Ambulance worker stopped from leaving Esso petrol station after her card declined payment

The South Central Ambulance worker, who asked not to be named, tried to pay for fuel for her car at the Esso petrol station at 5am on Monday, but her card did not work.

After making a few attempts to transfer money to the account, the card was declined again.

The crew member, who was dressed in ambulance service uniform, told the employee that she would return later to pay the bill, but says she was prevented from leaving.

She said: “They blocked me from leaving and began shouting at me, saying that I had no money and wasn’t paying on purpose, which wasn’t true. One employee said to me, ‘Just because you’re an emergency worker it doesn’t mean you don’t pay for things.’ I was definitely going to pay; I had no reason not to.”

Eventually, she handed over her bank card and staff recorded her car registration.

She said she returned the next morning and paid the bill, telling the same employee that she did not appreciate the way he spoke to her.

The regional manager for Euro Garages, Scott Pritchard, said: “We respect the customer’s method of payment may not work, as in this particular case, may be genuine. We would like to thank the customer for her honesty and coming back to settle the outstanding payment. We contacted her to explain and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”