Q. I pulled into a gas station the other day on my way home from work. After I picked up the hose, but before I even put the nozzle into my car to begin pumping, I saw the display jump up to three cents. It seemed odd because it jumped before I even began to engage the pump to put gas in my car. I went in to inform the attendant but he did not seem concerned but said that he would let the owner know. I’d like to find out if the attendant actually told the owner and that they got it repaired. Is there a way to make sure that this pump issue was reported and repaired? – P.G., Levittown
A. We at the Bucks County Weights and Measures Department take these gas station complaints seriously and always go out to the station to inspect the particular pump that was the issue. The problem that you are describing is what we refer to as “pump jump.” We inspect gas stations annually as well as when a complaint is received. Our testing procedure ensures that a gallon is a gallon and that the charge per gallon is correct. It is the station owner’s responsibility to have the pump jump corrected; usually by a certified repair/maintenance company they routinely use. One of our inspectors will be given the station information and then go out, attempt to duplicate and then verify the problem and have the owner take corrective action.
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For more information and educational tips and brochures, including “Gas-Fueling Up For Dummies” please visit us at http://www.buckscounty.org/government/CommunityServices/ConsumerProtection/ConsumerTips
