Complaint Review: BP/Amoco Gas Station - McConnell S.C.

I sympathize with you. I am sick and tired of these gas stations getting away with everything. Charging what they want. There is a friend of mine who is taking a stance against them and is asking for people to contribute. He is just starting a page on myspace and needs people around the country. You can see his page and contribute at myspace dot com / gasripoffreport put that all together except for the word dot put a . and also put all the words together. Best of luck to you getting this situated. I have seen stations not giving you a full gallon of gas for the posted price. Go to the myspace page and help shut down these crooks.

Here are a few things you can do to get some satisfaction and get a quick response from this gas station: Contact these organizations and file a complaintin which the gas station is located in, Send a letter to them about your situation. They are the ones that provide their licenses to them: * City Hall * County * Better Business Bureau - columbia.bbb.org * State of South Carolina Attorney General Office scattorneygeneral.org/ * Local Media ( Television, Radio, Newspaper) Some TV Stations offer a Consumers Help (problem solvers program) They contact the Gas Station "live on tv" about the bad press on them and give them an opportunity to correct the situation. It also makes the public aware of their bad gas. * Get some friends and picket their gas station that they have "Bad Gas" and they refuse to fix customers cars. Bad press does damage to merchants creditability and service to future customers. * Pay to get an ad in a major newspaper on the Main page where the station is at and how the station refuses to fix your car that they damaged. Let people be aware of the damage they done to your car, The cost involved. * Get a Lawyer and take them to court ASAP. Courts only give you a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit. Check with your state court for deadlines.

Hopefully the car owner has a sample of the liquid from the gas tank and/or a written report from the auto technician on the damage to his car. If this is the case, he should: 1. Find a better lawyer. 2. Have the sample analized by a laboratory to find out exactly what it is. 3. Find out what state agency is responsible for checking gasoline purity in the state where the gas station is located, and file a complaint with them. 4. File a complaint with every better business bureau in the state and local area of the gas station. 5. Find out if the company owning the gas station is involved in interstate commerce, if so, file a complaint with the federal agency overseeing said commerce. 6. This suggestion is extreme and will only work if the station has local competition. Get some statements printed stating your complaint, attach 5.00 cash to each one and stand in the fueling area of the station handing them to potential customers if, and only if they will buy thier gass elsewhere. Caution, This really works but can get real expensive real fast. 7. Find a way to be the most expensive problem you can and propose, through your lawyer that you will stop when and if your problem is made right. 8. Buy a small amount of stock in the company that owns the station, Then call the consumer relations department of the company and tell them your problem, tell them that you plan to be at the next stockholders meeting to discuss your case with upper management, or do a google search to find out the email and mailing address of the company c.e.o. and email or regular mail them to inform he/she of your intent to be at the next business meeting and why you will be there. I'm sure that no company officer wants to explain to the company stockholders why a fellow stockholder (you) is complaining about being cheated and abused by one of the companies gas stations.

Sadly, most stations will have water in their tanks, especially in the winter or after heavy rains, but usually stations will dip their tanks to test for water if a complaint comes in, but you have to report problem immediately and they will usually clean out water in your tank and fix any damage. Good luck, Gas-Rip-Off.com

seem to going through the same problem with a BP in maryland - (i wont mention the name yet at it's still in progress - and there might be legal issues) the contanminent in my case was diesle fuel - which is cheaper than gas and is used to dilute for cost savings 10% disel usually wont be a broblem for the consumer unless they go in with an empty tank - in which case it's too much relative dilution this is a reason why you should always keep tank half full, so whatever you might pic up will be diluted by whatever you have in tank - really important on when you travel to the middle of nowhere beleive it or not, it's best to buy gas at the cheapest place, as they move the stuff the most and will have less condensation in their tanks, plus they usually buy on the spot market and get the stuff real cheap so they nither need nor have time for all the shenanigans, not to mention the inhrent economics of volume sales never heard of someone getting bad gas at the el-cheapo station

bp now has a new policy its called 100% garantee. They will fix the car. Just send them the bill. Check there website for the number they have. They will fix it or they can be sued for false claims

One owner of a gas station told me that they put water in the underground tanks to prevent evaporation, as, he said, "water floats on gasoline". But that appears to be wrong. It makes sense that gas floats ON water because it is made from oil, and oil floats on top of water.

i HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FROM THE SAME COMPANY. mY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UNTIL I USED AMOCO BP GAS. MY CAR'S ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP HADGONE OUT AFTER A BACKFIRE, AND MY CAR WOULD NO LONGER START UP. I CONTACTED EVERY ONE INVOLVED WROTE THE COMPANY ,AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK COSTING LOT'S OF MONEY I DONOT HAVE TO FIX ALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GOOD PRODUCT. THIS IS A TERRIBLE NIGHTMARE FOR ME. A CARNOTE, INSURANCE AND STILL WALKING ALL BECAUSE OF A tank of gas!!

i HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FROM THE SAME COMPANY. mY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UNTIL I USED AMOCO BP GAS. MY CAR'S ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP HADGONE OUT AFTER A BACKFIRE, AND MY CAR WOULD NO LONGER START UP. I CONTACTED EVERY ONE INVOLVED WROTE THE COMPANY ,AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK COSTING LOT'S OF MONEY I DONOT HAVE TO FIX ALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GOOD PRODUCT. THIS IS A TERRIBLE NIGHTMARE FOR ME. A CARNOTE, INSURANCE AND STILL WALKING ALL BECAUSE OF A tank of gas!!

hi this is my first time on this site and you problem reminded me of what happened to me about 2 years ago. I have a 1984 subaru (at the time only 70,000 miles) and my tank was next to empty so i went to an A-Plus mini-market and filled my tank before i went to the mall to do some x-mas shopping. well on the way theremy car started dying out, stalling , wouldn't start, mind you i was on a highway in a heavily travelled business district on a sunday near x-mas, needless to say i was bad, and a 1984 subaru doesn't offer much in the way of bodily protection if i got slammed by a SUV. i made it to a parking lot (it now is after 5 so everyone is closed) luckily i was able to get a hold of a friend who lived nearby and somehow we got the car to my mechanic. but i got the bill and it was $80, plus i lost $20 in gas i just bought, the cause was excessive water in the tank. I went back to the A-Plus, and the lady knew me, but wasn't gonna really do anything for me, and the manager wouldn't call me back, so i figured why waste my time and called Sunoco directly. The tookk my report and wanted to know the garage info, etc. They tried saying my mechanic was incompentent, or i didn't get the gas there, they wanted a sample of the gas (which was thrown out) . After a lot of argue-ing and demanding to speak to the next person in charge i eventually got Sunoco to send me a check for $50 and $30 in gas rebates. But here is a situation where an older car (which they could have blamed for the problems), a locally owned garage, and NO RECIEPT for the gas, but persistance paid off. for you situation, i would keep after BP, you hurt yourself with returning the car (i understand ur reasons) but u should be able to collect the $ for the repair job and the rentals.

I am a Ex Gas Station Manager. And what Richard of Glendale, Az said was to some degree true. Some not all gas station stick their tanks daily. I know Clark Gas Statons have to, to be able to get a reading on how much gas they have in the tank. But not all as a general rule check with the white paste. Most only if their is a problem. I one time had 2 cars break down in a row. I shut off all the tanks went out with my stick and paste, somehow water got in the unleaded tank. The prem. one was fine. The company repaired the cars. And the gas station tank was pumped and new fuel added. Problem solved. I worked at a speedway, they had automatic reading from inside. So no need to stick tank unless number didnt jive with sales. Or there was a problem. I know for a fact either one of these companys do not add anything to the gas to make it go farther as trey stated some company do to strech out supply. I have also worked for an amoco but it was a corporate store. I for one only get my gas as stations I know are corporate stations. If there is a problem you know it will be taken care of in a timely manner. When dealing with franchise, they dont have to follow same strict regulations and there is more room for problems. Take this person to court and good luck. I hope you have saved all coraspondence for all partys concerned. Good Luck. Check with statue of limations.

I too had a 1996 Neon, and found out the hard way (of course) that they all have a problem with the head gaskets failing around 50,000 miles. This happens to the Breeze as well (same engine). At the time mine was in the shop, there were so many in for the same problem that they had to back order head gaskets. This is a known problem, yet there was never a recall (When I traded the car in, I was asked if I'd had the head gasket replaced yet). I had an extended warranty in place so I got the gasket (and the head, which had some pitting) replaced for free, except maybe for a $50 deductible. Could this be what happened? If so, Chrysler should pay for it.

