Recently, a video from the Kalina Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) retail outlet in Santacruz East, Mumbai began circulating on social media showing an attendant allegedly failing to reset the fuel meter before filling a customer’s vehicle.
Viewers interpreted this as a “repeat scam” and urged both BPCL and local police to investigate.
The clip tapped into broader public mistrust about petrol pump practices, especially the longstanding concern that attendants manipulate meters, leading consumers to pay for more fuel than they actually receive. But is this an isolated glitch, or part of a recurring pattern?
Consumer Survey Findings
A nationwide consumer survey by LocalCircles found that 13% of respondents reported at least one instance in the past year where staff did not bring the meter reading to zero before filling fuel.
Even more strikingly, 62% said they had experienced lower than expected mileage after a full tank, prompting suspicion that a rigged meter might be to blame.
This suggests that concerns about the “meter not reset” pattern aren’t just social media buzz, a significant portion of motorists across India feel they’ve encountered questionable practices.
Recurring Online Complaints
While the Santacruz case brought attention this month, complaints about petrol pump meter discrepancies have been circulating for years, across cities, brands and platforms:
A Reddit thread from Bangalore detailed how a customer asked for ₹200 worth of petrol but the meter started from a reading already beyond zero because the attendant didn’t reset it. The result: the customer paid for 100 rupees more fuel than actually received.
Another user on Reddit from Chennai reported a classic meter-continuation trick: after an initial partial fill, the attendant continued without resetting, making it seem like the full amount had been dispensed when it hadn’t.
In Kalyan West, a user recounted repeated incidents at the same petrol pump where attendants continued from the previous meter reading instead of starting from zero, then demanded extra payment after showing inflated totals.
Other threads from Pune and Navi Mumbai revealed similar tricks, where attendants either didn’t reset the meter or used distracting tactics while filling, leading to lower fuel delivery than claimed.
These patterns, though crowdsourced, show a consistent method described by consumers: the meter is not reset to zero before filling, then totals are misrepresented.
Why Zero Matters
Petrol dispensers are calibrated machines that are legally required to register exactly the amount of fuel delivered. A reset to 0.00 before filling ensures the subsequent reading reflects only the fuel you pay for.
When the meter doesn’t reset:
- The displayed amount may include prior readings
- The pump shows a higher total than actual fuel delivered
- The customer pays for fuel they didn’t get
Consumers have internalized this risk: many now reject a fill unless they see the meter go to zero first, even demanding it verbally before authorizing a transaction.
Regulatory Framework Explained
In India, fuel dispensers fall under Legal Metrology regulations, requiring periodic certification and stamping to ensure accuracy.
Calibration and weighing standards are enforced by state governments’ weights and measures departments. Yet compliance checks are not always public and surprise inspections often happen only after complaints.
A more proactive, transparent system with real-time calibration data and visible inspection logs could help restore trust.
Limits Of Vigilance
In an era where a smartphone video can trigger national debate, consumers are compensating for perceived oversight gaps by:
- Standing beside the meter during filling
- Refusing to pay until they see a zero start
- Sharing experiences on social media and forums
- But individual vigilance doesn’t replace institutional accountability.
Building System Trust
To move beyond suspicion and anecdote, India’s petrol retail sector could consider:
- Mandatory zero-reset confirmation before each transaction
- Public dashboards of calibration certificates and inspection dates
- Independent audits and surprise checks with published results
- These steps would make meter oversight visible to all, reducing ambiguity about fairness.
Confidence And Cameras
The latest viral footage from a BPCL outlet is important not merely because it might show improper practice, but because it highlights a persistent question:
If consumers must watch the meter, who is watching the system?
From national surveys to repeated crowd-sourced reports and media coverage over years, there’s a clear perception that petrol pump meter practices are unreliable. That perception can undermine trust in essential fuel retail infrastructure if left unaddressed.
Restoring trust won’t come from isolated rebuttals or defensive management statements, it requires systemic transparency, visible compliance, and consumer empowerment backed by technology and regulation.
Only then can motorists fill tank after tank without checking their phones, their meters or their instincts.
The Logical Indian’s View
At The Logical Indian, we believe accountability must be pursued without hostility. Viral videos should prompt inquiry, not outrage. Fuel attendants deserve dignity; consumers deserve transparency.
The answer lies not in suspicion but in stronger systems, clearer communication, and regulatory visibility that builds trust rather than fear.
