Over Charging for Fuel

[Hedge]

I was down in Orlando last weekend and I had the FBO fill my plane from a long trip.  I have installed and fuel totalizer and it is calibrated.  MY 66E takes 52 gallons, with 2 gals unusable.  I only program 50 gals in my totalizer.

 

Well, when I was back at the FBO to pay my bill and take off, I was with some clients.  My totalizer indicated that I only need 39 gallons of fuel and they charged me 48 gallons.  I was very surprised and asked them to check and make sure it was the correct amount. Again my client was there and I didn't want to make a scene, and I thought maybe my totalizer was wrong (also, my fuel gauge backed up what my totalizer said too).  But stranger things have happened.

 

Anyway, I flew back, filled my plane myself and the totalizer was within 0.1 gallons of the actual pumped fuel.

 

What would you guys do?

[Andy95W]

Just my $.02, but I think I would consider:

1.) Not use that FBO again

2.) write up your experience on Airnav

3.) In the future, tell the fueler to put in the number of gallons the totalizer said you used. At least then, there isn't a chance that your bill was mixed up with somebody else's, and you can visually check that the tanks are full.

I wonder if there was a Mooney Ovation there, and that owner is saying, "wow! I only used 39 gallons that flight!"

[FloridaMan]

I'd contact the FBO first and explain the situation. That's like saying your tanks were completely empty. Is there any chance that you have a leak or there was a sump drain stuck open? 

 

Given that it was Orlando, I would imagine that even if they pumped 48 gallons of fuel and charged you for 39 that they would still turn a profit. Most FBOs don't want people to be unhappy with them, especially the chains. It's my understanding that they teach their line crews that the person who arrives in the piston single may be flying his own plane that day, but his day job is flying a business jet that he makes the decisions for. 

[Danb]

Makes you wonder if they reset the fuel machine??  can't trust anyone anymore...

[MyNameIsNobody]

Sump your tanks. Telll them you want __ in left and __ in right tank. KNOW what you are taking on for fuel.

[ryoder]

That blows. Don't go back. Pump yourself if you can.

[Piloto]

When the fuel transducer is contaminated with residue at times it stops reading fuel (0 fuel flow)and the total indicated fuel consumed could be a lower number. I had this happens with mine. I had mine cleaned with carburetor cleaner and problem solved. But I have also seen fuel trucks meters read higher than the actual fuel delivered. Which could happens if the lineman does not reset to zero the meter. I always stand nearby when refueling.

José

[DonMuncy]

If my history of fuel consumption approximately matched what the fuel totalized indicated what was used, and I felt confident about the last time it was filled. I would probably write to the FBO in non-accusatory language and concisely set out the facts leading to my conclusion that there was probably an error in their fueling. Perhaps they may want to make it right to keep a potential customer.

[HRM]

Well, when I was back at the FBO to pay my bill and take off, I was with some clients.  My totalizer indicated that I only need 39 gallons of fuel and they charged me 48 gallons.  I was very surprised and asked them to check and make sure it was the correct amount. Again my client was there and I didn't want to make a scene, and I thought maybe my totalizer was wrong (also, my fuel gauge backed up what my totalizer said too).  But stranger things have happened.

 

What would you guys do?

 

After a long trip? Needing 48 gallons? Clearly nonsense.

 

I would have resolved it then and there, but then again I don't have clients (well, that fly with me!) 

 

The others have offered good advice. I'd call the FBO manager. If no satisfaction, well, AirNav and other sites.

 

Which airport?

[Ron McBride]

I had a similar problem in Kerrville a couple of years ago.   I asked fpr fuel, they kept screwing up the order, I even told them to cancel it, but the plane was full when I pre-flight'd.        I paid someone else's bill at there insistence, to little fuel, and then they wanted to bill be me again.   I had kept the receipt.   We had similar plane numbers.   After a letter and a couple of phone calls, they decided to drop the matter.

 

Ron

[cliffy]

As a past FBO manager I'd want you to contact me and ask that the fueling logs for that truck be checked.

Every airplane fueled has to have a record written and preserved in case of an accident so that the Feds (and the FBO ) can check their records and if it was a fueling issue they can get hold of every airplane that was fueled that day. It's done by every FBO. They have the gallon totalizer record AND the cumulative meter counter of every sale by N number. It can be tracked down. Also recalculate your flight and your normal fuel burn vs flt time to recheck what your fuel burn should have been and also show how you couldn't have burned so much fuel.

Also ask how much fuel was pumped in the airplane just before you and add that up to what you should have taken and see if it matches what you paid for.

[aviatoreb]

Usually if I am ripped off on fuel - I know it ahead of time - like if fuel is $7.50/gal, so I buy the minimum to avoid the landing fee.

[1964-M20E]

It could have been an innocent mistake.  What airport and who was the FBO I'm headed there this weekend? PM me if you do not want to make it public.

 

I've seen some difference from the linemen but usually 1 or 2 gallons and when I check the tanks the fuel is just about spilling out the filler.

[Hedge]

Thanks for all the advice.  I don't want to name the FBO, because if it were an honest mistake and I will let them help me determine.  And I did the burn rate with my plane and all things, fuel gauge, fuel flow indicator, and my estimated burn rate all corresponded with me.