From: "tim....." 
Newsgroups: uk.finance uk.legal
Subject: Re: Petrol Station rip off
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:46:13 +0100


"Alasdair"  wrote in message 
news:e9cn231qjc24669adreh23um59gamlm4v1@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 22 Apr 2007 18:36:26 +0100, "Aaron B"  wrote:
>
>>No it isn't.
>>There is no obligation on a shop to accept cards at all.
>>An offer of payment is an 'invitation to treat'.  If they don't accept it,
>>there is no sale.
>>If you make off with the goods it will be theft.
>
> If the merchant advertised that it accepts cards, you are quite
> justified in tendering one in payment.  If the magnetic strip on the
> card doesn't work, you can hardly be convicted of theft as there is no
> dishonesty on your part. You tendered payment in  a method approved by
> the merchant by his signage and it is most unfortunate that you don't
> have the necessary cash in your pocket.

If the swipe doesn't work they can simply key the
number in.  Assiming that they can be bothered.

tim