Computer Glitch Gives Free Gas, But Stores Your ID For Police
from the oops dept
Everyone knows that gas prices have been hovering around all time highs lately in the US, so imagine the joy that some people felt when it was discovered that a computer glitch at a certain gas station chain meant you could get free gas if you inserted your driver's license instead of your credit card. The glitch went unnoticed by the company (though, very noticed by customers) for three weeks causing thousands of dollars in losses for the company. The only problem is that, while the machines might not have charged users, it did store all the data from the driver's license. In other words, if you took part, the police may be knocking on your door with a bill - and a misdemeanor fraud charge.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Fraud?? by Rob Henderson on May 5th, 2004 @ 6:04am
If a retailers payment system doesn't work correctly, I can't see where the fraud charge exists. They certainly have the right to come and ask for more money if I wasn't charged correctly. If I refuse to pay, I can see a justifiable case in a civil small claims court.
I can't really see a difference between a payment machine that dispenses gas without a valid card as any different from one that accepts a valid card but neglects to process the transaction.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Fraud?? uh yup. by Anonymous Coward on May 5th, 2004 @ 8:01am
Well, when someone deliberately inserts their driver's license knowing it'll dispense free gas, yes, I'd say it was fraud.
It's not like they inserted a credit card and just never got charged. They were actively trying to avoid paying. It's called theft of services.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Fraud?? by Anonymoose Cow-ard on May 5th, 2004 @ 8:04am
"fraud definition – fraud is defined as a deception deliberately practiced to secure unfair or unlawful gain."
http://www.legal-definitions.com/fraud.htm
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Fraud?? by Anonymous Coward on May 5th, 2004 @ 9:57am
The company that allows their gas pumps to function with such flawed systems deserves to get screwed.
Considering all the free publicity they got out of this, the losses are negligible.
Perhaps they should consider suing the manufacturer of the pumps that had such obvious flaws.
Furthermore, how do they know if the drivers licenses were the ones of the people that actually used them ?
Those that stole the gasoline knowingly will have their karma come back to bite them in the ass.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: Fraud?? uh yup. by anhonest coward on May 6th, 2004 @ 4:10am
I beg to differ, when someone deliberately inserts their drivers license knowing it will dispense gas does not mean the intentions are free. The idea of using your drivers license is to identify who should receive the bill for the gas dispensed.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment