GAS STATIONS BAIT-AND-SWITCH SCAMS, LEARNING TO BEAT RISING GAS & FUEL COSTS AT THE PUMP SERIES FEATURED CONSUMER HOW-TO GUIDE

click to VIEW ALL HOW-TO SAVE GAS IMPROVE BEST MILEAGE IN MY CAR/TRUCK GUIDES

We've all experienced the old Bait-and-Switch Scam at some point, but most of us simply wouldn't expect it to happen with our own hard-earned Money, at Gas Stations of all places. Even less of us would expect Gas Station Bait and Switch Scams to be occurring at major Gas Stations and well-known chains, but that's exactly what's been happening recently at Gas Stations across the nation. Customers have been losing Money and lots of it in recent Gas Scams, scams that have only just been exposed by news stations as customers nationwide are actively being ripped off. So just what's been happening at Gas Stations? Customers have been filling up at the pump, with the reasonable expectation of Paying the Listed Prices on the main Gas Station Signs. Signage is obvious to most, but apparently not to many Nationwide Stations who are posting Gas Prices, Posted Gas Prices that are very Different from what Customers are Actually Paying.

Many Gas Stations are now using their main Signs to instead indicate a, quote, Cash Price for Gas at the Pump. The only catch: most Gas Stations simply haven't been informing the customers properly, or at all, that their Main Posted Sign Prices ARE their Discounted Cash Price for Gas. So how is this so sneaky? Consumers have been taught that Posted Gas Station Sign Prices are the Price per Gallon, regardless of their payment method. And a majority of consumers use Credit Cards rather than Cash for ease and financial management. But now, many Gas Stations are Charging Higher Rates for any Credit Card Gas Purchase without informing customers of the change and without proper signage. Basically, many Gas Stations are Falsely Advertising Gas Prices that are only in effect for customers using Cash to Pay. The catch: most signs do not tell customers that the Advertised Gas Prices are only applicable as Cash Pricing. The New Gas Station 'Cash Price' Scam, it seems, is intended to bypass merchant Credit Card Rates being charged to the Stations themselves-a cost that has always been absorbed by businesses and Gas Stations. Reportedly, many customers simply hadn't noticed that their final receipts reflected a higher price than the actual posted prices of the Gas Station Signs-until now.

Before the Gas Station Bait-and-Switch Scam was reported by TV Reporters on major nationwide television stations, we first noticed the Price per Gallon Discrepancy and difference in Gas Prices at a 76 station brand chain, after receiving a receipt at the gas pump which indicated a Far Higher Price per Gallon (about .10 cents per gallon higher) than the prices listed on the Gas Station's 3 Prominently Displayed Signs. When asked about the Price Difference and Overcharging Discrepancy, the Gas Station attendant pointed to a very small, handmade sign taped to the Diesel area of the sign only, which stated 'Cash Price'-the sign seemed to indicate that it was referring to Diesel Gasoline Prices only. Gas Stations using this scamming technique have now been forced to better or differently display their new system of, quote, Cash Pricing after receiving extended bad exposure by TV News Anchors and Investigative Stations. But consumers need to be aware: if you're paying by Cash at many Gas Stations, expect to pay the posted rates; but if you're paying by any type of Credit Card, be aware that you'll often be paying an average of 10 cents or more per Gallon of Gas.  Avoiding Credit Card merchant charges for Gas Purchases has been a last-ditch effort by many fuel Stations to reduce at least part of the inflation related to the current Gas Crisis.

Similarly, Gas Stations and one major chain in particular, have been under consumer watch after Reporters first exposed in mid-2007 that some stations were intentionally heating gas for expansion. The loss to consumers at the pump: approximately 10% less Gas received than what they had paid, after the expansion was reduced to normal.

Read the Wikipedia Article on Gas Station Bait and Switch Scams or scroll down to read on about how you can protect yourself from being ripped off. You may visit Wikipedia's online Bait-and Switch topic article at the web address of  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switch

WHY ARE GAS STATIONS JOINING IN BAIT-AND-SWITCH FALSE ADVERTISING SCAMS? SCAMS ARE ILLEGAL REGARDLESS OF THE 'REASON' SCAMMERS PROVIDE

U.S. Rising Gas Prices have become so out of control that even Gas Stations and companies are doing their best to combat the Gas Increases, even if that means Bait-and-Switch Tactics or Scams. Our nationwide problem with Rising Gas Prices and Gas Crisis Issues has stations seeking every possible means to cut costs-Consumer Ripoffs and Scams are not OK, no matter the reason. Sign Advertisements need to be clear and match the rate you are paying-this is right of consumers. No matter what excuse Gas Stations provide for why they are charging higher-than-advertised Prices, it is not ok and consumers have the absolute right, and are entitled to, demand that advertised or signed prices are received by the consumer.

DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE RIPPED OFF BY SCAMMERS: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM GAS STATION BAIT-AND-SWITCH SCAMS

1) KNOW the Gas Station pricing reflected on the sign-simply and what you are supposed to be paying as advertised

2) Read the Gas Station's posted signs carefully before you fill up at the Gas Pump, to see whether there is any reference to a 'Cash Price'

3) When in doubt, or if the sign is not clear, ask the Gas Station Attendant before Fueling up at the Pump

WHAT TO DO IF YOU DO GET SCAMMED AT THE GAS STATION PUMP: DON'T PAY MORE FOR GAS PRICES THAN ADVERTISED

If there is a problem or discrepancy in Price and the Gas Station Attendant refuses to correct the problem or adjust or correct your billing:

• obtain the Gas Station name, full address and Gas Station Attendant's name on duty

• ask the Gas Station Attendant for the complete Gas Station Owner's name -you may or may not be provided this information as many Attendants are fearful of repercussions from Station Management

• know the Gas Station Chain Name and obtain the individual telephone numbers of both the physical Gas Station location AND any Corporate Gas Station telephone number(S); some Gas Stations, even major chain names, are franchises and do not operate under the corporate policy or policies; no policy, however, allows any Gas Station or business to advertise or post a price and charge a different price or rate-regardless of what the location may tell you as the consumer
  

• make notes of all of the above including time of day, any Gas Station Manager's name on duty, and any other pertinent information

• if you have a camera or mobile phone/cell phone camera, take photos of the Gas Station signage showing the Gas Prices and a photo of your Gas Station receipt of what you were charged; keep your physical receipt as proof of charge of Gas per Gallon Prices and any photographs showing the Price Discrepancy
  

If the Gas Station Owner of the location refuses to address or correct the problem, promptly file a report with the following consumer and Government Agency offices and even be clear with the Gas Station incorrectly advertising prices that you will be doing so if they do not correct the problem immediately:

• the Better Business Bureau (BBB), found online at http://www.bbb.org

• the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection, found online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

• the Office of the Inspector General, found online at http://www.ssa.gov/oig/hotline/

• you may also contact News TV Stations or even Newspapers and ask them to do an Investigative Report or follow-up of the Scam

Ethos Green provides a series of FREE Consumer-Related Online Articles and Tools to help consumers effectively manage, combat and beat the inflation of Rising Gas Prices for consumers to obtain the Best Gas Mileage Possible in cars, trucks and vehicles. This is not an endorsement of any type and Ethos Green and the Gas Saving product Ethos FR have absolutely no affiliation with Gas Stations, oil industry nor any of their relations, nor does Ethos Green receive any type of compensation for the following Consumer-related announcement.

Is there a Gas-Related Article or Issue you'd like us to cover? Please Visit the Ethos Green FR Store Online Now  and click the contact link-we'd love to hear from you.

To learn more about Ethos FR and its relationship to NASCAR, Indy Lights Series Car Racing, Ethos U.S. Military use in Iraq, and its use  to clear air pollution in China and Shanghai for the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 World Cup Soccer please enter its website address in a new browser window of www.ethosgreen.com for the most complete and in-depth information quickly or Visit Ethos Green FR Online Now and Click On Any Ethos Product Link to Learn More

THIS FREE CONSUMER AWARENESS SERIES IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ETHOS GREEN AT www.ethosgreen.com, ETHOS FR: THE OFFICIAL CAR ENGINE FUEL REFORMULATOR & GAS SAVING PRODUCT OF NASCAR, INDY LIGHTS SERIES RACING, 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS, 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER, U.S. MILITARY

CLICK BELOW FOR THE FOREMOST CONSUMER INFORMATION AND THE TRUTH ABOUT EGYPTIAN COTTON THREAD COUNT SHEETS SETS & DUVETS

SEE OUR ENTIRE EXPERT GUIDES SERIES:

EXPERT SAVING GAS IMPROVING BEST CAR MILEAGE SERIES ETHOS GREEN

OR CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR EXPERT GUIDES:

HOW TO SAVE SAVING GAS-IMPROVE BEST GAS MILEAGE 25 TIPS

PASS PASSING REQUIRED SMOG TESTS TESTING CA GOLD SHIELD

Copyright 2008 Ethos Green