A dispute over an unpaid fuel bill culminated in a heated confrontation between a car rental business owner and a customer on the Gold Coast. The owner, Blake, who recently launched Coastline Car Hire, stated he was contacted by Queensland Police after a customer failed to pay for fuel at a 7-Eleven station and left the vehicle registered under his business name.
According to Queensland Police protocol, the registered owner of a vehicle is notified via text message when such an incident occurs and is required to return to the service station to settle the bill to avoid prosecution. Blake shared that he received this notification and subsequently contacted the customer.
During their initial phone conversation, the customer reportedly claimed she had forgotten to pay for the fuel and later admitted to having insufficient funds. Blake refused her request to cover the bill, suggesting she borrow the money from a friend or face police action. The customer reportedly ended the call abruptly, appearing to panic at the prospect of legal repercussions.
Blake initially hesitated to report the incident to the police himself, concerned that it might complicate matters as the customer still had possession of the rental car. However, less than an hour before the vehicle was due to be returned the following day, Blake contacted the customer again. She reiterated her refusal to pay the outstanding fuel cost.
A face-to-face exchange occurred when the customer returned the car at the designated drop-off location. During this encounter, the customer reportedly called Blake unprofessional before finally agreeing to pay the fuel bill. A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed that SMS notifications are sent to drivers who leave petrol stations without paying. The spokesman noted that while intentionally driving off without paying is a criminal offense, the system allows for unintentional mistakes, such as forgetting to pay or card issues, to be resolved without criminal charges.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Blake indicated he would consider implementing new customer policies in the future, such as securing a credit card on file or taking a security deposit for rentals.