‘Meter creep,’ damaged hoses among issues found at Triangle gas stations

Triangle drivers are paying more at the pump, but that doesn’t necessarily mean gas stations are failing to meet fuel quality and other standards.

Inspectors with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have seen an uptick in complaints since early March — a trend typical when gas and diesel prices go up, managers with the Standards Division told The News & Observer.

But while investigating recent consumer complaints and performing routine, unannounced visits to test equipment, the inspectors found issues at only a handful of gas stations across Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties, documents obtained by The N&O show.

Here’s a roundup of the issues investigators found at local gas stations between March 1 and May 6.

Weights and measures inspections

Pumps at seven gas stations in Apex, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Pittsboro were recently “tagged” by inspectors. When a meter is tagged, it is temporarily taken out of service until issues are resolved and an inspector follows up to confirm repairs were made. This helps ensure that customers aren’t harmed.

The meters were tagged for issues including damaged hoses, “meter creep” — when the gas pump trigger is released, but the meter still climbs, adding pennies to the total — unreadable displays, inaccessible devices, missing buttons and maintenance needs.

Inspectors also tagged pumps at nine gas stations in Raleigh, Garner, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Apex and Morrisville. These tagged pumps were already out of order when inspectors arrived on site.

Fuel quality inspections

After receiving a customer complaint of water in diesel, state inspectors went to Summit #1 at 1325 Broad St. in Fuquay-Varina in May.

The inspector found water coming out of the pump with diesel, but didn’t find any water in the diesel tank. Still, no amount of water is permitted to come out of a gas station pump, so the inspector temporarily barred the station from selling fuel from that pump.

Once the station had the lines flushed, filters changed and fill pipe cap replaced, an inspector revisited the station and found no issues with the pump. That allowed the station to begin selling fuel from the pump again.

How to submit complaints

Customers can submit a weights and measures complaint online at ncagr.gov or by calling 984-236-4770 or emailing Chad Parker at chad.parker@ncagr.gov.

You can submit a fuel quality complaint online at ncagr.gov or by calling 984-236-4770.

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

919-419-6579

Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.