Chevron gas pump keeps flowing, spill fuel, station owner could give a $hit, what ?

DW SD · 06:38 AM

Guys,
Would love some advice.....

My wife is on her way to work, stops at a nearby Chevron and the pump doesn't shut off, spilling fuel everywhere. She went into to buy a drink and comes back to find a mess of fuel all over the car and pouring onto the ground.

She talks to the worker, gets the managers number and was told the owner would be in later today. I call down, explain the issue and I told him I am going to look over the car and if I find related issues I'm going to be contacting him. He was less than helpful, barely interested and not even apologetic. Meanwhile, my wife reported that the range sensor has been acting funny ever since. Normally it resets after the fuel tank is filled. Now, it isn't resetting!

He tells me that they've been busy all day and have no such issues. I asked him if he is suggesting that I fabricated the situation and he kind of backed down.

Oddly, a few years ago, same wife, dfferent car, different Chevron station, a similar thing happened, though this time under her then watchful eye. The pump overfilled two extra gallons into her car. She stopped the pump when she realized something was amiss. When she removed the nozzle, fuel SHOT OUT, even hitting a customer in the next bay over. That incident cost several hundred dollars of repair damage to some emissions control sensors in the evap system which had been broken when fuel was forced into the evaporative emission controls system. After numerous inquiries and a complaint to the BBB, Chevron agreed to pay for the damages.

Anyways, since I knew the owner was there, I asked my wife to stop in and let him know what happened, so he is aware of the complaint and to point out which pump overflowed.

The ********* tells her it was her fault that she went in to buy something and ends up making her cry. He also tells her she is *one* of those people who buys expensive cars (she drives a seven year old 530 BMW, maybe worth $12k) and that's why he drives a truck with no such fancy sensors.

I am so pissed!!!

Can I file a complaint that with the State of California which will make his life difficult? Or cause him to have his pumps checked out?

Can I contact higher ups in Chevron and complain about his miserable attitude?

While I'm not a vengeful person, it just pisses me off the way some people handle their businesses.

Thoughts appreciated. Anonymity respected

Doug

DW SD · 01-12-2009, 03:27 PM

I considered contacting Amex, which she used for the purchase and asking to stop payment and let Gary Rowley (the owner) come back to us.

Good idea?

Doug

fingpilot · 01-12-2009, 03:28 PM

Was she talking on the cell phone while she was pumping?

I'm sorry to state the obvious, but she should have been monitoring the refill of her car. I suspect the station could claim the costs of the EPA required report of a toxic haz-mat spill and the fed required cleanup should be borne by her.

This didn't occur in Kahliforneeah did it?

I'm sure you didn't want to hear that, but can you imagine if that spilled fuel had ignited? Whose insurance would have covered that lawsuit?

911boost · 911boost's Garage

All of the pumps here in CO say to not leave the pump unattended.

onlycafe · 01-12-2009, 03:33 PM

problem solved.

HardDrive · 01-12-2009, 03:34 PM

The man was rude, and frankly short of punching him the mouth, I don't know how you could change the jerks attitude.

But I don't think the station was at fault.

Vote with your dollars, and don't go there again.

Gogar · 01-12-2009, 03:42 PM

So, how did she finally get the pump turned off? Lifting the handle, or emergency stop button, or what?

Zeke · 01-12-2009, 03:44 PM

There is an 800 number on the pump. Call them. Regardless of your wife's not monitoring the fill, the pump malfunctioned. When the State gets out there, the owner will end up doing so much paperwork that it will ruin his week, if not month. You will then have the situation documented should there be additional claims. The spill itself is serious stuff. Usually if I see something malfunctioning, the station people ask please don't call that number.

Danimal16 · 01-12-2009, 04:11 PM

What Milt said. Violates CA clean air law and clean water law. If that stuff got into the storm sewer????

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Yup!

You will be doing a favor by acting in a public-spirited manner.

TimT · 01-12-2009, 04:19 PM

I took a gasoline shower in the eighties.... someone did a drive off with the nozzle still in the car.... the breakaway didnt, hose broke, and sprayed gas all over... mostly on me as I was on the other side of the shared pump.

