PRE-paid pumps could be installed at Queensland petrol stations

csv8 · 17-09-2012, 11:12 PM

Increased fuel prices drive a spate of petrol thefts from Queensland bowsers

by: Alison Sandy
From: The Courier-Mail
September 18, 2012 12:00AM

PRE-paid pumps could be installed at Queensland petrol stations to combat a huge increase in thieves driving away from bowsers.

Queensland police statistics show nearly 12,000 petrol drive-offs occurred across the state last financial year, or 32 a day, double the previous year. Hardest hit were the Gold Coast and Logan, followed by Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Authorities blame increased fuel and cost-of-living expenses for the surge and, despite businesses installing expensive surveillance equipment, culprits are still proving hard to catch. Serial offenders are even stealing numberplates to cover their tracks, with some caught on camera fleeing the bowser with the petrol pump still in their car.

A BP Australia spokesman said from experience in other countries, pre-pay pumps eliminated the problem, and more would be rolled out across the nation.

"Despite increased use of CCTV and other preventive measures, the frequency of drive-offs in all states continues to rise," he said.

"BP is introducing this technology in selected company-owned and company-operated sites, and will gradually expand the number of pre-pay pumps at high-risk sites."

However, Woolworths spokesman Benedict Brook said: "Any measures to reduce petrol drive-offs must also balance the needs of customers, who regularly tell us that they prefer paying for their petrol after they know exactly how much they have put in their tanks."

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said pre-paid pumps should only apply off-peak, as many smaller operators wouldn't be able to afford it.

"To introduce pre-paying for petrol across Queensland would require a large change in culture, and some petrol station owners, particularly the small independents, would not have the capacity to do it," he said.

"A better way might be to consider having pre-paying of petrol between 10pm and 6am, when offenders may be more inclined to avoid paying."

Brendon O'Neill, who owns Neumann Petroleum in Morningside, said he had noticed an increase in recent months despite being a smaller station where drive-offs weren't as prevalent.

"Things are tight and people are just getting on edge," he said. "I get a lot of people coming in with credit cards and they'll go through three or four before they get one to work.

"Everyone's really doing it tough."

Mr O'Neill said police were now more vigilant about chasing up culprits, but they were rarely caught.

"When you lose $50; say for instance someone puts $50 worth of fuel in, you might make $1.50. So when they knock you for $50, they really are knocking you. Some of them take you for $80 or $100 - there's half a day's profit on your petrol gone."

Police Minister Jack Dempsey ruled out mandatory pre-paid pumps, saying advanced technology would ensure more offenders were caught in the future.

Karl Chinnala and Balaji Ramanathan are hit by fuel thieves every second day.

Their service station at Underwood, south of Brisbane, is in petrol-pinching heartland, with Queensland police statistics showing 2376 petrol drive-offs in the Logan district last financial year.

It's the highest incidence in the state.

"In the last three or four months, I'd say it's doubled," Mr Chinnala said.

He said they would have a minimum of "one drive-off every second day" and he would only get his money back from about one in 20.

Most involve stolen numberplates.

Mr Chinnala said often they would see the same people committing the crime.

"Other than drive-offs, there are people coming in to fill up their cars and then come inside and say: 'Nup, I don't have any money on me.'

"Even after taking the numberplate and everything, they don't come back."

Mr Chinnala said he would only agree with the pre-paid option after hours because the business would lose money from customers not going into the shop
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226476112287

2011G6E · 18-09-2012, 01:05 AM

Fine...i'll "pre-pay" for my fuel...I'll just "pre pay" $5 or $10 at a time, and keep putting fuel in, then prepaying for some more, until my tank is finally full to the brim. I hope they enjoy the bloody great line up of cars I'll cause...
As for derision of that logic, such as "well you should have a pretty good idea of how many dollars worth it will take to fill your car", I say this: go out and look at your fuel gauge, then come back and tell me how many dollars it will take to fill. People want to "fill" their tanks too...not "close enough is good enough", and what if you over-estimate and pre pay for more fuel than you need? Do you get change? Or will they be made by the same people that make phone booths...you put in a dollar for a local call costing 55 cents or something, and you don't get any change.
But, push comes to shove, I'll simply not go to any servo using pre paid pumps...the same as in Bundaberg the one service station that doesn't stock ordinary unleaded is losing customers, as the majority of people either don't want that E10 crap or won't pay ten cents or more extra a liter for premium.

