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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have lied?

64 replies

toningwater · 29/01/2019 21:14

Payday not till tomorrow. Had a meeting 40 miles away.

I lied at a petrol station and said apologetically I'd forgotten my purse and filled a form in.

I have 48 hours to pay.

OP posts:
katseyes7 · 29/01/2019 22:22

Letsmoveondude l totally understand what you're saying about people struggling at this time of year. Last year when l was on benefits following major surgery, l was relying on friends to help me out. All of whom have been paid back now, but at one point, l didn't even have enough to buy a loaf of bread.
l think unless you've been in that situation, it's very difficult to imagine it. The OP may have just been getting by, then had this meeting scheduled unexpectedly. When l was really broke l had to cancel a job agency appointment because l couldn't afford the petrol to get there. When l rang them they said "but we'll reimburse you!" Or you could get the bus!"
Which doesn't work when you don't have the money in the first place.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 29/01/2019 22:25

@exWifebeginsat40

Google pay at pump authorisation. I can't copy a link on my stupid phone. The top result is a telegraph article from.when the switch first started.

Visa and MasterCard brought the rule in to prevent people without enough money being able to so this, because it would then take them into an unwarranted overdraft which has fees attached. Then they'd complain that they should need to pay fees because the bank shouldn't have allow2d the payment if the money wasn't there. So the rules were changed.

ReanimatedSGB · 29/01/2019 22:25

I've also sometimes had to call in sick when I simply didn't have the money to get to work. It's miserable because it makes things even worse - I lose a day's pay for the sake of not having a fiver.

Dancinghorses36 · 29/01/2019 22:28

I can't believe I'm reading this as I had to do the same today!

I have no family or friends that could lend me money and I had no petrol to get the girls to and from school but I don't get paid tomorrow, only put £10 in but felt so guilty, cashier was great tho ( large Bp garage) and got a pink slip thing and I will go I and pay it tomorrow, and yes I did feel bad but I have every intention of paying it back tomorrow

greathat · 29/01/2019 22:29

This is what credit cards are for...

blackteasplease · 29/01/2019 22:29

As long as you do pay I think not too awful

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 29/01/2019 22:31

I often fill up at our local Asda and they never take the monies til a couple of days later; I check my online banking most days and think "woohoo" when there's an extra £90 more than I thought til the petrol goes through and ruins all my dreams of new eyeliner.

newnameforthis7 · 29/01/2019 22:34

It's not ideal at all, but as long as you pay soon it's OK. Don't keep doing it though.

I am pretty sure that your chip and PIN and also contactless will not work if you have zero in your account! (Or if you only have a tenner and try to spend twenty!)

As for the automatic pumps; that may be true, I am not sure. I went to one the other week, and it took a pound from my account straight away, (something to do with validating the account and care,) then the £33 I spent almost 2 weeks later! (Weird!)

HeronLanyon · 29/01/2019 22:37

I don’t think it is too awful. Obviously not something you’d feel comfortable or even consider doing unless you had real need and you have no ntention of not paying within 48 hours. Only bit is you kind of abused the facility of ‘pink slip’ system knowingly lying about your purse but understandable given circs. Btw-didn’t know about the pink slip/48 hour thing - like it.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 29/01/2019 22:39

@Idontbelieveinthemoon

As I said, it is a new rule by visa and MasterCard. It has actually been around quite a while, but cannot just magically start. Each individual petrol station needs to update it's system to allow the reauthorization. So there's a Tesco a few towns over who only take £1 at the time, but my Tesco takes £99 then refunds the difference.

Some petrol stations won't upgrade for a long time, some will do it soon. But it's just something to watch out for because if you go in and plan to get fuel because you're getting paid in a couple of days and it declines your card, you can't then say "I've forgotten my purse so can I fill out the form" because they'll know you have your card. It's just not a guaranteed way anymore.

Mummy0ftwo12 · 29/01/2019 22:40

At independent or franchise petrol stations they are likely to give you a hard time and call the police - happened to me.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 29/01/2019 22:43

Well it is a crime to knowingly take fuel you can't pay for. It's a courtesy if they allow you to fill out a form.

