# I think I got a free tank of gas. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994 "2013-11-15T16:56:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/1 "2013-11-15T16:56:29Z")
Stopped by a gas station Tuesday night. The store was closed but you could still use the pumps if you have a credit card. I put my card in, entered my zip code and all that other stuff. The pump accepted my information and turned on the nozzle. When I was done, it even asked me if I wanted a receipt. (I declined) Today, I logged on to my bank account to pay some bills and noticed that the charge for gas isn’t there. I know sometimes the charge shows up as a dollar until a few days later when the whole charge goes through, but I’m not even getting that. I wonder what the heck happened? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/2 "2013-11-15T17:32:16Z")
I’d definitely expect the charge to have cleared by now. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/3 "2013-11-15T17:38:20Z")
I’ve kept fastidious track of my ccard and debit card balances for about 12 years. Both my checking/debit and ccard balances are off by $150-200 because of charges that never showed up. I even had a $60 cash withdrawal from an ATM that never materialized in my statements. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/4 "2013-11-15T17:51:03Z")
Gas pumps have this knack where they sometimes don’t show up for quite a long time after pumping (2-3 days in some cases). I’ve thought this many, many times in the past. I’tll show up. EDIT: Can’t read. You said Tuesday night. You sir may very well have gotten a freebie. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/5 "2013-11-15T19:22:42Z")
I’ve had gas charges take an entire week to show up. So I’d give it a week before declaring it a freebie 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/6 "2013-11-15T20:42:45Z")
Give it a couple of days before you declare a windfall. My usual gas places take 3 days to show up, and will only hold $1 in the interval. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/7 "2013-11-15T20:54:09Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Give it a couple of days before you declare a windfall. My usual gas places take 3 days to show up, and will only hold $1 in the interval. Right, but like I said, I’m not even seeing that dollar charge. And its been three days already. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/8 "2013-11-15T21:14:51Z")
At some stations I’ve not seen the $1 and it’s taken a few days for the charge to show up. Exxon, et al haven’t gotten so big buy giving away free gas! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/9 "2013-11-15T21:19:45Z")
On the chance that you got free gas, I say go fill up again right away! Me, I’m into [free french fries.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=707910) Whatever fuel you need, bro. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994/10 "2013-11-15T22:18:35Z")
I was at a local gas station and buying very little gas. The kid was sleepy and cold; it was pretty early in the morning on a weekday. He meant to give me back a $10. He handed me a $50 by mistake. I knew he was a kid & that this was probably less than they were paying him that day… but even if it wasn’t, I’m not a thief. I pointed it out to him (I didn’t rub his nose in it) and I had him give me the right change. Thank You for giving me somewhere to mention it.