Is this considered stealing?

[crosses]

I was coming home from a friend's house who I hadn't seen for awhile and I was running a bit low on gas (she lives quite a ways from me) so I pulled into a convenient mart / gas station and purchased $10 in gas. I paid with a $20 and received 2 $5 bills in change and headed home.

When I reach home and I looked in my wallet, I found that I had 4 $5 bills and not 2. The bills were new and I guess they stuck together. So I didn't pay anything for the gas. Is this considered stealing?

[Ima saver]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

It is certainly not stealing. You didn't take anything, you were given extra money.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

No not stealing to me, but the gas attendant is going to get in trouble.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

I don't think it is stealing but I would make the effort to give it back. That is just my .02 cents.

[cercis]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

It isn't stealing, per se, but karma won't like it. If you don't believe in karma, God won't like it.

How far away is the gas station? If it is close, I'd try to get it to them. If it's 30 miles or more away, I'd call the manager and get the address and put it in the mail (in a check).

The clerk will get in trouble and may have his pay docked that $10.

[naturalwoman]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

not stealing unless you knew before you left. i would return it

[robex]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

No, I wouldn't consider it stealing.

It is, however, dishonest to keep it!

[baselle]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

Its stealing if you keep it.

[BAGAGT1]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

Its stealing if you keep it.

It is most definitely NOT stealing whether you keep it or not. Once the attendant has to balance his/her drawer and the drawer is short, the attendant will be in trouble regardless of whether you return it or not. If I had noticed immediately, I would return it, otherwise, I won't go through that much trouble for $10.

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

As a former gas station jockey, I have to put in my .02 cents....

When the close of shift paperwork is done, that clerk will find out his drawer is 10 bucks short. Normally, shortages and overages are an expected part of the day. However, if they've had many days where the range falls too far outside 5-10 bucks, they may be docked or given an extra day off(unscheduled) of course....

I believe in a force behind us. If it's extra, give it back.

[baselle]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

It is most definitely NOT stealing whether you keep it or not. Once the attendant has to balance his/her drawer and the drawer is short, the attendant will be in trouble regardless of whether you return it or not. If I had noticed immediately, I would return it, otherwise, I won't go through that much trouble for $10.

So you'll let the attendant hang, eh? That's sooo much better! Wooo. My conscience is clean!

Let's take a look at the situation. The original transaction was something for $10. You received 2 X 10$. The attendant probably made an honest mistake, but even if the attendant was incompetent, what happened is that you received $10 that is yours and $10 that is the store's.

The second transaction is keeping the extra $10 and not rectifying it, and that I believe is stealing - keeping something that is not yours. Now I admit that this is passive. You didn't hold a gun or write a note threatening bodily harm as you received the money, but you received it nonetheless.

[crosses]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

As I mentioned in the first post, I was coming back from a friend's house that lives quite far from me. It would mean a 2 hour drive back and I'm not sure if I can even find the station (although I probably can if I try hard enough). While I feel bad and would return it if I had noticed earlier, is it my responsibility to take time and spend money on gas (which won't be reimbursed) for a mistake that wasn't mine? I'm thinking I'll donate it to charity.

[cercis]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

That's why I suggested calling and mailing the money. Charity probably isn't a bad idea either.

[crosses]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

That's why I suggested calling and mailing the money. Charity probably isn't a bad idea either.

That isn't possible - I paid in cash and the receipt doesn't have a contact number or address. I have no idea what street it's located on - like I mentioned, I was out of town.

[baselle]

Re: Is this considered stealing?

Is the gas station near your friend's house? Perhaps your friend can help you locate it. Another thought is to do a Google Local search of the gas stations in that town - I've pulled an *amazing* amount of geographic and address information from there.