Loads of petrol stations around South Lanarkshire have signs at the pumps saying "we no longer allow late payments so ensure you have the means to pay before filling up. It is a crime to fill up when you can't pay".

blackteasplease · 29/01/2019 22:43

I once couldn't go to an important marketing event for work because I didn't have the money to get there.

Was during the divorce and exh had cancelled my credit card without giving me time to get my own sole one.

EwItsAHooman · 29/01/2019 22:45

Even if they do let you fill in a form and promise to come back to pay you can rest assured that the staff will be slagging you off something rotten.

BarbaraofSevillle · 29/01/2019 22:45

In the olden days you just paid by cheque a couple of days before pay day, knowing that the bank wouldn't take the money until after you get paid.

These days I just pay for everything with a credit card that's paid off in full every month after pay day, and not touch the current account day to day. Has the effect of boosting cashflow and hence reducing the risk of running out of money because there's always up to a month's worth of spending 'off the books'.

HeronLanyon · 29/01/2019 22:46

Just Remembered my very first job was in a petrol station but was pre any electronic payment systems (god I guess I am old). Mostly cash (Roman coins obvs） and every now and then a credit card with the old swipe machine with duplicate/triplicate slips. completely forgotten about those.

newnameforthis7 · 29/01/2019 22:49

@chrisjenavasarala

So there's a Tesco a few towns over who only take £1 at the time, but my Tesco takes £99 then refunds the difference.

Fuck that. they take £99 and then refund the difference? Hmm

Nice little moneymaking scam they've got going there (if that is true.)

BarbaraofSevillle · 29/01/2019 22:51

It is a crime to fill up when you can't pay

Only if you intend not to pay. It's not a crime to genuinely forget your purse but I suppose that people have abused the system, with false plates and ID where they don't go back to pay that make some garages or areas treat every forgetful person as a criminal.

BarbaraofSevillle · 29/01/2019 22:55

they take £99 and then refund the difference

But what if you have £50 in your account and want to buy £20 of fuel? Why should you have to have £99 to do that?

They could always pre authorise lower amounts, eg the card is charged £20 and the pump is set to dispense only £20 of fuel. These systems exist in other countries.

Thecabbageassasin · 29/01/2019 22:56

I remember genuinely forgetting my purse at home a few years back and the cashier made me leave something valuable before she would let me leave the petrol station to go home and get my money. I had passport on me at the time and had to leave that, much to the uproar of the queue behind me.
I guess these days the number recognition cameras help in these instances, in that they’d probably just report you for stealing fuel if you don’t go back and pay.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 29/01/2019 22:59

I didn't make up the system so don't k ow why folk are questioning me on it.

Because (most) pumps in the UK can dispense £99 of fuel per transaction, the card companies wanted to ensure you had that money available. So they will authorise £99. Then if you spend £20, they will refund the £79 difference within a couple of hours (up to 2 days). That's just the rules visa and MasterCard brought in. Accept it.

Some stations havnt upgraded their systems. Some might never bother because they don't agree with it. But it could happen, so just be careful. If you don't have £99 in your account then tour card will just be declined before you dispense any fuel. If you've got £50 and want to buy £20 of fuel, you can still do that in the shop. Just not using pay at pump.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 29/01/2019 23:02

@newnameforthis7

I don't think you understand. They aren't making any extra money and at th end of the day you won't have actually been charged extra. I'm not explaining it again. It was well publicised and still is if you just Google it.

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 29/01/2019 23:03

This month has been rough for many people.
For others who can’t imagine what it’s like and themselves have never had to ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’, I hope you never do.

I think your idea is genius but I hope February is kinder to you x

Waterlemon · 29/01/2019 23:05

I remember quite a few times as a kid, my DM trying to pay for things with a future dated cheque or trying to persuade the cashier not to bank it till pay day

Nowadays everything is instant!

BarbaraofSevillle · 29/01/2019 23:05

It's OK saying that you don't have to use pay at pump, but many Asdas, and maybe other places as well are totally unmanned, so if that's the fuel station you use, you might be stuck or have to go elsewhere where the fuel will almost certainly be more expensive.