Nothing I like better than having myself restricted and inconvenienced because of the actions of a couple of idiots here and there...but I'm used to it...I ride motorbikes and I'm a firearms owner...

chamb0 · 18-09-2012, 02:27 AM

Yes you get change back... Geez.

rancidpunx · 18-09-2012, 05:56 AM

If its like the system in California where you line up and pay before you start pumping, its painful. Then you have to reline up to get change or make up the difference that you pumped over.

How about a tough boom gate which is opened with a ticket that is issued when you pay normally?

jpd80 · 18-09-2012, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

If its like the system in California where you line up and pay before you start pumping, its painful. Then you have to reline up to get change or make up the difference that you pumped over.

How about a tough boom gate which is opened with a ticket that is issued when you pay normally?

California gas stations only requires prepayment for cash sales, swipe your credit card at the pumps, enter your pin and you're good to go
- no more lining up at the counter......
Gee, imagine all those impulse buys that go away because people just do transactions at the pump...Woolworths will be miffed.

noosacuda · 18-09-2012, 06:28 AM

After spending a month in the States this is the most ridiculous idea EVER!!! It's so horrible a system and a huge P.I.T.A!!! NOT convenient at all! If your card doesn't work at the actual pump you have to go inside and pre=pay a certain amount, ie $50 and pay cash or by card, and if you want to fill your car up you have to "guesstimate" how much and if you over pay then go back inside again and and get a refund, WHAT A HASSLE! Forget the idea!

Rodge · 18-09-2012, 06:46 AM

Unfortunatly times are even tighter in New Zealand and with petrol here north of $2 litre many stations have allready moved to pre-pay pumps due to the same reasons above.

Its a pain in the bum, no question. You have to play this guessing game, how many litres will it take based on the fuel guage.... multiply this out by the fuel price to work out what you need to buy...., deduct a safety margin and because there's invariably only one operator inside the gas station, (gas stations don't care if you have to wait and queue like cattle as they make even more money by paying less wages and making more impulse sales of junk food to people bored with waiting in the queue), you don't want to have to queue twice so one invariably goes a bit conservative on the fill quantity so as to avoid queing up to get your credit for over-paying.

The net result is that you inevitably don't get very close to a complete fill, that's not a problem with our diesel car with its 90 litre fuel tank which gets around 1000 km's to a full tank, but the SC V8 only does around 350-400 km's on a complete fill and you have to go out of your way to find BP98 Octane in the first place, it starts to get significantly inconvienient if you can't get a complete fill. I guess there's a way to pay at pump by swiping first, I havn't dragged my tired old brain into the 21st century in that regard yet as I thought Service stations were meant to include service.
Just another way these holigans are affecting our lives...

**SSD-85** · 18-09-2012, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Gee, imagine all those impulse buys that go away because people just do transactions at the pump...Woolworths will be miffed.

I believe this is the sole reason why we dont have Prepaid yet.

But if fuel stealing continues to rise, we as honest consumers will eventually lose current conveniences in some form.

csv8 · 18-09-2012, 08:14 AM

I stopped at a petrol station on the way to Las Vegas and had to leave my credit card inside before they would activate the pump..It was because my card was foreign and pump wouldn't recognise it..no real drama just a worry that they might skim the card but they didn't.

aussie muscle · 18-09-2012, 08:22 AM

Why don't they put a credit card swipe on the bowser? you swipe, fill up and the amount is put on your card when you hang up. it'd save having to go line up at the attendant's window.

How about having a service attendant like the old days that filled the car up for you?

