Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Take my lid off before Fuel! WTF!!

[j7yse]

Has this happened to you? It did to me! The station wouldn't even turn the pump on until I took my helmet off! The whole of the forecourt looked at me like I was a suicide bomber! Lets fight it and stop using these stations! Add your story to www.petrolstationstoavoid.co.uk

[Ian Harris]

Just to play Devil's Advocate, I have worked in urban filling stations in my impecunious youth and, particularly in this day and age, the spectre of attempted robbery is all too real.

I know from our perspective, a drugged up lowlife is unlikely to be riding a ten-grand Ducati, but isn't it a little unfair to expect fuel station cashiers to instantly discern our trust-worthyness while keeping half an eye on the inevitable Burberry-clad chav's trying to nick the confectionary? It doesn't seem too unreasonable to have an across-the-board ban on helmets...Same argument as targeted security checks at airports....pain in the **** for law abiding majority of targeted group, but its not like its brain surgery without anaesthetic is it?

Each to their own but, personally, I reckon a bit of empathy for some poor sod who's earning minimum wage is called for. (Particularly as , depending on location, in that job he/she is fairly likely to experience at least an attempted robbery.)

[Karl]

Never happened to me, what were you riding and what time of the day was it? Seems a little OTT to create a website for this You may have it happen to you one day and not on another depending on who is on shift on the day.

[bradders]

I understand where you ar coming from Ian, but if youre gonna rob the place youre not gonna remove it are you!! Just overzrealous madness in my view, and if its to stop drive offs then I hope they make advance pay a must for all cars!

I would boycott any place that made me take off my lid - I normally dont have time to spedn 5 mins getting all of my gear on and off again...

[Rally]

It only happened to me once. I shrugged, got back on the bike and went to the next one. I never again had the problem with that same petrol station. I guess there was a real jobs-worth on that night.

[YMFB]

Its never happened to me but if it did wouldnt go there again, not because I think its a bad thing or even unresonable but because its a pain and theres more gas stations around.

[Tonio600]

Happened to me in... Switzerland
I can understand them though, I was not offended showing me face (but then maybe they were )

[andyb]

The remove the helmet at a fuel pump is an attempt to i/d a rider so as to avoid the thousands of £'s worth of drive offs a year, thats all.

If they want you to take the lid off prior to coming in the shop then i would go with that as well, and clearly they will shout over the tannoy before they let you have fuel.........

same old story really the minority of criminals ruining it for the majority law abiding people.

Id just comply and not take it too personally.

[jeff st4s]

There is a Shell garage between Dorking and Reigate, it has a miseable old far* working there who insists it's the "law" that I take my helmet off and refuses to serve me. So I don't go there anymore. He is the only member of staff there who does it and no other station that I have been to yet makes me do it.
I agree if your sitting on your bike filling it up with your lid on it looks suspiscious.

[Spen]

They insist my wife leaves hers on..........