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Wisconsin Gas Stations Found to be Shorting Consumers at the Pump

CSP Daily News -- MADISON, Wis. -- Inspectors found a few dozen Wisconsin gasoline stations shortchanging their customers at the pump, as a new proposal could add to the team of people making sure drivers get what they pay for, according to a WISC-TV report. About 50 stations throughout southern and southwestern Wisconsin didn't deliver enough fuel since the start of 2011, mostly because of mechanical errors, inspectors said.

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Submitted Jan 31, 2013 By: Teslukbla

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tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,047 Points:2,346,485 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 5:29:50 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Wisconsin Gas Stations Found to be Shorting Consumers at the Pump! Well, shame on them!!! Making the public pay more for a product is no way to operate a business! All state's need to get their Weights and Measures people out to all the state's gas stations and measure how much of a true gallon they are dispensing from their pumps. Any gas station found with a huge difference from a true gallon needs to be fined heavily or shut down. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
Teslukbla Champion Author Missouri Posts:25,316 Points:2,944,075 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 10:07:33 AM Ignore Teslukbla Report Abuse CSP Daily News posted the article on 1-30-2013 and then removed the article during early morning hours on 1-31-0213. CSP may have received complaints regarding the controversial subject. The story originated in October by WISC-TV in Madison, Wisconsin.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,596 Points:1,206,355 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 10:33:15 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Bad link, access denied. You must join to see the article...Das is verboten under GB's guidelines! [Edited by: LetemEatCake at 2/1/2013 11:33:48 PM EST]
virostek Veteran Author Virginia Posts:423 Points:90,285 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 5:40:09 AM Ignore virostek Report Abuse OK.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,785 Points:1,547,825 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 5:29:42 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse This is what inspectors are paid to do.
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,620 Points:1,143,220 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 12:08:14 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Thank you for submitting this article, Teslukbla.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,774 Points:560,640 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 10:57:11 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Part 2 - Full Article About 97.9 percent of pumps in 2011 were within the error rate that’s allowed, state data indicate. Only 0.4 percent shortchange customers. “They’re not the evil that everybody thinks they are,” Williams said. Of those that failed tests and had pumps “red-tagged,” or shut down until they’re fixed, a station in Monona was off by 5 cents a gallon. Another pump in Sun Prairie was off by 29 cents a gallon. Just as many, if not more, stations give customers more fuel that what they paid for. One pump in Beloit was giving drivers an extra 52 cents a gallon. All of those errors were fixed, managers told WISC-TV. State and local inspectors check for errors by pumping five gallons into their proving devices, which have a level to indicate the actual amount pumped. Errors are within the allowed range if they’re only a few tablespoons under- or over-delivering. It’s impossible to check the mechanics of a pump without the expensive devices the inspectors have, but consumers can still look out for two kinds of errors — meter creep and meter jump. Meter creep happens when cents continue to add up even after the consumer stops the pump, while meter jump takes place when the price calculates before the consumer begins pumping. “Since I’ve been doing this job, I’ve told my family and my friends to always make sure the pump starts on zero,” Williams said. If it doesn’t, don’t pump and tell the cashier immediately, he said. No matter whether the station is in a populated area or a rural one, inspectors respond to consumer complaints within two weeks, Williams said. To report a complaint, call the state hotline, 1-800-422-7128.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,774 Points:560,640 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 10:55:19 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Part 1 - Full Article NOTE: The following story first appeared on WISC-TV and online on Oct. 29, 2012. MADISON, Wis. — Inspectors found a few dozen local gas stations shortchanging their customers at the pump, as a new proposal could add to the team of people making sure drivers get what they pay for, a WISC-TV investigation revealed. About 50 stations throughout southern and southwestern Wisconsin didn’t deliver enough fuel since the start of 2011, mostly because of mechanical errors, inspectors said. “You never know what you’re going to get, which is why we’re out here doing this,” said Jared Williams, a state inspector who covers all of Dane and Iowa counties, except Madison. No stations were shorting customers in Madison, records indicate. The city, like other metropolitan areas in Wisconsin, has its own inspectors who are able to check every pump yearly. “I take it really seriously because I’m a consumer too, and I have to fill up my tank,” said Cindy Lease, one of three city inspectors. “The cost of fuel has gone up so much, I think people are more aware of making sure everything’s right.” The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has just 14 inspectors that perform quantity checks in outstate areas, including all of Madison’s suburbs, Janesville and Beloit. Stations in cities with more than 5,000 people get tested every year, but not so in rural areas. “I try to get out to as many pumps as I can in a year’s time,” Williams said. Department officials have asked Gov. Scott Walker to triple the number of inspectors in his biennial budget. A separate agency does quality tests, meaning many stations get two inspections per year. That’s inefficient, and training all of them to perform one complete test would allow them to check more stations every year, department leaders said.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,825 Points:643,250 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 10:23:09 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Hard to know just who you can trust nowadays.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,360 Points:1,244,300 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 6:45:18 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Not surprising.
RodOrRob Rookie Author Mobile Posts:66 Points:461,005 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 6:42:38 PM Ignore RodOrRob Report Abuse http://www.cspnet.com/news/fuels/articles/wisconsin-gas-stations-found-be-shorting-consumers-pump bad link?...access denied. watch this link (thanks BossPal) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wChNY-b3ofo Reminds me of a story I saw years ago where the inspectors test using the FIVE gallon containers...but found pumps only were correct at dispensing in those 5 gallon increments. In between, the pump would cheat the consumer. I wonder how many of those pumps are still out there?
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 2:05:06 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse I'm certain this is much more common they we know.
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,215 Points:1,598,520 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:47:49 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse Fine the hell out of those gas stations. Then check them monthly.
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,862 Points:1,366,365 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:32:27 PM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse Fraud is everywhere...buyer beware!
