issue??
i think the petrol stations have the right to see your face when you do petrol to make sure you will be identified if you ride off without paying.  fair enough!!!
it doesnt cost you anything and keeps everyone happy.  now to be a vandal and refuse to take it off plus acting like a t**t by taking all the nozzles out, is completely unnecessary and make people see bikers as violent ogres.  no offence to Shrek! '>

[riz K5]

Sorry Alba, but I don’t agree. I feel we are being victimised here because of the form of transport we chose. It’s right what Colin said, would they make car drivers take off hats, glasses, or any other item that my disguise their identity. It’s the hassle of having to remove your helmet and I feel it’s unnecessary. Even if they get CCTV footage of your face, what’s that going to do? I can’t see them being shown on crime watch or anything, all for a £10 tank of fuel. Is that really worth doing a runner for?

As for me pulling the pumps out, yes I know that was wrong, and two wrongs don’t make a right, I was just very angry and wanted the cashier to be put to some inconvenience like I was. I never expected to get assaulted but am now using that to my advantage.

The other thing that annoys me is after 11pm they won’t let you in the shop. When I was a kid I use to get them running around like a blue arse fly! I think the majority of workers in the garages at night don’t want to be there, and they take out their frustrations on us. I know they must get grief all the time, but that does not give them the right to take it out on someone else.

Don’t pick on the little ones, they bite back!

[MATTP]

I feel the words of pot kettle black may fit for the person aboves post (alba)? Never have I ever known Alba of all people to ever react in a way that could ever be seen as anti social '>

I've never taken my helmet off and unless I was empty I'd move on to another shop. The fact is that they have numberplate cameras and this is how they track you. How many people who have a burka on are asked to take it off to buy smokes?

[Yogibear]

Quote (Alba @ June 26 2007,11:46)

why on earth is this such a big issue?? i think the petrol stations have the right to see your face when you do petrol to make sure you will be identified if you ride off without paying.  fair enough!!! it doesnt cost you anything and keeps everyone happy.  now to be a vandal and refuse to take it off plus acting like a t**t by taking all the nozzles out, is completely unnecessary and make people see bikers as violent ogres.  no offence to Shrek! '>

There was an article in a bike mag not so long ago about this where they sent four people to get fuel 3 car drivers, one in a hoodie, couldn't see his face, one in a burkha, one dressed as Elvis including rubber face mask, only person asked to show face was biker. This is discrimination.

When you are cold and wet and need to fuel its the extra hassle of gloves off, helmet off and then fueling, going to kiosk and then re-dressing after.

This is a short sighted policy written by people who have no idea of the hassle it causes. I dotn condone vandalism, but putting petrol stations to extra trouble when they put you to extra trouble is kinda justified.

[trouty]

Quote (riz K5 @ June 26 2007,11:27)

The casher come racing out with his hand behind his back and ended up throwing a opened tin of spaghetti hoops all over me!

i would have cut off his eyelids with the sharp edges of the empty can.

he wouldnt be in such a hurry to play hoop-la again, i can assure you.

[Alba]

is it not true that majority of thiefs will choose a helmet to disguise their face and a bike to run away with it?
i think they have (unfortunately) every reason to believe that a helmet could be used to disguise a thief because of so many times this have happened.
i still dont see any wrong in removing the helmet from your head, as its also a form of courtesy when you talk to people, i.e. taking your sunglasses off or your hat.  i for once never remove my helmet unless told so, i will go shopping with it if i can get away with it!  but if told to remove it i have no objections or think that i've been treated unfairly.

Matt, me? antisocial behaviour? never!  '>

[Mr Rizla]

what the issue is, is double standards, I had this once in a newsagent when i went in to buy some shtuff, I approached the counter and as i got there the casher told me to take my helmet off or he would not serve me, I told him all i wanted was a packet of fags, I didnt realy want to give him a kiss, that was the job of his mate standing besides him and promptly left the shop.
He was asian, the shop was rather busy with other Asians some in full head dress with those beedy untrustworthy eyes, so yes, i have a problem with double standards

[Weaver]

I could perhaps understand the "trying to stop thefts" argument if there was one treatment for all people who wear items of clothing which could be construed as "disguises" as other people have mentioned.  But it appears always only to be directed at motorcyclists whereas more thefts I understand are actually committed by car drivers anyway!    

I think the funny aspect of this is the people who let you fill up then ask you to remove your helmet when you are trying to pay!  This has happened to RO - as he pointed out - he was trying to pay for the fuel, so where was the problem - where they going to refuse to take his money if he left his helmet on?  What's that all about then?   '>  '>

[riz K5]

In all fairness Shell do have a no helmet sign on the entrance into the shop.

Anyone else noticed this?

[Weaver]

Quote (riz K5 @ June 26 2007,12:54)

In all fairness Shell do have a no helmet sign on the entrance into the shop. Anyone else noticed this?

I wouldn't be "fair" to Shell at any time - I have avoided using their petrol since they tried to get rid of TU membership for their staff.  '>

[TallGuy]

Driving off without paying is a big prob. Bilking is what we call it. The garage is perfectly within their rights to ask you to remove your helmet to allow the cctv to capture you for possible identification. Note that your number plate is also being read by the CCTV. Why do you object to removing your helmet... well take this example. Bike theif nicks brand new R1 hoons around and then goes to fill up doesn't take off helmet and rides off without paying. Garage don't stand a hope in hell of getting the police there to intercept but if helmet was removed then chance of identifying theif. Also some garages are linked into the stolen vehicle register and are being equipped with a limited version of ANPR so stolen vehicles get flagged and the pump attendant can delay unlocking the pump until the police are called.
Garage attendants are sometimes frightened of helmets because they have been robbed by people wearing helmets. It's sad but true that a minority of undesireable people who just happen to use motorcycles give a bad impression for the rest of us.
When you have to deal with the victims of crime you get to understand what their issues are.

[Alba]

Quote (Weaver @ June 26 2007,12:47)

I think the funny aspect of this is the people who let you fill up then ask you to remove your helmet when you are trying to pay!  This has happened to RO - as he pointed out - he was trying to pay for the fuel, so where was the problem - where they going to refuse to take his money if he left his helmet on?  What's that all about then?   '>  '>

the argument 'stolen credit cards' springs to mind...and the fact that you could look quite menacing in your full set of leathers that they would like to see your face at least, could be another reason...but, let them eat cake!!!
   

ps cheers Colin  '>

[Weaver]

Quote (Alba @ June 26 2007,13:12)

Quote (Weaver @ June 26 2007,12:47) I think the funny aspect of this is the people who let you fill up then ask you to remove your helmet when you are trying to pay!  This has happened to RO - as he pointed out - he was trying to pay for the fuel, so where was the problem - where they going to refuse to take his money if he left his helmet on?  What's that all about then?   '>  '> the argument 'stolen credit cards' springs to mind...and the fact that you could look quite menacing in your full set of leathers that they would like to see your face at least, could be another reason...but, let them eat cake!!!     ps cheers Colin  '>

Someone told me - think that was RO actually that one cashier said she preferred him to wear the helmet - after all if he was a villain he could do more damage wacking her with the helmet!   '>  '>

Colin's comments re the stolen bike illustrate the one reason why I wouldn't have a problem with being asked to remove my helmet - I'd like to think it could be found.  However, that is never the excuse that the garages give - and it should apply to all disguises.

Since I have a flip front helmet it's not a problem for me - I can just open the front and am never asked to remove it!   '>

[MATTP]

I think TG is correct here. I know we are writing as people who would pay, and not try to run away without paying. Problem is that some people have ducked it for the rest of us and this is an on going problem.

Good news for most. I've found that a lot of stations you can pay at the pump '> . This is what I've done the last couple of times '>

[riz K5]

I understand and agree with everything TG has said too, but the fact of the matter is if I don’t feel like taking my helmet off for whatever reason I.E: raining, in a rush, or even just shy, it’s my prerogative to use another garage and that’s what I do.

I have only been refused petrol once, and I just took my custom elsewhere.

[riz K5]

Quote (MATTP @ June 26 2007,14:08)

I've found that a lot of stations you can pay at the pump '> .

Anywhere near us Mat?

Every pump I’ve found with this on aren’t working.

[MATTP]

There are a couple and next time out I'll point them out. The close one for us is after that petrol station we went to on Sunday and just before Croydon on the right side of the road? Its on the corner near a big junction. Went there today for petrol thinking I would be late picking up saint...twit was not even at S Jordan's '> Yet again Suzuki gets there first

[ifizzy]

Helmet off fair enough.
Taking your business elsewhere fair enough.
Thinking that theres some sort of anti biker conspiracy is a little over the top.
Some petrol station managers insist that their staff pay for losses at the pumps caused by drive offs.
As most of these people who work in this sector are extremely low paid I would remove my lid without
question if it gives the staff a little peace of mind.
It also allows the people responsible for the petrol station to read your body language.
Would you walk into a bank with your lid on and get served at the cashiers desk........ probably not!

[Spill]

Quote (Weaver @ June 26 2007,13:30)

Since I have a flip front helmet it's not a problem for me - I can just open the front and am never asked to remove it!   '>

I do that as well, but most of the garages around here ask 'COURIERS AND DESPATCH RIDERS' to remove helmets - I ain't one of those, so I don't (usually).

Mind you, in mid summer (HA! ) it can be a relief to take the lid off for a couple of minutes.