I put my card in the PINpad, and the lass behind the counter said, "I'm going to have to try and swipe that as the pad isn't working." Fine, I thought... it happens.
Then she said, "I only hope it goes through, as we've been having connection problems today." NOW she tells me!
Slight pause for the machine to fail connection...
Then she says, "Look, I'm sorry. Is there any chance you can use the cash machine? This thing doesn't look like it's going to work."
Point 1 - Are you trying to tell me that you don't have any other way of accepting card payments other than through the online keypad system?
Point 2 - Why should I have to pay £1.85 to draw money out of a cash machine (oh, and that's a separate rant too) in reply to the shortfailings of your own systems?
Point 3 - What would have happened if someone only had a credit card on them and thus was unable/unwilling to use the cash machine? Would you have syphoned their petrol tank?
Point 4 - If you knew you had connection problems, why not put a sign out at the entrance or on the pumps saying that you couldn't accept cards?
Fortunately, you dealt with someone who was willing (on this occasion) to pay £54.85 for £53.00 worth of petrol... purely because I wanted to get to work, and I couldn't be arsed to be arsey.
Next time, you won't be so lucky. I'll even hold the syphon tube for you whilst you suck.