To think we shouldn't have been treated like criminals?

[SeriousCreativeBlock]

DP and I use the local petrol station nearly every day for bits and pieces, since there is a small supermaket attached. As such, all the staff know us fairly well and we'll make friendly small talk with them whenever we go in.

We went down to get petrol before getting our DD from preschool and we were already running a tiny bit late. DP went in to pay for the petrol but came out not long after saying the card had declined (it shouldn't have, need to look into thay but it's a separate issue). I immediately panicked since I've already had a terrible day and say we can go home and get my other card once we've picked DD up.

DP goes in and explains this but one of the less friendly members of staff said that this wasn't the "correct procedure" and would have to put it through a debt collectors, adding a £6 fee, and taking a photo of him (!) and the car. He tried to get this debt collection thing to go through for a long time (all the while I am in the car going out of my mind with worry) and DP keeps reminding him that we need to go and pick up our DD. The man woulf not let us do that until it became evident this debt collection thing wouldn't work. His colleague meanwhile was saying the whole time "They're regular customers! They wouldn't be trying it on!"
Anyway when this "correct procedure" was evidently not working, he finally agreed that we could just bring a different form of payment later. We were 15 minutes late picking up DD. (I am very anxious about timekeeping)

So AIBU to think this kind of officious, bureaucratic nonsense was not necessary?

That said - why not just leave your husband there as "ransom," go and get your daughter, grab the other card and drive back?

This is what I would have done, or left you there if it's the case that you don't drive or something. You wouldn't have had to panic then about being late.

Debt collection agency? He was talking bollocks.

Fill in special form, with car reg, name address, phone number.

Mug shot picture wouldn't of surprised me, but not one i've heard of before.
You get 24 hours to pay then they call the police.

I've Forgotten or my card or had it declined a few times. Also been stood behind people its happened to before too.

Mostly it's fill a form in, however in some areas police are no longer actively following up on non-payments and instead referring garages to a debt collection agency to chase for payment - it may be that you are in one of these areas and they've changed their procedures accordingly?

Mostly it's fill a form in, however in some areas police are no longer actively following up on non-payments and instead referring garages to a debt collection agency to chase for payment - it may be that you are in one of these areas and they've changed their procedures accordingly?

I recently went to buy petrol and realised after i had filled up that i had left my purse at home. I tried to call DH but he had gone out cycling and didnt hear the phone. The attendant very kindly let me go home for my purse on the basis i left my phone with him for security. He told me when i came back to pay that he gets at least ten customers A DAY trying to avoid paying abd come back later. It's a huge problem. He said he normally threatens the police and then they mysteriously find the money to pay.
i would previously have said YANBU, but based on that experience i suspect this attendant has been in trouble with his employer for not following procedure. It wasnt personal. Also, if your plan was to go off and pick your DD up and come back once you had done your errands, im not that surprised he wouldnt agree to it.