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Are you being scammed at the gas pump?
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Morning!
A week ago, I wrote the rather interesting post Make money with high gas prices - 109+ Resources and Ideas - it described dozens and dozens of ways you could use the high price of gasoline to your benefit in your online money making endeavors.
Today, I’d like to discuss another aspect of High Gas prices - that of (drumroll please!)
GAS SCAMS and VIOLATIONS!
Ever wonder if you’re getting that for which you think you are paying?
Hmmmmm?
Police in NJ certainly have considered this idea, and fined over 1,000 gas stations regarding this!!
According to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs:
….NEWARK :Weights and Measures inspectors checking gas stations in all 21 New Jersey counties have found more than 300 alleged violations, including pricing discrepancies, inaccurate octane ratings, and inaccurate or out-of-tolerance equipment, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Consumer Affairs Director David Szuchman announced.
More than 1,000 gas stations were inspected at the end of May through a coordinated effort involving county and state Weights and Measures personnel.
Consumers deserve to get what they pay for, especially when they are paying record-setting prices for gasoline, Attorney General Anne Milgram said.
We cannot control the price of gasoline but we can, and we are, upholding our laws and regulations regarding the sale of motor fuels.
The 350 violations found at the 1,023 stations inspected include the following:
- Meters out of tolerance (more than 6 cubic inches) 62 violations
- Station registration not available 47 violations
- Per-gallon prices different on each side of the pump 46 violations
- Fuel grade not posted (octane rating label) 37 violations
- Price-per-gallon on dispenser non-compliant 36 violations
- Service station fuel brand not posted 30 violations
- Inaccurate octane rating 26 violations
- Inaccurate total sale price calculation 19 violations
- Per-gallon prices not posted on pump 15 violations
- Multiple price changes in a 24-hour period 14 violations
- Documents not available 14 violations
- 5-gallon test measure requirements (no device) 2 violations
- Credit card receipts missing information 2 violations
- MORE…..
As you can imagine, news about this is flying about the state in an exponential fashion:
- 350 gas stations ticketed by the State of NJ
- Gas stations ripping off the public
- Getting Ripped Off for New Jersey Gasoline: Inaccurately Calibrated Pumps
- List of New Jersey Gas Stations in Violation, Part 2
- New Jersey Gas Stations In Violation
- New Jersey Gas Stations Defrauding Customers Busted by Attorney General
- N.J. looks for gas-station rip-offs
Of course, the service stations responded:
- NJ gas stations refute allegations of overcharging
- NJ gas station owners dispute fraud accusations
- Accused gas station owners say the citations are unfair
- N.J. Gas Station Owners Say Fraud Charges Unfounded
- New Jersey Gas Stations Respond to Accusations of Corrupt Behavior
It makes you wonder….just how many other states are performing these exams and searches?
And….
Is your state doing this?
And….
Would your readers be interested if it was?
And….
How can you profit from this?
Excellent questions indeed! And here are some answers.
Step 1 - Understand just how the retail gas prices are set.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has for your perusal pleasure Understanding the Factors that Influence the Retail Price of Gasoline - it’s a fascinating read. You can also check out:
Next,
Step 2 - Look for your own state’s Department of Consumer Affairs
Go to Google and search for
- Department of Consumer Affairs STATE site:us
ie,
The site Consumer World also has some excellent listings over at Consumer Agencies as well.
Once you find the right site, you can search for "gas prices" or "gas violations" etc. to see what the current news is.
Once you’ve done that, move to:
Step 3 - Whatever the current news is, incorporate it into a blog post that focuses on saving money.
Remember all the resources I gave earlier about making money with high gas prices? Review that list and choose how you want to approach it. Whatever you end up deciding will be the destination link for the blog post you’re about to write.
And speaking about that….I’d simply write about ways to avoid gas price scams (much like I’ve done in this article), and close with a teaster like
Want to save gas money via gas cards? Check out…..
The ‘check out ‘ post would be your destination link (or affiliate link or what have you).
See?
Everyone always wants to know how NOT to be scammed in this day and age! Take advantage of that by providing quality information as well as an impulse-buy gas-related followup. You just never know who will be moved to invest.
Oh, and speaking about saving gas money, have you considered:
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Exxon Mobil $250.00 Gas Gift Card No Expiration
$120.00 CASH RITE AID COUPON GAS GIFT CARD EXP 12 31 8
$400 Gas Rebate Gift Card Coupon Certificate
$450.00 Speedway- Super America gas gift card FREE SHIP
Exxon Mobil Gas Cards Gift Certificates $25 value
Enjoy,
Barbara Ling
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Subscribe to the comments for this post
I think it’s very good that you make this situation known. My question is - what can the every-day person do about this? Is there some way people can be more causative over this situation?
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The everyday person can simply be alert and share information with their friends/family/network/social networking/etc. Let your PTA group know, your Boy Scout group know, your karate dojo know, etc.etc.etc.
Thanks for stopping by!
Barbara
[...] Are you being scammed at the gas pump? [...]
Hi Barbara,
Your earlier blog post was brilliant. Lots of great & useful info to really ’stick our teeth’ into.
The gas companies are having a field day at our expense. In Aust on a ‘good’ day our prices are $1.55 & hitting $1.75. Only yesterday my friend sent her hubby to fill her car up about 8pm. While filling it they put it up 20c litre… He told them he would pay the lower price that he’d started filling at. What a jump. Certainly hits the hip pocket to fill up the car these days.
We have to plan our trips to be more economical rather than doubling up on our travel time. Walking is an option too or start riding the bike.
I have no qualms about contacting Consumer Affairs etc & not only on gas if I feel I haven’t been right done by. My son just rolls his eyes but I’m sure he’ll change his tune when it starts coming out of his own pocket.
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