Helmet off or no fuel!!!

[mick the knife]

I've been to a petrol station numerous times where they are known in the area to make it awkward for bikers with lids on, just for the fun like.
Not once have they asked me !
Dont arf spoil yer fun when yer looking forward to a healthy discussion on ethics :-0)

 

[AV8TOR]

Just been to my local garage in the village which has a spar supermarket as well, stood by the pump waiting for it to be switched on, bike on centre stand, gloves and sunglasses on seat, woman comes out and says I need to remove my helmet before they can give me fuel!!!
When I ask why she says 'cause I might do a drive off and it's for security.
Now, I'm all for security, (considering my previous employment), but I have always filled up here with no problem in the past, I have used both the pay at pump system and pay at counter system with no issues while wearing my helmet. I'm considering going back in the car and getting the manager's details and write a letter of complaint, will it go anywhere though? I'm a little peeved! b0x1

Do what one of the lads did to our Tesco, made to remove his lid went back with a borrowed larger helmet & balaclava on under that which he removed without being asked to reveal a bandaged head not a word said :yo:

 

[Dickiebird]

I like it when I go in to pay & they ask me which pump.

'Mine's the bike' is the usual reply, slightly muffled through the helmet & balaclava.

RH

Called at our local Esso station a few months back. Went to pay (with my helmet on ) and was asked by the young lady if I wanted a free token for the car wash ! ! All the queue behind me were falling about, and the blonde turned a lovely shade of bright red ! :yo:

 

[robsbird]

when i re did my test the guy told me not to remove my helmet as i was still in charge of the bike.......when filling up


takes longer to fill up so i never remove it..........

 

[Pugwash]

I haven't yet been asked to remove my helmet. :dunno: The only time I had something over the speakers was when they introduced pay-at-pump, and I stood there like an idiot not pressing the button to select.

 

[morphgarth]

I haven't yet been asked to remove my helmet. :dunno: The only time I had something over the speakers was when they introduced pay-at-pump, and I stood there like an idiot not pressing the button to select.

That's coz they can tell by the shape of yor helmet that you are more deformed than the Elephant Man!!!:-0)

 

[Pugwash]

But I wear a black visor to conceal this!

 

[silverfox.xx]

I got asked recently to remove my lid at a local tesco, I didn't and said do you want the money or not, if not please provide proof in writing..

 

[ScottyUK]

I was asked to remove mine before my local Shell would turn the pump on.

It was the only time in hundreds of fill ups. I wrote to Shell to ask why and whether Burka wearers would get the same treatment.

They told me anyone covering their face would be treated the same as it's the law they have to ensure they're serving people over the legal age.

I now pay at pump at the local Tesco.

 

[Pugwash]

...they have to ensure they're serving people over the legal age.

That's a bit mad. Anyone riding in below the legal age to fill up is also below the legal age to ride!

 

[big harv]

as yet never happened ill remove mine if it suits which is about 60% of the time. I think we are getting a little paranoid , this whole situation has come on the back of the hoodies in shopping centre shite. As for those who find BP obliging its no wonder . they charge on average 5ppl more tha n their neighbours, id rarther bow to some crappy request for subserviance than give BP or Esso my hard earned. s04pb0x6 :wank:ers

 

[Birdy_Blue]

A couple of years or so back I went to the Asda garage that had recently opened at the large roundabout just north of Eastbourne (Polegate I think).

Waited for the pump to start.....nothing. Looked across at the cash desk window and someone was waving their arms about in a fashion that confused me.

Then a VERY rude female came out and explained that I had to remove my helmet to get the pump to start.

I did this, all the time this damn female who was presumably the manager escorted me to the cashier's till, where I paid my bill.

I asked why all the fuss. the answer was virtually unprintable, but i gathered that they had several bikes filing up and doing a runner.

Never been back......never will. :dunno:

 

[ScottyUK]

That's a bit mad. Anyone riding in below the legal age to fill up is also below the legal age to ride!

I said that and they said not necessarily. I guess kiddy car thieves need fuel! :dunno:

 

[Pugwash]

...they had several bikes filing up and doing a runner.

Hardly worth the effort on a bike - I could squeeze 4 or 5 times as much fuel into the car and do a runner. Why not just hire a van and get loads in?

 

[TANK0700]

Tesco?s Broughton Park nr Chester, police car parked behind me at the pump , daughter stood next to me in line , cash in hand and the Muppet says can you take your helmet off for security reasons, now he got a piece of my mind. :wank:

 

[Allan]

A bit long but posted this a couple of years back, but never posted the response, so heres a reminder....

Just fired this off to Tesco HQ - to say I'm fuming is putting it mildly!!!

