It happened to Collinsville resident James Maddux.
In a joint investigation with the Tulsa Better Business Bureau 2NEWS Problem Solver Michelle Lowry goes to work to get to the bottom of the $500 fill-up.
It gives you a sinking feeling when the gas tank is on empty and filling up will cost more than fifty bucks. James Maddux was prepared for that when he pulled up to pump number six at Miller's Sinclair Station in Collinsville. He pumped $52.54 worth of gasoline into his tank. But he had to pay $502.55 for 17 and a half gallons of gasoline. He says "That's just the way it worked out and unfortunately I got zapped."
The receipt clearly shows the simple math mistake. 17 and a half gallons of gas at $2.999 a gallon came to a heart-stopping $502.55
But with that kind of proof it would be an easy problem to solve, right? Wrong. Maddux says "I take that receipt, I talk to the people at the Miller's Grocery and Convenience store about how we can handle taking care of this situation."
James says he was told he'd have to take it up with his credit card company so he called Discover Card. "And I did fax them the document. I have the proof to show when I faxed it to them."
Records show a pattern over a four month period where Discover card would credit, then recharge, Maddux's card the incorrect amount. In the end Discover card sided with the merchant and James had to pay more than $500. He says "I thought the credit card companies were supposed to protect the consumer."
Then Maddux made one more call. "I contacted a friend of mine at the Better Business Bureau." That friend is BBB President Rick Brinkley who called 2NEWS Problem Solver Michelle Lowry.
Beyond the proof in black and white we took a camera to pump number six at Miller's station. Brinkley begins to fill up, then, the pump automatically shuts off at 75-dollars. It's physically impossible to pump a drop, or a penny, more in without re-swiping the credit card. Brinkley says "So it's going to be really hard for anyone to justify a bill of $502."
Lowry contacted both Sinclair Oil and Discover Card with the proof and Maddux says in less than a week "It happened pretty quick." He got a call from Mark Courtney, the owner of Miller's Sinclair station, asking him to come pick up a check, for $450.01
A Sinclair Oil spokesperson says the company was never told there was a dispute over the amount charged to Maddux's card, only whether his card was used at pump number six. That's what they confirmed to Discover.
But once Sinclair got the correct information from us Courtney says he heard from Corporate. He says "Sinclair told me they said 'Listen, we can go in and re-credit his account or you can pay him the money.' I said 'Listen, there's been enough confusion in this deal, I would rather make sure Mr. Maddux gets his money." Courtney says none of his other customers have had the pay-at-the-pump problem James had adding "I'm just sorry it happened."
Discover Card officials also took another look once we got in touch. They declined our requests for both an interview and a statement. But, James says he's received an apology, a promise Discover is correcting procedures so the same thing won't happen to other customers and a $100 credit to his Discover Card. James says "Channel 2 was a lifesaver in this case."
His advice to everyone is to always get a receipt, check it for accuracy before leaving the business and keep it in case of problems, later. "I would have been out an extra $450 if I hadn't had that receipt."
Many of us opt to not get a receipt at the gas pump or ATM in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. But the choice could be unfriendly to your wallet in the case you have to prove what you paid and what you received.