Cdnone1 · 01-12-2009, 04:22 PM

Sorry, just so I get the facts straight.
Your wife stops to fill up the car, while the car is filling she goes inside to by a drink, and the car over fills while it is unattended and she is inside?
Is that correct?

Steve

DW SD · 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingpilot

Was she talking on the cell phone while she was pumping?

I'm sorry to state the obvious, but she should have been monitoring the refill of her car. I suspect the station could claim the costs of the EPA required report of a toxic haz-mat spill and the fed required cleanup should be borne by her.

This didn't occur in Kahliforneeah did it?

I'm sure you didn't want to hear that, but can you imagine if that spilled fuel had ignited? Whose insurance would have covered that lawsuit?

Fing,
I appreciate your response. We live in California. She went in to buy a drink. While guilty of not watching the handle, I've done this countless times, too, even with a posted sign. Are we the only family not obeying what is written on all signs?

Seriously, though, I'm not making light of this, and willing to admit an error, but I just think you expect the shut off to work.

When she found the fuel spilling, she clicked the handle to turn it off and fuel stopped flowing and reported into the worker.

Is the equipment not thoroughly tested to present such user errors? Is the station not obligated to ensure proper working condtion of ALL of its equipment?

The worst part is his attitude. Maybe he's only guilty of having a crappy attitude.

Doug

DW SD · 01-12-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdnone1

Sorry, just so I get the facts straight.
Your wife stops to fill up the car, while the car is filling she goes inside to by a drink, and the car over fills while it is unattended and she is inside?
Is that correct?

Steve

Steve,
yes sir. that is my understanding.

Doug

Cdnone1 · 01-12-2009, 04:42 PM

Doug
While I agree he has a crappy attitude, and while most people may walk away from a car while they are filling it with gas, my opinion is your wife is in the wrong.
She was breaking the rules, don't know if it's a law or not, and now your trying to make the owners life miserable?

If she had been standing there and couldn't get the what ever it's called auto off thing to work and no one came to her help I can see anyone going ballistic, but she clearly did something she should not have done and she should not be trying to pass the blame.
It's just my opinion and I can see how your pissed at the owners response, but it's her fault not his. The only issue I would have with him is being a prick to your wife. I'm of the school "you make my wife cry , I make you cry" and there is just no reason to talk to anyone like that.
Steve

DW SD · 01-12-2009, 04:58 PM

Steve,
I appreciate the comments and one reason I posted here is that I would be offered some different perspectives on the situation. Maybe Murphy's law suggests it wouldn't have happened if she was standing there watching the handle.

Like I said, maybe the owner is simply guilty of a crappy attitude?

Doug

DW SD · 01-12-2009, 05:07 PM

My wife will be calling the 800 # tonight to report what she is a potentially hazardous pump. If it malfunctions once, it may malfunction again. To not report would only potentially perpetuate the problem.

Doug

Hugh R · 01-12-2009, 05:24 PM

Call the San Diego Air Pollution Control District and complain. They'll be on him like white on rice. I got cheated by a junk yard on a cylinder head that I bought which turned out to have a crack. The guys said eff you right to my face and told me to do something about it. I called the regional water quality control board and told them the place had standing puddles of antifreeze and oil. The regional board made the guy do several tens of thousands of dollars of drilling to access contamination to the groundwater. He closed in less than a year.

Big Ed · 01-12-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Call the San Diego Air Pollution Control District and complain. They'll be on him like white on rice. I got cheated by a junk yard on a cylinder head that I bought which turned out to have a crack. The guys said eff you right to my face and told me to do something about it. I called the regional water quality control board and told them the place had standing puddles of antifreeze and oil. The regional board made the guy do several tens of thousands of dollars of drilling to access contamination to the groundwater. He closed in less than a year.

Remind me to never piss off Hugh.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I think anything over 1/2 gallon has to be reported. Maybe the threshold is different or has changed, but I seem to remember a requirement like that from years back when I worked at a service station.