Having worked at various gas stations I have had the unfortunate opportunity to personally be involved where this type of incident was reported by a customer. I was also involved in resolving these type issues while working for the retail gas industry in Arizona (a few years ago). My first response in resolution to this type of complaint was to immediately go to the customers home, garage, or place of being stranded and get a gas sampling from the tank (by cranking the engine over) as well as from the carburetor (float bowl). The customer was asked what dispenser they used at the gas station as well as what product they purchased (unleaded-midgrade-premium). An immediate visit was made to the gas station in question where a sample of gas was taken from the reported dispenser and actual grade of fuel. All the samples were properly identified, labeled, and sent to a lab in San Diego California where the product was examinated and researched for its make-up. The lab would inform me as to exactly what liquid the vehicle had as well as whether or not it matched the product taken from the facility in question. Out of all of the investigations I completed, most of the time the lab returned findings that revealed a customer generated problem. How you ask? When the liquid from the vehicle showed a great amount of treated water (common household drinking water) and the test from the facility shows none at all, then most likely someone (children) put a hose in dad's car (just trying to help out). Somehow - someway - somewhere - household tap water was added to the gas tank. COULD IT BE A GAS STATION RESPONSIBILITY? It certainly could and it also has been the conclusion of some investigations. Gas Sation operators generally "Stick their tanks daily". Stations do this to find what volume of gas they have in the ground. Station personnel USUALLY place a paste on the bottom two inches of their stick that detects water. The paste starts out Grey and turns red the instant it comes in contact with water. When water and gas are mixed (in most instances) the water seperates and goes to the bottom of the tank. Once water is detected in the tank the sattion can have the water pumped out and there is no problem. Usually there is less than 10 gallonsof water and the charge to Pump Out IS NOT EXPENSIVE. BACK TO MY INVOLVMENT WITH THE CUSTOMER. If the product from the vehicle and the station MATCHED and there was evidence of water contamination, I offered apologies on behalf of the station operator as well as the Parent Company. I asked for originals of all copies of Towing Charges, Garage Charges, Rental Car Expenses, and Repairs. (Customer was able to make copies). I turned them into the Parent Company and all the related charges were paid to the customer - again with our apologies. If the station operator WAS RESPONSIBLE for Water Intrusion, - all bills were sent to them and they in turn has to re-imburse the Parent Company. A FEW OTHER INSIGHTS: Gas DOES NOT mix with water (unless shaken) but gas does contain additives which can cause problems. MTBE is generally used in California and the law says that MTBE will be eliminated from California Fuel by the end of 2003. Some manufacturers have already made the change and one major Calif Refinery is currently swithching. With MTBE out in Calif. - Ethanol will be introduced. Ethanol acts as a magnet to water and if there is any water in the tanks when Ethanol is present - It will generall cause "Phase Separation" and that means that the water will mix and get carried right from the underground tank, to the gas dispenser, to the vehicle. By the way, on the east coast - Ethanol has been used for some time. I cannot tell what happened in the instance reported above but if anyone else has problems like this - I would suggest that they take their own samples (if the gas station will not). Ask any refinery if they have a lab and they will generally do the tests for you, possibly for free. Most Refineries have on site labs, that is how they manage to insure their octane ratings are correct. Enough for now. I will check back later to see if there are more questions about this subject. If anyone wants to know more about ETHANOL - there is a web site for it.

You were very informative. I used to be in the Navy. There is a fuel called JP5 that can put out a cigarette. A fellow sailor told a group of us that Gasoline could put out cigarettes too. We all laughed. But one of our instructors wanted to test this theory! He took an old pot, half filled with gasoline and put it in is garage. Then he put on some fire gear and and through a lit cigarette in the pot. It caught on fire and singed a hole in his ceilling before he was able to put it out! The next day we all laughed at him when he told us about it. We all couldn't believe he would actually try it. But this makes me wonder. You said it is the butane vapors from the gasoline that ignites the liquid. Maybe he needed to wait for the butane to evaporate before ever trying to throw a cigarette in it. I do not intend to find out the answer on my own. This story happened years ago - yet for some reason I think about it every now and then.

Buy some Gas DeIcer or Octane Booster or in extreme cases if nothing else works You try a few Moth Balls down the the Filler Pipe to "Clean out the System." Here in the Plains 'We know' "Old Tricks" that work in a pinch. All of these will make the water burn because it mixes with water to a burnable state. Beware You will have to change your plugs more often if You use these for a prolong period. Every third tank of Full Gasoline is good enough for a higher octane and burns all the Carbon out of a carb or Fuel Injection systems. It is Not suggested to use on Diesel.

I am neutral to this case and am not involved. I do not know the details of the case, nor am I defending any company. I do sympathize however with this mans plight. My reason for writing is for the safety of the readers and to correct some of the misinformation supplied by Trey of Memphis, Tennessee. The statement "gas is actually mostly water to begin with, which is why the carburation system must atomize the fuel so it will burn" is one of the most ludicrous statements I have ever heard. Any first year chemistry high school student knows oil and water do not mix. Having spent many years in the oil industry, I can definitely say there is NO water in gas or oil. Gasoline is made from components stocks of crude oil which is a compliation of hydrocarbons. Even if water is added or present, it cannot be mixed in the gasoline. It can only be suspended in the gasoline. Water in gasoline can come from many sources including outside moisture in the air condensing in your gas tank. Leave gasoline sit for a while and all the water will gravitate to the bottom of the container. Why? Since oil and water cannot mix, the water molecules, being heavier than hydrocarbon molecules, fall to the bottom while the hydrocarbon molecules rise to the top. The reason gasoline liquid will put out a cigarette or why a carburetor mistifys the gasoline are both for the same reason. It is the hydrocarbonic vapors, such as butane, that evaporate off of the liquid that cause the high volatility of gasoline. Yes, gasoline liquid is extremely flammable and will burn but it is not the liquid that ignites, it is the vapors. Once the vapor has ignited, the resulting combustion ignites the liquid and this process happens in a fractions of a second. Octane has nothing to do with it. That is why gasoline tanks in refineries have floating roofs that sit on top of the liquid. This prevents a vapor space from existing or forming thereby eliminating the possiblity of vapor igniting and causing an explosion. And even with knowing this, I still wouldn't pour liquid gasoline, of any octane, on a lit cigarette. I hope the readers of these messages will have enough sense not to try experimenting by throwing gasoline on any type of ignition source such as lit cigarettes. Again, for the safety of the readers, thank you.

I am writing this because my family owns an Amoco gas station and am familiar with this business. You poor person, as someone else said fire that lawyer and ask him for your money back,threaten to sue the lawyer if need be. Get a report on the findings in your gas tank, then call your local Department of Environmental Protection and report the gas station. We as Amoco gas sellers have to obide by very strict laws governing gas sales and your crook of a lawyer should know this fact.The D.E.P not only will heavily fine the station but they might put the owner in jail, you might want to through this at the owner first, he may buy you a new car which would be cheeper for him. As for the lawyer you can go to small claims and sue him for about $16.00,if he doesn't give you your money back or at least be more useful to you. But you could sue the station for all your losses including the lost job.The EPA is your answear. If you need more info, I'd gladly help. Sincerely,

I personally cannot believe what has happened to you. I am appalled at your situation and hope only the best results to your plight. Your lawyer told you to use the money to buy another vehicle? You need to get a new lawyer. Your lawyer needs to get a written report from the mechanics about what caused your car to break down (i.e. the bad liquid in the fuel system). What it sounds like to me, knowing the mechanics of an engine, is the gas station added something to their fuel storage tanks to mix with the gasoline and stretch out the supply. The weights and measures in my state only come out and inspect the gas and the accuracy of the fuel octane level every year or two. The gas stations know roughly when they will come, so if they want to add a liquid to the fuel supply to make more money then they can do it in the interim months. Gas will work mixed with water and other fluids as long as it still retains enough oils to ignite. Gas is actually mostly water to begin with, which is why the carburetion system must atomize the fuel so it will burn. (87 octane gas will actually put out a lit cigarette) You need to get a lawyer who is willing to do a little work for you and fight this gas station and to put pressure on the BP corp. I hope you still have fuel from the tank when you car broke down, that would be the only thing to guarantee a win in a court battle. Good luck to you.