At the pumps... How do you all handle people asking you for gas money/gas up their car?

[WItoTX]

"Sorry man, I made poor financial decisions, and only have enough to fill my own car."

Admittedly, I've never had the scenario you describe. My car gets filled at the track or with gas cans, and the truck is a diesel (again) so that weeds out a lot of it I am sure.

Truth be told, if someone is really hard on their luck, and seem sincere, I'd do what Rollin did. And if my wife or kids are with me, it's gonna be a blunt response. Just depends on the situation.

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[TonyNJ]

I've had this happen exact thing happ before a couple of times.

First time it was a lady, my reply: "If you're out of gas and need help to travel, call the police. They're here to help you. I'm sure they can help get you to your destination. That's what the police are for. Give them a call"

Second time was a guy, my reply, "Dude, I was just about to ask you if I could borrow some money. I'm out of cash and hungry as F."

They both looked at my curiously and moved on.

 

[pinksurfer]

What kind of hood gas stations are you going to

I've been asked over the years in some very nice areas of both henderson and boise. people aren't stupid. they know where the money is.

I try not to make eye contact and if spoken to I politely say no. if I gave everyone here a dollar that I see daily asking at shops and on streetcorners, I'd be standing there with them...

 

[robvas]

I can't believe people are still giving money to those people playing the fake instruments with the speaker. I'll pull up and honk the horn until they quit

 

[93_SVT_3503]

I just tell them sorry, I work 60 hours a week to support my own habits, not someone else's.

 

[Goterr0r]

In the hood areas around here they try to sell you mardi gras beads as solid gold jewelry....

 

[barney1]

Happened to me once. I told him I didn’t have any extra money on me at that time but I was a close friend with the Sheriff in our county and the county has a great program to help people in need to fill there car up. I grabbed my phone and said I’ll give him a call to assist you in getting your car filled. He couldn’t drive off fast enough.

 

[glockholiday]

I say, man i wish, this is my bosses car im just getting it washed for him

 

[dawued_is_me]

just a simple "no, sorry man". I was broke once too so I know it's terrible to be down on your luck. They are still people too so treating them with humanity is a requirement for me. This is for people who are truly in need and not people just begging.

 

[Chola]

Once while filling my car, I was approached by a young man in a nice car at the next pump. His grandmother was in a hospital a few towns over and he wanted cash to fill up and go to see her.

Instead of giving him cash I told him to bring his car over and I'd fill him more than enough to drive that distance a few times over.

But no - he didn't want me to pay for gas using my card, but only wanted cash.

To which I refused and he chose to walk away with no gas nor money!

 

[Sean22]

What kind of hood gas stations are you going to

Maybe it wasn't a "hood" gas station at all

 

[SheepDog]

Bear Mace usually does the trick

 

[PVAMT]

So recently I was gassing up my Mach 1 at my usual go-to gas station. A guy in a beat up Camry on the other side of my pump approached me and complimented my car. I noted that he was a bit ..... oh, rough.... in appearance. I said thanks and waited a beat and sure enough out came the request; Can I put my pump handle into his car and put in a few gallons because he had no money and needed to travel to so and so place. I replied, "no, " and shook my head and waited to see if the guy was going to push the issue. He didn't and that was that.

How do you all handle this type of situation?

This wasn't the first time this has happened but after dealing with it half a dozen times or so I am at the point that I opine that these guys are targeting the nice car owners specifically. Either because they assume we can afford it or because we would give them gas so that don't mess with the car.

I have run into so many scammers I don’t donate anything to them. Chances are they’re trying to scam you. It’s a sad thing to say but that’s my experience. I usually tell them that I don’t have any cash. If they’re brazen enough to suggest that I use a credit card I will usually tell them they should get a job and to leave. That’s crossing the line for me. It usually doesn’t go any further than that, if it does I have 17 years of Hapkido to fall back on and weapons training.

 

[Johnnybee]

Never had that happen in Canada nor have I ever had anyone tell me it happened to them. What I did have happen one time was a guy in a parking lot approach me with the “my car broke down and I have to get back to London (Ontario, about a two hour drive from Toronto) and can you spare some money so I can buy a bus ticket?”. I asked to see his license and he asked why and I replied that if I was going to drive him home, I needed to know where I was going. He said that’s okay and walked away. Guess he didn’t really want to get home that badly.

 

[3pdl]

spare change?
change comes from within

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