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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was I out of order for driving into the petrol pump in front rather than waiting?

451 replies

HappyPinkHare · 10/02/2026 13:24

AITA? Just want to get everyone’s opinions on petrol forecourt / station etiquette in the uk. Two petrol pumps are placed one in front of the other, in single lanes, so if someone is in front of you refuelling, you can’t drive past them (you either have to wait or reverse). When I drove into the forecourt, a black car was in pump 1, still filling up and pump 2 (in front of them was free). So I drove up the other lanes and reversed in front of them into pump 2. I got out, opened my petrol cap, paid using my credit card a pin and lifted the nozzle. At that point, the lady came out of her car aggressively and told me to move out of the way so they could drive off the forecourt as they were in a hurry. If I was still in my car, I probably would have moved, but as I was already about to refuel, I asked why she didn’t reverse and go down the other lanes. It basically got out of hand and she was knocking the hose in my hand to stop me from refuelling and screaming saying “are you going to pour petrol on me?” Anyway, after lots of swearing and aggression (from both husband and wife) and me passively refusing to move, they ended up reversing (just one car length by the way) and leaving via the route I had suggested originally. It got me thinking that what I did (reverse into pump 2) was maybe wrong because why were they so angry, was i out of order?

OP posts:
Whattodo1610 · 19/02/2026 22:27

Aiming4Optimistic · 19/02/2026 22:23

She could have waited, but it doesn't make her a dick because she chose to drive around and use the free pump in front - trying to wrestle the pump out of her hands, does make the other woman seem unhinged, though. The other couple also weren't trapped - they could also have driven around by the free pumps.

The other woman was clearly unhinged, no doubt, but OP was a dick. She drove past 2 free pumps to reverse up to another car that was almost finished. Ridiculous goady move 🤷‍♀️

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