bmsgolf Champion Author Amarillo Posts:2,052 Points:455,230 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:32:14 PM Ignore bmsgolf Report Abuse Busted
hdeecee Sophomore Author British Columbia Posts:211 Points:1,061,695 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:29:54 PM Ignore hdeecee Report Abuse 50 stations didn't deliver enough fuel since the start of 2011? UNBELIEVABLE
mageetp Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,215 Points:627,685 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:22:42 PM Ignore mageetp Report Abuse Not able to open post.
fullauto Champion Author Reading Posts:5,325 Points:1,473,040 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:22:12 PM Ignore fullauto Report Abuse cheats? human nature has not changed from biblical times and stories.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:12,196 Points:2,350,255 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:22:02 PM Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse They should only short Liberals and Greenies!
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,479 Points:1,712,810 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:20:58 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse just another form of gas station malpractice
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,722 Points:1,692,855 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:19:44 PM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse con and sin in the statNW bane
us412 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:22,832 Points:2,418,205 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:19:34 PM Ignore us412 Report Abuse Hey man, can't we all just get along? Hey man, not if you are cheating me.
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,823 Points:1,366,305 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:19:10 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse Recession cut-backs are everywhere, including inspectors in many fields.
dieselfiendSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:2,191 Points:847,805 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:16:56 PM Ignore dieselfiendSC Report Abuse I'll bet it happens in all states to one extent or another.
Asbury09 Champion Author Iowa Posts:7,218 Points:1,531,280 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:15:37 PM Ignore Asbury09 Report Abuse and where were the inspectors
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:23,417 Points:3,202,960 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:14:22 PM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse Buyer Beware!! Greed has taken over the Market Place!!
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,451 Points:2,067,350 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:13:43 PM Ignore firechief Report Abuse no suprise
DarthDadJr Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,317 Points:1,522,395 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:13:18 PM Ignore DarthDadJr Report Abuse The inspectors need to be doing more inspecting.
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,207 Points:791,185 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:12:02 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse We are being ripped off already and that's ridiculous!
monarch57 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,629 Points:135,780 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:11:51 PM Ignore monarch57 Report Abuse Were being gouged enough now.
GasSpy007 Champion Author New York City Posts:1,827 Points:489,300 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:06:04 PM Ignore GasSpy007 Report Abuse Shut em down.. Enough of ripping us off already..
Rick52 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:12,036 Points:1,199,620 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:05:53 PM Ignore Rick52 Report Abuse CatMan623...You are and Idiot...Union !!
GGAlbo Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,248 Points:1,886,300 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:03:18 PM Ignore GGAlbo Report Abuse not good!!!
luvmyburgi Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,836 Points:961,195 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:02:57 PM Ignore luvmyburgi Report Abuse fine them to the max
GGAlbo Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,248 Points:1,886,300 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:02:28 PM Ignore GGAlbo Report Abuse Sounds like Clark gas stations!
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,355 Points:675,065 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:01:29 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse need to be on the lookout at all times....
chillyman3 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,355 Points:425,140 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:01:22 PM Ignore chillyman3 Report Abuse Where else is this happening?
Rick52 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:12,036 Points:1,199,620 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 1:00:57 PM Ignore Rick52 Report Abuse We the Consumer are getting Ripped Off every where..This is plain BS ..
ScottTee Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,391 Points:1,063,595 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:59:24 PM Ignore ScottTee Report Abuse ya have to watch for fraud.
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,659 Points:759,850 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:58:10 PM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse sounds like it went the full year between weights & measurements inspections, if a pump has a minor breakdown or is manipulated just after the new yearly sticker is put on it, they owners get a year of those extra pennies....
PangON Sophomore Author London Posts:201 Points:69,875 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:56:21 PM Ignore PangON Report Abuse Just not right.
TC_Fuel_Prices Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,603 Points:508,460 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:55:58 PM Ignore TC_Fuel_Prices Report Abuse I'm watching you. Oh yeah, well I'm watching you, watching him.
CatMan623 Champion Author Houston Posts:16,378 Points:2,345,745 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:55:18 PM Ignore CatMan623 Report Abuse Must be union gas stations. Institutionalized stealing is right up their alley.
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,754 Points:1,910,310 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:54:52 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Tried to go to 'read the full article' and received message 'denied access'
tes283 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:865 Points:368,850 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:54:22 PM Ignore tes283 Report Abuse bad-bad
Zackny Veteran Author New York Posts:387 Points:75,780 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:53:47 PM Ignore Zackny Report Abuse am I surprised?
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:7,476 Points:1,607,050 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:53:01 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse "Mechanical errors"??? Call it what you want, the stations had to know and that is stealing.
Noewal All-Star Author Virginia Posts:680 Points:219,855 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:49:30 PM Ignore Noewal Report Abuse Don't go to the full article it is a virus infected page!!! My Norton 360 blocked it.
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,176 Points:1,931,455 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:47:26 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Am I surprised?
BossPal All-Star Author Illinois Posts:547 Points:240,560 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 12:46:53 PM Ignore BossPal Report Abuse Pennies add up to dollars multiplied by volume over time oh my. video: WISC-TV "50 local gas stations found shorting customers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wChNY-b3ofo