302 XC · 18-09-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagleheart

But if fuel stealing continues to rise, we as honest consumers will eventually lose current conveniences in some form.

Not just fuel theft, what about retail theft
No wonder many businesses are goin on line selling nowadays
Dont pay for the goods, they dont get despatched ....
No different to fuel , you pay then you get,harsh as it is but its the 1 bad apple that ruins the box ....
Servos out my way, after 6 ,7 PM you have to pay first before pumping the gas
I guess they got sick of take now pay never .........

Good ol logan area,
All good to rip someone off for a tank of juice , but knock of a durrie of a logan bogan and the whole world will haunt you ....

2011G6E · 18-09-2012, 08:26 AM

As I said, being a motorcyclist and a gun owner I'm used to this sort of mentality that infests society these days...

"We can't be bothered to spend bucks to catch or punish the people who are breaking the law, so we'll punish and restrict the people who have never and will never break the law because they're a captive audience, and being good law abiding citizens, they'll just go along with whatever freaky crap we can think up".

StealthAu · 18-09-2012, 08:35 AM

If service stations were once again service stations, this wouldn't be an issue hey?

pottery beige · 18-09-2012, 09:36 AM

we've had console prepaid for years.. some do it.. some don't..
some only have certain pumps after certain hours prepay...
get known at a local servo.. pull up give em a wave.. bingo pumps on...

Yellow_Festiva · 18-09-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Gee, imagine all those impulse buys that go away because people just do transactions at the pump...Woolworths will be miffed.

Woolies credit card had the facility of flashing your card on the scanner at the pump. I got the card for this convienience alone when it was released.

I soon saw the amount of 'out of order' signs popping up on all the scanners..... Or, scanners that were de-activated.....

The technology probably cost thousands to integrate into the pumps and the stations were probably losing tens of thousands a year on lost impulse sales....

Lose Lose....

Yellow_Festiva · 18-09-2012, 09:43 AM

What is the issue anyway??? This system has been used in much of Europe for years....

Honestly, is it really that bad?????? There isn't much you can buy these days where you take a product on the promise of paying for it after you have posession of it....

I was behind a chap at the local servo last week... telling the attendant a sad story of how he left his card at home and needs to go and get it. For security he left the worts looking pre-paid style phone I had ever seen....

Wonder if he ever returned??? Wonder how often it happens???

Hell... I booked a lunch at a fancy hotel in Dubai and they wouldn't book unless I handed over card details. Just the way it is these days...

Yellow_Festiva · 18-09-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Why don't they put a credit card swipe on the bowser? you swipe, fill up and the amount is put on your card when you hang up. it'd save having to go line up at the attendant's window.

How about having a service attendant like the old days that filled the car up for you?

Mobil at Ingleburn hat that, now it's a 7 Eleven. Loved it.

Took a while to get used to. People would look at you filling then jumping in your car and driving off like you stole the fuel...

Yellow_Festiva · 18-09-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthAu

If service stations were once again service stations, this wouldn't be an issue hey?

True. But would you be willing to pay the extra for someone else to pump your fuel?

Say the 'service surcharge' was 20c per litre. Not all that out of the question considering there may be times where the attendant has to get paid for not serving anyone.

Would you pay???

I wouldn't.... and I'm sure hardly anyone else would either.

poppa smurf · 18-09-2012, 10:44 AM

already here in a lot of citys.......as has been said if you are a regular, which I am at all the servos here, then the pump is on and the good ole yack is still there

pottery beige · 18-09-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

already here in a lot of citys.......as has been said if you are a regular, which I am at all the servos here, then the pump is on and the good ole yack is still there

yep.. its no bigdeal.. im still trying to work out what the hell this has to do with riding a motorbike or owning a gun though....

Fiesta_Man69 · 18-09-2012, 11:08 AM

During the spate of drive offs in the Bankstown area of Sydney, a few stations went pre paid. When I went to the register I was asked how much I wanted - I replied 'a full tank.' Not possible, I had to guess how much (!) So I just put $10 in and didn't go back for 6 months, by that time the trial had been dropped, as obviously other motorists avoided the place like the plague.

Less than 1% of drivers drive off. There's no need for pre-payment. (It's like wanting to ban young/really old drivers because a few make the headlines for a crash).

Regarding bringing back 'service' stations, there's a BP near Bankstown airport that has done it for years and their price is the same. Used to go there whenever I could (don't live anywhere near there now). So I guess it can be done.

Poorboy_racer · 18-09-2012, 11:10 AM

Already got them here in W.A. but only on two of the pumps in our local, also have a couple of totally unmaned servos. They are mainly geared for commecial trucks but you can fill up your car in them, they are fully automated have to pay by credit card or petrol card.

poppa smurf · 18-09-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

yep.. its no bigdeal.. im still trying to work out what the hell this has to do with riding a motorbike or owning a gun though....

perhaps it is the combination that sends shivers up the spines of servo owners and attendants

ride in on a bike with a rifle strapped to your back and they may tend to get upset and expect payment upfront......damnable cheek......cant for the life of me think why?

I still yearn for the days when the owner would come out from the back where he was working on someones vehicle, oily rag in hand

he would check your tyres, wash your windscreen and check everything under the bonnet whilst having a good old chinwag

I'd pay the 2 dollars, (from an empty tank) grizzle about how much the fuel has gone up and he'd laugh and wave me off

never mind cant live in the past, what will be, will be.....we adapt or fall by the wayside

Ben73 · 18-09-2012, 11:36 AM

The servo closest to my house is prepaid. I went there once and never to return.
I prefer to fill up my fuel, then pay. I will continue to do that as long as there are local servos which allow this.

When I first went to a servo in California, I couldn't figure out why the pump wouldn't work. It did not say anywhere it was pre-pay. I had to ask the guy next to me what the go was. It was a lot of stuffing around walking to and from your car, but at least I got to meet a friendly local.

xisled · 18-09-2012, 12:05 PM

Heaps of Servos in the western subs of Melbourne have pre paid at night.

Not a big issue IMO.

blueoval · 18-09-2012, 12:17 PM

I remember the Mobil servos used to have prepaid pumps back in the 90s which I used to use back then. Very convenient, I'd use my pin, pay for what I wanted, grabbed my receipt and I was off. Fastest way to fill up. Then they disappeared probably due to the lessened demand for customers to buy their over priced bread and milk.

mik · 18-09-2012, 01:00 PM

it might be time to get an account with your local servo, just run in and sign your name , off you go.

FPV+fteT3 · 18-09-2012, 01:21 PM

ahh should go back to the good old days when a chick wearing a bum bag would be on the forecourt open the cap and fill the car for you clean the screen and collect the cash all without you having to move your ***.... sorry love you missed a bit on the screen lean left just a little more...ahhh thats it.
Same time tomorrow then.

They replaced the service station attendants with "console operators" and introduced self serve to save money now the people who changed the system to increase their profits are having a whinge about loosing so many dollars to people who just drive off without paying...lol... If you have a problem see paragraph 1 problem solved.

kaniSS · 18-09-2012, 01:45 PM

For gods sake, Stick your credit card or debit card into the pump, the pump starts working, fill up, pump stops, take your card out **** off home. Problem solved.

Pump will not operate unless a card has been stuck in. Don't have a card? Bad luck. Walk to work.

EFFalcon · 18-09-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaniSS

For gods sake, Stick your credit card or debit card into the pump, the pump starts working, fill up, pump stops, take your card out **** off home. Problem solved.

Pump will not operate unless a card has been stuck in. Don't have a card? Bad luck. Walk to work.

Its already been stated, they lose out on impulse purchases of inflated chocolate bars.

but yes.. i used to visit a mobile that had a credit card scanner on it (infact it was a credit card only pump)

i used it all the time as there was no one using it.
pull up, scan, fill, leave.

was brilliant.

then they removed it.