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Plakias => PlakChat => Topic started by: Tony and Sandra Smith on May 29, 2013, 10:35:12 AM

Title: Petrol Scam at Heraklion Airport
Post by: Tony and Sandra Smith on May 29, 2013, 10:35:12 AM
Hi,

We returned from Plakias and Elounda  a few weeks ago. We hired a car (peugeot cabriolet) from the airport. We had to return the car with the same level of fuel in it as we picked up (between 1/4 and 1/2 full. We drove around a bit and kept topping up with 20 euros of fuel to keep it at that level. When returning to the airport (from Elounda) I stopped at a petrol station not too far from the airport on the main highway to add a top up of 10 euros. the owner at the pump took my 10 euros took the keys to open the filler cap . Allegedly put the fuel in (but the filler was at the rear of the car) gave me keys back and off I drove. The fuel gauge was slow to respond at the best of times but it didn't appear to move at all. I stopped at the next petrol station the last before the airport. I was ushered forward by the owner again keys handed over, fuel "put in", keys back and off I set again. The fuel gauge didn't move again. I was due to hand the car back shortly so went to the car rental depot at the airport where the rental company was fortunately more concerned about a faulty boot lock than the fuel reading. So I think I was scammed over fuel twice.

Moral of the story . If topping up before reu5rning your car to the airport check that the fuel you have purchased is actually going into your car
Title: Re: Petrol Scam at Heraklion Airport
Post by: Mike from Sussex on May 29, 2013, 05:26:41 PM
Ouch!

Probably best to get out before handing over the keys and look at the pump as the fuel is delivered. I've got an honours degree in hindsight!
Title: Re: Petrol Scam at Heraklion Airport
Post by: Tony and Sandra Smith on May 30, 2013, 09:27:21 AM
The retrospectoscope is a wonderful instrument!
I have learnt my lesson but a warning to others!

Tony
Title: Re: Petrol Scam at Heraklion Airport
Post by: Mike from Sussex on May 30, 2013, 06:13:07 PM
What concerns me is that it happened to you in two different stations. I have been going to the Aegean islands since 1972 and one of the most striking things has been the honesty of the locals. Has the Euro crisis compromised this, I wonder?
Title: Re: Petrol Scam at Heraklion Airport
Post by: Tony and Sandra Smith on May 31, 2013, 10:11:43 AM
Looking on the interweb it's a common scam in other countries.  :(

Tony