Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What was he doing?

34 replies

PoisonousSmurf · 15/09/2017 15:10

I went to the local petrol station this morning and filled up the car. I use this garage quite often and most of the time it's maned by a creepy cashier.
I can't really describe why I find him creepy, but he likes to stare at you but not saying anything. Basically, I have to use this garage as the next one is over 10 miles away.
Oh, and he never smiles at anyone.
So, I gave him my card for contactless and said 'tap it'. His machine was nowhere near the front of the counter.
He then taps furiously on the machine. Not on the buttons or the screen.
Then he taps my card all the while staring at me. Had to almost make him give me a receipt as he wasn't going to at first. He could have taken loads of payments for all I know.
Is he just a nutter? Or just a creep?

OP posts:
KityGlitr · 15/09/2017 15:14

Could have poor social skills. Or a problem with his eyes. Or mental health issues. Or just hate his job and feel unable to do any more than the bare minimum.

Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 15/09/2017 15:14

He also seems to have all the shifts, morning, afternoon and evening. Can't avoid him. Looks like I may have to travel further for fuel. I want to complain. But 'creepy' is not a good reason is it?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 15/09/2017 15:16

If its contactless, why are you giving him the card? I wouldn't hand over my card, especially to a distant reader, I would expect it to be positioned so I can tap it myself.

I experienced a creepy garage cashier once, who asked me all sorts of sexually suggestive questions.

Unfortunately for him, I was mystery shopping the garage at the time. My God, that was an interesting report to write Hmm.

EamonnWright · 15/09/2017 15:16

Complain? Some people are just odd.

KityGlitr · 15/09/2017 15:16

No, not a good reason to complain. He's not harming you. Go to another garage if you want but seems a massive overreaction. Do you feel physically threatened?

BarbaraofSevillle · 15/09/2017 15:17

If he's there all the time, could he own/manage the garage?

Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 15/09/2017 15:18

Not physically threatened. But he acts very, very strange.

OP posts:
Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 15/09/2017 15:22

He's in his 20s. Don't think he's the manager. An older man is there sometimes doing other things, like stock taking.

OP posts:
Beerwench · 15/09/2017 15:27

You don't automatically get a receipt from the card machine with contactless. They don't print them, only a merchant copy which the cashier can print a duplicate of. Many people don't realise that.
However he should be passing you the machine to check the amount and make the transaction.

devilmaycarry · 15/09/2017 15:35

You shouldn't need to hand over your card for either chip-and-pin or contactless transactions.

I wish I could fill up a car and still be under the contactless limit. Is it an Austin 7?

Bloomed · 15/09/2017 15:36

He's probably exhausted

PollyFlint · 15/09/2017 15:45

You just handed him a card and said 'tap it'? That sounds really rude of you to be honest.

I can't quite see what the issue is here. He might be a bit rude or have crap social skills, but that doesn't make him 'creepy' or a 'nutter' and I can't really see how not having a cheery social relationship with someone who sometimes sells you petrol actually matters.

ReanimatedSGB · 15/09/2017 15:52

On the one hand, our instincts that someone is not well-intentioned are often right - but on the other hand, not always. 'Staring' is a bit of a difficult one because there are several reasons for it other than misogyny. He probably should hand the card machine over rather than take your card of course but, other than that, I can't see that he either is doing anything wrong or is likely to do anyhting harmful to you.

DarceyBusselsNose · 15/09/2017 15:52

Nutter?

Oh I do love a good MH diagnosis by an armchair psychologist.

Chesham · 15/09/2017 15:59

Could this young man have ASD perhaps and been told he must make eye contact? Or be particularly anxious? I would think in either case he would be pretty harmless - just trying hard to concentrate and do his job.

Flyingflipflop · 15/09/2017 15:59

He never smiles because he has to put up with people calling him a nutter and creepy.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 15/09/2017 16:04

Sorrybut he probably thinks you're the mad one!

You give him your card and say"tap it"?That is not the normal thing to do.

He's probably telling his work mate about the mad woman who comes in, hands over her card and barks instructions at himGrin.

MrLovebucket · 15/09/2017 16:23

if this card reader is inaccessible to customers, how do they pay by card if it isn't contactless? Do they shout out their pin number for the employee to punch in or have to drape themselves over the counter to reach it Confused

InsomniacAnonymous · 15/09/2017 16:25

Do you smile at him?

PollyFlint · 15/09/2017 16:25

You give him your card and say"tap it"?That is not the normal thing to do.

Exactly.

PollyFlint · 15/09/2017 16:27

Could this young man have ASD perhaps and been told he must make eye contact?

That might also be an explanation for the very literal way in which he apparently interpreted the words 'tap it'.

Gorgosparta · 15/09/2017 16:30

So, I gave him my card for contactless and said 'tap it'.

I wouldnt chit chat or smile at you if you spoke to me like that

EamonnWright · 15/09/2017 16:32

Do they shout out their pin number for the employee to punch in or have to drape themselves over the counter to reach it

It's contactless...

purpleflower23 · 15/09/2017 16:35

I was once served by a guy in a petrol station who was watching porn on his phone under the counter...!

The80sweregreat · 15/09/2017 16:40

If you feel uneasy about all this , it may be worthwhile going elsewhere - you sound as if your in a rural place, so it might be a pain I know, but its not good if you feel uncomfortable.

Swipe left for the next trending thread