A father-of-two claims he was refused more than £10-worth of fuel at a Shell petrol station in Sidcup after staff 'thought he wasn't going to pay.'
Daniel Tredget, 24, from Sidcup, was filling up his Vauxhall Zafira with petrol at the Shell Blendon garage in Blackfen Road when he claims the pump was suddenly switched off.
Daniel Tredget outside the petrol station
The Park Mead resident was driving back from the cinema just after 10pm on September 22 and wanted to fill up £70-worth of fuel but was reportedly thwarted at £9.10 by an employee.
Mr Tredget told News Shopper: "When the pump stopped, I thought it was strange.
"I looked into the store and saw the man behind the till waving his arms all over the place.
"So I took my keys out of my pocket to indicate that I had no intention of driving off - he just stood motionlessly and stared at me.
"When I went inside, the employee told me he turned off my pump because he didn’t think I was going to pay.
"There were four other people in the forecourt looking at me and it was extremely embarrassing."
The receipt showing the £9.10 that Mr Tredget spent
Despite it being just a two minute journey from his home, Mr Tredget has vowed never to go back to the garage.
He claims he will now travel an extra 15 minutes to the BP station in Bexleyheath.
The insurance broker added: "I told him I was going to pay and that I’d always used this petrol station, exclusively, for the last four years.
"But he just responded saying 'that’s not my problem'.
"I mean do I look like some sort of scumbag who’s going to steal petrol?
"I am a respectable member of society and the way I was treated was disgusting."
After being refused service, Mr Tredget stormed out of the building and says he was applauded by a pensioner who supported him.
Shell Blendon garage, Blackfen Road
The following morning, he called Shell’s complaint line but says he was stunned by the lack of help he received.
He said: "I was infuriated so I rang them up and mentioned everything that had happened.
"The person on the line responded bluntly telling me how I could not prove that I was there.
"It was unbelievable."
A Shell spokesperson said: "We are currently investigating Mr Tredget’s visit to the Shell Blendon service station and in the meantime apologise for any misunderstanding caused during the visit."
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