With the rise in the price of petrol from #86.50 per liter to #145naira per liter recently,the fuel price hike has continued to have a heavy toll on Nigerians.Sadly,as if the skyrocketing price of petrol isn't enough,the 'friendly' fuel station attendants have found numerous tricks to add to their regular income,and undercut the customers who at the first place are paying through their noses.
WHY DO THE PETROL ATTENDANT CHEAT YOU?
First of all,petrol attendants in Nigeria are one of the least paid in the country,in fact an average petrol attendant is paid between #10000-#15000 monthly,but a smart attendant can make his/her salary in one day by cheating customers.
Ideally,when a petrol attendant resumes for work,he or she takes the reading on the meter on the fuel dispenser,which they call The OPENING METER,and after they close for the day,the reading on the meter,called The CLOSING METER is taken by the attendant.Then,they multiply the difference in the readings by the cost per litre,which is the amount they deliver to the manager.If there is any surplus cash,the attendant takes it.
Unfortunately,the surplus money is simply a product of manipulation or cheating of petrol buyers by the fuel attendants on a daily basis.
HOW NIGERIAN PETROL ATTENDANT CHEAT CUSTOMERS IN PETROL STATIONS
There is compilation of a list of some of the most common dirty tactics which are used to cheat customers at fuel stations based on scientific and empirical research.This is coupled with conversation with some petrol attendants across the country.
TRICK 1:RECALL OR TIM/CAL BUTTON
On the fuel dispenser there is usually a button labeled 'Recall,TIM/CAL' or any other label,depending on the machine.The essence of the button is to enable the attendant to see the past sales.If you want to see your last ten sales,you just press Recall,then the number you want to see e.t.c,depending on the number you want, and it shows you the amount.
Beyond seeing past sales,petrol attendants use it to cheat and make money from the customers.For example,if a petrol attendant sold 6,000naira worth of fuel to Mr Mohammed and the next customer Mr Isaac also want to buy 6,000naira fuel..,the attendant will clear the screen to 0.00naira and tell Mr Isaac to look at it (A way of gaining your trust and making you relax)then when they observe that the second customer (Mr Isaac) isn't paying attention ,they will sell some quantity like 4000naira.for example and press stop or cancel,depending on the machine,then press Recall1,and ok.with that 6000naira will appear on the screen and that is what the customer will see on the meter,believing the sale is complete,meanwhile the attendant recalled the previous sale.
Investigations further revealed that this can be done in less than one second.
In fact,some attendants could go to the extent of writing out some past sales on a paper when they can easily have a glance to know which number to recall when a customer is distracted ,since many people prefer to buy based on price and not liter.
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