Shell Gas Station Got charged for pumping air into my gas tank! Santa Nella California

I stopped at a Shell gas station to buy gasoline, in Santa Nella, CA, at the intersection of highway 33 and I-5. I used my debit card and started the pump. I thought it was weird because I did not hear any sound of gasoline flowing. But the counters on the pump were showing that gas was flowing and the money charged was increasing. I was stupid not to check my suspicion not hearing the sound; because I was only pumping air into my gas tank.

After some time, the pump continued to show gallons increasing and it went 6 gallons over my gas tank capacity, and my gas tank was not even completely empty to begin with. I was shocked, and when I realized I was getting ripped off, I immediately took it out. Then I turned it on again, aiming at the ground, but no gasoline came out. However this time the counter did not increase. I fetched the clerk, and he saw no gasoline was coming out of it. It would have been more proof had the counter rolled again, but it was not rolling any more.

I spent about an hour at the station, but he would not give me my 70$ back for the gas I never got. He said, it is Sunday, the manager is unreachable, I will call you tommorow, blah blah blah. I finally called the Sheriff, and he did not do anything also. I had proof of my receipt showing 20 gallons of gas being charged and showed the deputy Sheriff my vehicle manual saying the car has a 14.5 gallon tank. But nothing came of it.

I do not expect to get my money back.

Should not have used my debit card, atleast with the credit card I could have disputed with my credit card company and had the payment stopped.

Oosman
Patterson, California
U.S.A.