To not move

[codenameduchess]

I've been a tit and misfueled this morning. I feel like a tit. Petrol in a diesel 🤦‍♀️

Anyway I'm stuck at the garage until help comes, can't start the car obviously and I'm pregnant so can't push it. My breakdown service said they were coming, then 20 minutes later called back to say it'd be after 10 (and it's not even 8!) so I've called someone else, they'll now be 45 minutes.

Other drivers and the people in the garage keep having a go at me, I've put a note on the back of the car to explain I can't move, spoken to several. A man from the garage just came out to say people are complaining to him and I'll just have to start the car or push it and go- no offer of help though. He said if there was any diesel in the tank it'll mix so not a problem and that there's diesel in the lines so a drive won't do any harm. Both bollocks.

Aibu to not move? I can't push a big car on my own even when not pregnant and it's up hill, there's a note in the back window explaining for anyone behind me and plenty of space for them to get out. It's not ideal, but what else can I do? Is there something else I could be doing?

Change the sign to "broken down. Recovery service on the way" and then go sit somewhere you can see them arrive but people can't hassle you.

How much petrol did you put in?

People are such arseholes.

I can't believe no one will help you! If I was there, I'd gather everyone round and push it for you. FFS.

What a nightmare, you poor love.
I wouldn’t be using that petrol station again
Hope the recovery service is with you now.

Yep. Fuck em. It's 10am. It can't be that busy and people can wait a few minutes.
I'm sorry no-one has helped you. My DH would have pushed you in a heartbeat and I would have helped him.

I once spent 3 hours on the on ramp to a city centre car park. My radiator blew and I turned in there as I knew I'd be more of a nuisance on the main road. I wasn't in the way, it was wide enough at that point for cars to pass in either direction, but the amount of abuse I got was ridiculous. I didn't move either.

Don't move it, it will cost you thousands to replace the engine.

Go inside the petrol station and pick up a magazine and ignore the comments (they won't know it is you anyway) and wait for the RAC

Most petrol stations I've been to where this has happened put a couple of orange traffic cones behind and in front of the stuck car, so people know it can't be moved. The assistant at yours sounds clueless.

Do not move if. Definitely not for a bunch of people you'll (probably) never see again.

Absolutely don't move it...

If you're still waiting...go to nearest cafe and ask breakdown to call you when they've arrived

I'm so sorry you're surrounded by useless dickheads!
I've done the opposite (diesel in a petrol car) and driven a short way down the motorway until the car conked out, luckily I got it to the hard shoulder first.
It's a royal PITA and yes, you do feel like a tit, but in the end, it's an accident and it happens.

Can't believe no one is willing to help you, tbh - people are such selfish arses these days. :(

Oh no! This happened to me once, but I actually broke down at the petrol pump and the car wouldn't start, the amount of abuse/beeping etc was unbelievable, no offers of help either - I feel your pain!

Hope it's sorted soon!

I can't believe nobody will help you push it! The staff might not be allowed because of ridiculous health and safety rules, but if others can muster up the energy to have a go at you then surely they they have the energy for a little push!

Aaaargh feeling your pain OP. I've been in exactly this situation, to the extent that one of the women working in the petrol station even tried to grab my keys off me! What is wrong with people? It was actually a white van man who saw off the hordes and told them firmly that under no circumstances should I start it.

I'd put a full tank in but pretty sure all that was required was my garage draining it out. It wasn't an expensive repair anyway.

Cones sound like a good idea. Another visual cue for those who haven'tnoticed the sign in the back of your car. Hope the breakdown person gets there soon.

I hope the breakdown service has arrived now and you're sorted. ~

People can be vile. If this happened in our village, there would soon be a bunch of people happy to push your car off the pump for you plus offers of somewhere comfortable the wait and a cuppa. If feels like most people are scared to help these days.

Thank you all for the support. Shocking how many have had similar experiences!

It got worse! I ended up locking the car and walking round the corner. The guy turned up to drain the tank, he was lovely! As soon as he pulled in one of the men from the garage came out shouting about not being allowed to do it there and he had to leave.

Luckily the lovely man from the fuel assist people said he couldn't move the car alone and there was a risk of hitting a fuel pump but if the shop man would help he could do it as he wouldn't ask a pregnant woman to do it. Shop man refused again to help and started ranting about his 'special' license, which is the same one fuel assist employees have and when it was pointed out the man from the shop was in breach of his he sulked off. So 3 times he was asked to help and 3 times he refused, instead shouted and tried to intimidate me into starting the engine... he also tried to tell us both that petrol turns to diesel if it touches it (1 or 2 litres in a full tank might be ok, but 21l into an almost empty tank definitely not!).

Tank drained, topped up with enough fuel from the fuel assist van to get to another garage and it's all good now!

The garage is a franchise of a big brand, as in a little shop that sells the fuel on behalf of the fuel brand. I'm pretty sure one of the men in the shop is the owner but I'm going to try to contact a head office about it.

Petrol station shouty man sounds as though he shouldn't be working with the public at all. Perhaps his employers should look at retraining or moving him. Shocking behaviour.

Definitely make a complaint! Shocking behaviour by the assistant.

Well done for sticking it out. I’m glad the break down man was nice at least. Definitely make a complaint.

Definitely complain! I came to say that even before I saw your update. Its an honest mistake that will have happened before and will happen again to other people.

Glad you got sorted OP.
I’m not sure what people were complaining about, unless that was literally the only pump then you weren’t holding anyone up longer than they would have to wait if someone was using it to fuel up because they can just queue behind the other pumps where people were filling up and moving on from.

@ILoveMaxiBondi I'm not even sure what anyone complained about, there wasn't a que at any point I was there, there are 8 sets of pumps (4 for each side) and there was always 1 free.

The lovely guy from the fuel assist people was very understanding, he'd been there twice last week and not had any problems! But it was someone else on shift... he had no patience for shop man either.

I've already contacted the company about this morning and said either he genuinely thinks petrol and diesel are the same thing which needs addressing or he's knowingly tried to intimidate me into causing substantial damage to myself, my baby and/or my car nevermind the risk to other customers, their vehicles and the pumps had anything been hit trying to roll a car alone!

YANBU. They are arseholes.