Save-A-Ton, Citgo In Lake Mary Florida ripoff adulterated gas in Lake Mary Florida
We live right on the border of Lake Mary and Sanford, Florida. I drive a Mercedes, and usually fill up and the local Save-a-Ton / Citgo on Country Club Road and Lake Mary (also a food mart).
I gassed up, using premium gas like I usually do, last Friday March 25, 2005 around 7:00 pm. I needed over of a tank of gas, which I charged on my credit card. It came out to be roughly $ 28.00 worth of gas.
The car had been running fine and had recently had a large routine service and checked out great. But after I gassed up I barely made the 3 miles to my house. The engine starting shaking, and it almost died a couple of times. I thought it was some sort of mechanical issue with the engine that was overlooked during the recent service.
Well, I left the car in the driveway all weekend, and had it towed to my mechanic on Monday.
Turns out, severely adulterated gas in the gas tank! My mechanic said whatever this thing is, it smells bad, and it isn't gas. It is very fortunate I only needed to drive 3 miles, he said, or the engine of the Mercedes could have been totaled (it requires premium gas to run properly). My mechanics are honest and reliable, and have saved samples of whatever it is that was in my gas tank.
I called the Save-a-Ton, thinking perhaps he didn't know about it. A guy named Mike answered, who I found out later was the owner. When I told him I had bad gas, he refused to give me his full name. I asked to talk to the owner. He replied, there is no owner and told me don't call here again. Then he hung up on me.
I reported it to the police, the local mayor, and the Department of Agriculture. The latter, who investigated only today (Wednesday) 5 days after I originally pumped the bad gas of course found nothing amiss.
I contacted Citgo, who referred me to Gate Petroleum, the distributor for Save-a-Ton. Gate Petroleum is trying to facilitate between me and Mike but we are all not holding out too much hope.
In the meantime, I'm out
$ 1300 repairs
$ 90 tow
$ 260 car rental while my car has been in the shop
$ 28 for the so-called premium gas
Now, I have a credit card receipt that proves I filled up my car at Save-A-Ton last Friday. I have samples of adulterated gas taken from my disabled, towed car on Monday. Unless I magically filled an already brimming gas tank in the few minutes between leaving Save-a-Ton and almost being disabled on the road, there is no other conclusion than I've been the victim of fraud. Yet, it appears that my samples are not actionable by the Department of Agriculture, and this swindler can stay in business with impunity.
Befuddled and Bemused
Sanford, Florida
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
T
Fidi,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thanks for all your support - NOT!
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, March 30, 2005
Well, New York --
You obviously don't know Florida.
I don't really watch my pennies regarding gas.
However, that to me is completely beside the point. Why anyone would think I, or any other consumer, deserves to incur over $2500 mechanical damage to my car is completely beyond me, even if I did watch my pennies.
But the reason I gas up a Sav-a-ton is that it is located 3 miles from my house, between me and the major highway I use to go to work. It is the only convenient (e.g. less than 5 minute ride) gas station so located.
Lake Mary is an upscale community, but since it is Florida, there are many gas stations around that sell gas even for less than $ 2.09 premium. Sav-A-ton is far from being the least expensive gas in town. New York prices don't apply here.
This is the last post I will make on this website. I'm disgusted at the replies I've received here, in their mean-spirited-ness (if that is a word), lack of empathy and concern.
I posted my story hoping for consumer support. Instead I get one replay criticizing the "facts", and another one blaming me. Why I, or any other consumer, would deserve to have water in my gas for paying $ 28.00 for gas instead of $ 38.00 for gas is again, as an example, is totally beyond me.
Well, despite you toads out there, this story has a happy ending.
The Florida Department of Agriculture tested Sav-a-ton and did find water in the premium tank. At this point I am expecting a full refund. I just hope there is no permanent damage to my car.
For those of you who have been ripped off, I hope you get more support, and consumer outrage, than I have at this site. Goodbye and good riddance.
James
New York,New York,
U.S.A.
OK - I'll respond to the core issue. You're cheap!
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, March 25, 2005
You proudly proclaim that you drive a Mercedes. OK, got it. Then you turn around and gas up at the El-Cheapo-Save-A-Bunch gas station, quick mart and bait shop. Well, the problem seems pretty clear to me. This doesn't generally doesn't happen at BP, Shell, etc.
On the weekends, I drive a vintage Corvette cranking out over 425hp. It gets Shell premium and ONLY Shell premium - and that usually costs me 3 to 7 cents more than the quick shop across the street. On the other hand, I've never had fuel problems.
Clearly you've just spent far more than waht you've saved in the difference in the cost of the gas over the past several years. Lesson learned. If you can't afford to treat a high performance car appropriately, you can't afford a performance car.
T
Fidi,Florida,
U.S.A.
How about the fact that you are rather heartless?
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, March 25, 2005
It is true, I don't have the dates right.
I gassed up last Friday, i was the 18th, not the 25th.
Gas was roughly $ 2.09 per gallon for premium at Save-a-Ton, and the exact total was $ 28.61, so it was over a half a tank, but perhaps not quite 3/4.
In the meantime, the Dept of Agriculture went to my mechanic, and confirmed the gas was watered down.
However, since they tested the pump and the pump came out clean, they can't do anything.
So, how about responding to the core of the issue, and not nit-picking an already harrassed and ripped-off consumer, Mr. D-Naples?
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Friday the 25TH is Tomorrow.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, March 24, 2005
Please get your facts straight. How could you have purchased gas on Friday the 25th when TODAY is Thursday the 24TH? Plus you must have a small gas tank when gas is at least $2.25 per gal. for Premium, And still paid $28.00 for over 3/4 of a tank.
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Friday the 25TH is Tomorrow.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, March 24, 2005
Please get your facts straight. How could you have purchased gas on Friday the 25th when TODAY is Thursday the 24TH? Plus you must have a small gas tank when gas is at least $2.25 per gal. for Premium, And still paid $28.00 for over 3/4 of a tank.
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Friday the 25TH is Tomorrow.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, March 24, 2005
Please get your facts straight. How could you have purchased gas on Friday the 25th when TODAY is Thursday the 24TH? Plus you must have a small gas tank when gas is at least $2.25 per gal. for Premium, And still paid $28.00 for over 3/4 of a tank.
D
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Friday the 25TH is Tomorrow.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, March 24, 2005
Please get your facts straight. How could you have purchased gas on Friday the 25th when TODAY is Thursday the 24TH? Plus you must have a small gas tank when gas is at least $2.25 per gal. for Premium, And still paid $28.00 for over 3/4 of a tank.