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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Petrol forecourt etiquette?

129 replies

LittleMissRayofHope · 10/03/2015 10:36

Is there any?

This morning I dropped dd off at nursery and was in no rush to get home. Needed some fuel so into petrol station and waited for an available pump on the right side for my car.
There were pumps free but they weren't on the side I wanted.
Man drives in behind me and beeps. I didn't move. He beeped again, and I didn't pay notice to it.
He beeps a loooonnnnggg beep and when I didn't move he actually got out, came to my window, tapped and motioned me to wind down my window. I didn't.
He shouted through the window that my car is smaller then his so I should use the other pumps as it will reach round my car. I said I didn't want to risk damaging my car and I was happy to wait.
He said I was out of order as I would be making him late now and I was a 'selfish school run mum' I didn't say anything back although I did call him a wanker when he finally walked off

Now nasty comments aside, there is no forecourt etiquette is there? I was perfectly within my rights and reasonableness to refuse this?? Or should I have rocked damaging my vehicle or looking like a prat if the hose didn't reach as my car was smaller then his??

OP posts:

NoArmaniNoPunani · 11/03/2015 09:19

I never realised why people queue for certain pumps. I've got a fiat500 so just go wherever

GoldenBeaches · 11/03/2015 09:26

I think you both were actually - you for not using any working pump regardless of which side it's on, they don't damage your car, you pull forward and closer to the pump and with your little car it should be easy. He was too for not doing the same and being an arse about it.
There wouldn't be a queue in the first place if people just used all the pumps available.
My car is very wide and it's not small and I can manage it easily, even my mum does it and she's no spring chicken.
I think it's weird how people won't use all the pumps and say "oh I don't mind waiting" or "it might damage my car" other people do mind waiting when they can see pumps are free and no it won't damage your car!

WrappedInABlankie · 11/03/2015 09:42

YWBU the hose I'll reach, if I can pull the hose round the back of my Renault Megan scenic without it touching the paint work so can you.

HWBU to confront you, silently simmer in his own car.

My petrol station has two Booths and 3 petrol sides (one double sided and 1 single side as the other is PAP) It's equally annoying as those people who will sit at the pump after they've filled up and join the queue for "their" booth on "their" side when the other booth is empty and she's tapping her thumbs, go to the other fucking side and stop bloody blocking people in for no bloody reason

richthegreatcornholio · 11/03/2015 09:43

Have you actually read the thread Golden? A hose can definitely damage your paint. If you're happy to damage your car then fine but don't expect others to do so because of your impatience.

OddBoots · 11/03/2015 09:46

I like our local petrol station, it has the pumps one car width apart with pumps on both sides so unless you go for the ones on either end of the row you can fill on the correct side whichever queue you are in.

richthegreatcornholio · 11/03/2015 09:47

You are vitriolic in every post with no apparent reason - you must have some serious issues.

No, just a lifetime of passion for paintwork. Nothing but perfection is good enough.

alltoomuchrightnow · 11/03/2015 13:30

Line of the day!! - 'A lifetime of passion for paintwork'

maninawomansworld · 11/03/2015 18:02

He was being rude but then you should have just moved to the next available pump regardless of side.
ALL pumps now have hoses that reach both sides so the whole 'my petrol caps on the other side' thing is totally redundant, plus the hose is bloody rubber so it's really not going to damage your metal car is it!
I drive a big ass range rover and can easily reach the fuel filler cap no matter which side the pump is so unless you're in a lorry you should be able to.

Vycount · 11/03/2015 18:15

I'm confused. Why do people think that Op should have moved to the next available pump and used the hose on the wrong side? If it was free, and as everyone says, the hoses will stretch across any car if you park in the right place, the dickhead could have done that himself.
Only on MN... it would never occur to me to get annoyed because someone was waiting to fuel up their car using a hose on the right side.

Nomama · 11/03/2015 18:16

I have to admit, I am with rude rich regarding my paintwork.

But that isn't why I think your were NU, I just think you were at the front of the queue, were not blocking anyone else from making the 'other side of the car' choice and so could sit there for as long as you bloody well liked.

