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One cent per gallon gas station mistake has drivers taking advantage

by KREM.com

Posted on October 27, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Updated Tuesday, Oct 27 at 2:32 PM

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ATHOL, Idaho--A gas station in Athol, ID mistakenly sold gas for one cent per gallon for a couple of hours in the middle of the night and now the station's owner wants to prosecute two customers who didn't return to pay the difference.

In a criminal complaint to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department, Deborah Felts, the owner of the Cydco Food and Fuel in Athol, said that on Oct. 24th between 1:45 a.m. and 3:40 a.m. pump number three at her station along Highway 95 sold regular unleaded gas for one cent per gallon.  Normally it would have sold for $2.86/gallon on that day.

Felts said the cheap price was not intentional and could possibly be a computer or electronic malfunction.

Felts said four customers came in during that time and filled up.  Two of the customers returned later in the day to pay up what they owed, but two others did not.  Credit card records showed one of them called a friend to tell him about the cheap price and the friend showed up.  Both of those suspects later came back and filled up again.

The station lost a total of $1,076 worth of gas that day.

Felts said she has contacted her credit card administrator to help track down the suspects because the video surveillance at her store stopped working the day before the thefts.

Felts told deputies that she would like to prosecute the two people who haven't returned to pay her back.  They would face potential charges of two counts of petty theft.

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Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM

HI

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:15 PM

ITS NOT THEFT IF THE MACHINE WAS SCREWED UP. NOT THERE FAULT AND NOT SO FUN BEING ON THE BAD SIDE GETTING SCREWED NOW IS IT TAKE THE LOSS AND MOVE ON. CLAIM IT ON YOUR INSURANCE COMPUTER ERROR.

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Petty theft? How ridiculous!! Video surveillance doesnt work and I guess the pumps dont either!

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:37 PM

Actually, it's not ridiculous at all. They knew they were paying to wrong price, that there was a mistake in the system and they took advantage of it. I don't blame the owner for prosecuting them -- I would too if someone stole $1000 from me!

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:42 PM

"Credit card records showed one of them called a friend to tell him about the cheap price and the friend showed up." How do credit card records show you calling a friend?

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 2:47 PM

they did't steal anything she set the price for the gas not them maybe people in idaho need to learn how to set there pumps .

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Seller beware! That owner doesn't make all that much off of the gas sales. She might get 2-3 cents for each sale.

harleygirl84 said on October 27, 2009 at 3:18 PM

Morally, this was wrong. They should have known something was up and expected a backlash, however, I don't thinks she really has any right to pursue them legally. It was an error. The price at that time was $.01 and they paid it. That sucks.

harleygirl84 said on October 27, 2009 at 3:19 PM

Credit card records showed one of them called a friend to tell him about the cheap price and the friend showed up." How do credit card records show you calling a friend? This also baffles me. KREM? What is this? LOL!

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 3:23 PM

I gotta tell you though. I would've filled up both cars and the bike...we all would have had we known. And the ones that say they wouldn't are lying!

said on October 27, 2009 at 3:38 PM

How can she prosecute them for petty theft when its the malfunction of the machine? Seems to me karma was in the works... thats pocket change to the gas/oil industry.

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 4:20 PM

I don't understand how it would be illegal. They paid for gas at the price it was being sold. It may not be ethical, but I think it's still legal.

nwgirl4ever said on October 27, 2009 at 4:32 PM

$2.86 gallon?! Sounds like the gas station owner was the one doing the stealing!

miller93 said on October 27, 2009 at 5:04 PM

I don't see how they would lose one thousand seventy six dollars from four people filling up, even with two of the people filling up twice, and assuming that is before the two others payed back what they "owed".

miller93 said on October 27, 2009 at 5:10 PM

Do you think that if the technological error causing the gas to be one cent per gallon, instead caused the gas to be overpriced, would she go and pay the people back who she overcharged. Doubt it. Yet that is exactly what she expects from them.

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 5:42 PM

While I know that the owner doesnt make much money selling gas, I dont think the two that didnt come back should be prosecuted. The price stated 1cent so thats what they paid.

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 6:15 PM

I don't think that they should be prosecuted for this. And as others have said, how does a credit card reciept show that he called up his buddy. Nothing here makes since. Four fill ups, or even 6 if the two did it twice should not add up to that

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 7:42 PM

i don't think the owner should get anything out of this. she can call it a loss and make it a point to make sure her machines are working right in the future. if it had been an overcharge, would she hunt them down and pay them back? haha! doubtful.

Anonymous said on October 27, 2009 at 7:45 PM

So, if they get convicted, does that mean that every shopper ever to shop in any store that was charged less than the shelf signage price should be watching their back for the law to come after them for the difference? How silly...

wouldibsu said on October 27, 2009 at 10:10 PM

Some of you sound bummed out you didn't get in on the one cent gas. Boy, things sure have changed over the years. Remember, change is good, unless it's bad.

Anonymous said on October 28, 2009 at 12:17 AM

I just bought a LARGE box of cereal at Wall Mart yesterday cheeper then 'small' box, and this was on my debit card as well. Should I be woried that Wall Mart will be looking to sue me for theft as well?? When some / Loose some, this time they won!!

Anonymous said on October 28, 2009 at 7:55 AM

Ya Know, If the sales person pumped the gas, Instead of being "if you want to buy my gas,then pump it your self attitude"these things would'nt happen. its like leaving the store open at night and trusting people to run the register them selves.