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 Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:20 pm Post subject: Another Gas Pump Mishap |
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Like meusa12, I drove away from the pump yesterday with the hose still attached. But the station had installed new detachable hoses, so when I started to drive away, it simply snapped away from the pump. There was no gas spill, and no damage to the hose, the pump or my car. It looked like the hose simply had to be snapped back into place, like Legos.
The attendant made a big fuss and said that because of CA state safety laws, they were going to have to have the hose professionally reattached and rechecked for safety (understandable). He said it was going to cost me lots of money and asked for copies of my DL and insurance card, which I gave him. I'm going to speak the owner today. This is a very small town, so I have met him several times before.
Is this really such a big and expensive operation? Should I contact my insurance company or wait to hear what the financial cost is first? |
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shiraanne
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Personally I'd wait...I'd call my agent let them know, but ask if you can wait to actually file a claim until you know the cost and have determined if you want to pay it out of pocket or turn in a claim....(cool idea about the break away pump though...I've never heard of that)
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Lori
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject: To Lori |
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| Thanks for the quick response. I've also checked out a few other forums, and one woman said she was charged $147 - not nearly enough to make an insurance claim. But some of the people who responded had actually worked at gas stations where this happened. One said that it's a simple reattachment. Another said they had to have someone come out and reattach it but they didn't charge the customer. |
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shiraanne
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Another said they had to have someone come out and reattach it but they didn't charge the customer. |
So they actually have a choice not to bother you further.
I too would have waited to hear from them before turning to the insurance company. May be the attendant wasn't aware at that time how much its gonna cost them, but after knowing the actual cost they may decide not take the issue up with your insurer. They too have to care about their customers, right? |
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simon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: Update |
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So I went to speak to the owner on Saturday. He knows me and told me that as soon as he saw who it was and knew that I was a good customer, he would do everything he could to keep the cost down. He showed me some figures from a previous mishap that required replacement parts, labor, etc. He did not contact my insurance company and neither did I.
Later that day on the way to the movies, I drove by the station and saw him up on a chair at that pump, attempting to re-attach the hose himself. On the way home from the movies, the hose looked like it was hooked up and ready for business.
On Sunday, I drove past the station and saw someone pumping gas at that pump. My husband said he saw someone else pumping gas at that pump earlier.
Today, I'm going to speak to the owner again. Under the circumstances, I don't see how he can charge me for anything, except maybe some labor for his time and trouble. We'll see. |
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shiraanne
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: Final Outcome |
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So, the owner did have to contact the company he works with that repairs these things. He said he had to pay for a new breakaway and hose.
According to him, everything is different now with this new system he had to install. It used to be you could just reattach it and be on your way, but new regulations and new equipment have made it more difficult. It's just my luck that the new system was installed last month.
In the end, he was able to save me all labor charges and I will have to pay for the 2 parts, which, with our ridiculous 9.75% sales tax, comes to $410. I really have no way of knowing if everything he's telling me is true, but I did see a bill to another customer (from the outside service) for the same thing that happened a few weeks ago, and the prices were the same. The owner knows that I frequent his station and that I live in town. In addition to the gas pumping, he also does auto repairs. This is a very small, friendly town, and it would be very easy for me to start giving him a bad rep among my neighbors, so it wouldn't be good business for him to try to screw me.
So that's the final outcome of this expensive little mishap. No insurance involvement, which is a good thing, but $$ out of my pocket anyway, which is not. |
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shiraanne
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject: BTW... |
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My son was in the car with me when this happened. He is having his first driving lesson this morning. The first thing I said to him was, "This is something you NEVER want to do."
Life experience is always the best teacher. |
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shiraanne
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:18 am Post subject: |
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shiraanne
Glad the owner cooperated, sounds to me like he only charged you for parts. And more than likely your son will not make THIS mistake.. 
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Lori
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