Petrol station video nasty for Mow Cop motorist
A DRIVER received a letter accusing him of leaving a filling station without paying for £40 of petrol – 10 minutes before he had actually bought £50 of fuel.
Ben Sumbland, of Mow Cop, visited the Shell Garage in Newcastle Road, Talke, and paid for £50.01 of petrol, plus a magazine, on October 18.
Three days later a police letter was hand-delivered to Ben's grandparent's address, accusing him of leaving the forecourt without paying for £41.07 of fuel.
But a receipt shows that Ben, who works for his grandfather's aggregates business, SJB Sumbland & Co, had paid for the petrol at 7.44pm. According to the police letter, he had left without paying at 7.35pm.
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Ben, aged 23, said: "At that time I would have still been driving to the petrol station.
"I am a regular at the Shell Garage in Talke. I probably fill up there two or three times a week.
"I paid £50.01 for the petrol and I bought a BMW magazine. Luckily, they gave me a receipt, because usually they don't.
"That happened on the Wednesday, then on the Saturday, my grandad telephoned me to say that this summons had arrived through the door to say I had driven off without paying for petrol.
"I don't know what has gone on, because the time and the amount is different. The receipt says I was there 10 minutes later.
"The summons had been hand delivered to my grandparent's because I was in the work van, a Renault Kangoo.
"I had actually thrown the receipt away but luckily I actually managed to find it is the bin.
"As soon as I knew about it I went to Newcastle Police Station with my granddad.
"Even the police officer on duty said it was funny."
Ben's grandfather Jim Sumbland, aged 63, of Mow Cop, said: "The summons was hand-delivered. It was quite a shock.
"I rang Ben to ask what was going on, but he said he had paid it. I knew he wouldn't do that anyway.
"It would take a good man to put £40 of petrol into a van and then put another £50 in 10-minutes later.
"It just isn't possible, the van only takes £60 of fuel.
"But the police officer told us it isn't the first time it has happened."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police confirmed the force had contacted Mr Sumbland after being provided with information from the petrol station that he had driven off without paying.
The spokesman added: "The gentleman came into the station with the receipt and now an officer has been tasked to go to the garage and check the CCTV footage."
No-one from Shell was available to comment yesterday.
Comments
by awoodvine
Saturday, October 27 2012, 10:30AM
“Just get on the A500 and use Asda's petrol station instead as it's cheaper.”
by arthurheath1
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 7:23PM
“Boycott this petrol station, the staff have no manners and this issue is just unbelievable. Handwritten letter anyone?”
by LeighinHanley
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 6:46PM
“Good luck finding anything on their CCTV - I accidentally left my debit card in their cash machine a good few years back and it was used in Liverpool later that day.
An officer and I sat with their staff who found the CCTV tape of that day - the time was totally wrong and the recording had ended well before I arrived and no new tape (back then) was put in so absolutely no use at all.....”
by Snaggletoooth
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 5:45PM
“This petrol station is just awful,the staff rude and unhelpful and their worn out pumps leak diesel all over your hands.
What a dump.”
by jomans
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 4:17PM
“your not the only one! two friends have had the letters accusing them of doing it even though they have the reciept! dont go there is my advice.”
by mommanoesbest
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:47PM
“Well, I'll definitely be keep hold of my petrol receipts in future”
by STHolder
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 11:45AM
“I always give that Garage a massive swerve. Staff are rude and unhelpful.”
by camband
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 11:38AM
“If it is the case that these people at this Petrol Station are continually getting it wrong and involving the Police in the process -Can't they be charged with the offence of Wasting Police Time'?
After all -the Police have the evidence to show that they are... 'wasting Police time'.”
by camband
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 11:34AM
“They sound like hate-mongers.”
by warren-lloyd
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 10:58AM
“Been in a few times and find the staff most unpleasant.”