All the 'ooh you should just take the next available' posters can sit back and wait on me. Sod you all! I am not rushing so you can get through in 2 minutes less - no way hose-ay

TheNumberfaker · 11/03/2015 20:28

The last time I tried filling up from the wrong side I managed to spill petrol down my clothes. That was 13 years ago. I wait for the right side now.
Yanbu.

happy2bamummy · 11/03/2015 20:47

There isn't any etiquette to move. Also there's no reason either of you couldn't use one on the other side, it would reach across large or small cars. If there was another spare, he should have moved if he was that bothered!

EveBoswell · 11/03/2015 20:49

I don't like using the 'other side' pumps. They are heavy and you really have to put some effort into getting them over or round to your filler point and then find you haven't got them at the right angle.

YANBU, OP.

SoupDragon · 11/03/2015 20:56

Not every hose reaches round to the wrong side.

If they did, there would be no need for special signs saying the hoses are extra long or specifically stating thwt they reach. Also, staff would not come out and tell you that they don't reach and to choose one on the right side.

CLMP · 11/03/2015 21:16

I've never heard of a car damaged by using the pump on the other side. And although that guy sounds like a prize prick, I have been very annoyed in the past by unnecessary queues caused by people who don't want to use the "other side". If many of these wait, then no one can get past, and even when you're in no rush, other people might be, so I think it is courteous to keep things going.

skyninja · 11/03/2015 21:16

Range Rovers - you can stretch the hoses round to the other side without damaging the paintwork on your car.

I used to always go for the one on the 'right' side but now am pretty brave and sometimes do the reach around the car bit. Haven't scratched the paintwork and it makes me a little more grown up each time. FFS I'll be putting air in the tyres changing flat tyres soon

But if you want to wait for a pump, I really don't see how it's any of the rude man's concern.

whomovedmychocolate · 11/03/2015 21:20

Please tell me it was Clarkson

happy2bamummy · 11/03/2015 21:21

I think the problem is people are getting confused about what kind of queue it is. OP has plainly stated it was the kind where you queue at the pump you wish to use, therefore the ride man could have chosen move to one with no queue and had NO right to ask OP to move. It was a bloody cheek.

happy2bamummy · 11/03/2015 21:22

Whoops, I meant rude!

happy2bamummy · 11/03/2015 21:25

Ps person doing the Post Office style queuing, hadn't you noticed people choose a pump and queue at it.

Lweji · 11/03/2015 21:29

Just as long as you don't do this

Of course the OP wasn't unreasonable. She can put petrol where ever she likes from whatever side she likes.
If he was in a hurry he should have asked politely, not act like a knob.

ScathingContempt · 11/03/2015 21:35

The hoses don't have to touch the car. I've got a large people carrier and I fill up on the wrong side without the hose touching the car. I pull the back of the car level with the pump then just hold the hose out slightly so it doesn't touch my car.

However op, ywnbu, as long as you weren't blocking him from reaching the other pumps. He was rude, he could have stretched it over his own car. Or left in time to factor in a queue at the garage.

Newyearsunresolutions · 12/03/2015 07:14

I won't even try to fill up on the wrong side after my disastrous attempt. It was pissing down with rain, windy and very busy. I took the petrol cap off and tried to stretch the hose across the car, it wouldn't go, then the petrol cap flew off the car and landed under my car. I couldn't move the car to retrieve it because there was no where to move it to. I ended up on my hands and knees in a puddle trying to get it back. I then drove off when I could and got petrol elsewhere, I was mortified.

It pisses me off when people say all hoses stretch, it was that attitude that led to my disastrous attempt, they bloody well don't.

thoughtsbecomethings · 12/03/2015 07:19

He was very rude. But I don't understand why neither of you didn't use the free pump. The hoses don't damage your car and it is frustrating when people don't use all the pumps.

SoupDragon · 12/03/2015 07:28

it is frustrating when people don't use all the pumps.

I have been told by staff that the hoses do not all reach to the other side.
Certainly at my local Shell they do not all reach to the other sides less you pull mostly into the space for the pump in front or into the exit lane.

The ones that always reach round have signs on the pump saying this or have the hoses coming down from the top of the pump rather than low.

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