Tesco.
I have just returned from a trip to my local Tesco’s at Brownhills of which I have been a customer for many years and find I have to write to complain.
I am a 52 year old, white male, born in the UK, a serving police officer in the West Midlands police and have never felt so humiliated , offended and victimised as I was when visiting your store today.

I am a motorcyclist and called at your store today to purchase a 1 litre container of milk. I entered the store wearing my full motorcycling kit, boots, leathers, gloves, and helmet. My helmet has a clear visor and quite a large opening so that a considerable amount of my face can be seen.

Under my helmet I wear ear plugs to prevent ear damage from wind noise and glasses. To remove my helmet is a real inconvenience. Firstly I have to remove my glasses and place them somewhere, secondly I have to then remove my helmet, place my helmet somewhere while I remove my ear plugs and place my glasses back on, then finally I have to carry my helmet which prevents me being able to use both hands freely as one is holding the helmet.

If I carry a shopping basket at the same time, to pick anything up off a shelf means I have to place either my helmet or the basket on the floor to select an item to put in the basket.

Hence, if possible, I try not to remove my helmet when shopping etc.

So, today, I entered your store and walked to where the milk is kept, which is just a few yards in the store very close to the entrance/exit. I selected the milk I required and turned to walk to the counter to pay. However, my path was blocked by a member of the security. He said to me, “can you take your helmet off please”.

I was taken aback by this request and asked him to repeat it, which he did. I then asked why I had to take my helmet off to purchase a container of milk? He said it was company policy that I had to take it off to be served. I asked why was it company policy? He said it was so that the staff could see my face.

I asked if Muslims or other people have to remove their veils, hijabs or burka’s which covers much more of their face than my helmet does in order to be served, to which he said “no”.

I said to him “in that case I’m being victimised by your company for being a motorcyclist and see no good reason why there is a need for me to remove my helmet when others don’t have to remove their head gear and I refuse to remove mine”.

He then agreed that I could purchase the milk as that was the only item I wanted.

I am absolutely incensed and offended by your blatant victimist policy against motorcyclists and demand to know why you have such a policy in force?

I’m not an armed robber carrying a cosh, firearm or pick axe handle, I don’t present myself in a threatening manner, motorcyclists don’t have a reputation for violent offences or theft, so what it the reason for this policy?

I await your response!

The upshot was they replied saying due to the crime statistics they requested bikers to remove helmets.

I further replied to them informing them that i was the CRIME PREVETION OFFICER (which I was) for that area and provided them with stats from our Force area which demonstrated there handnt been 1 (not 1) offence of drive off, or fuel theft, or armed robbery committed by a biker in the Walsall area, so why was this policy in force. I offered to meet with their crime reduction officer to discuss matters.

I never heard back from them !!!! - wonder why???

 

[Cant Find A User Name]

A similar thing to Allan happened to me at a TESCO site.

They let me fill up but demended that I took my helmet off whilst in the shop paying for the fuel. I refused & offered the cashier a £20 but he wouldn't accept it until my lid was removed - 'it's company policy - so we can identify you if you try to rob us' - FFS

To keep little hitler happy I slowly removed my specs & lid whilst a nice queue was forming so the CCTV could get a look at me.

Once he'd taken my money I then asked for the manager & kept things ticking over in the queue department.

The cashier wanted to know why I wanted to see the manager - I politely informed him that he had captured digital images of me on the CCTV and, as they were images were legally my property I wanted them back.

Surprise surprise, the manager was 'unavailable' so I just took my time putting my lid, specs & gloves back on & left - never to return.

I never have a problem at the local Morrisons

 

[Pugwash]

The legal standpoint on CCTV: Businesses have to register them, and the data protection act obliges them to hand over a copy of any footage showing you for a reasonable charge to cover cost of doing so.

Might be worth carrying plenty of change so you can give them the exact amount. I don't see why they could accuse you of anything if you left the money on the counter and walked away. They'd have all this on camera too, in case of any dispute.

 

[Allan]

Its ridiculas, armed with a ?20.00 note to pay for fuel and feared we might rob them -bollocks !!!

 

[derek kelly]

So you remove your helmet & place it on the seat, it falls off & gets damaged, who is going to replace it?

You remove your helmet & put it on the floor, you pick it up & it's covered in Diesel, do you put it back on your head?

These filling stations are alright insisting you remove your helmet but they don't provide any safe storage for them.

Just a thought though, you remove your helmet, then you fill your tank with petrol, then you go to pay with your helmet in your hand then decide "sod it" & whack the cashier with your helmet & take all the cash from the till, wouldn't have happened if you were wearing it so their own rules create a weapon.