Getting back to the subject, look here:
"The concept of legal tender is often misunderstood. Contrary to popular opinion, legal tender is not a means
of payment that must be accepted by parties in a transaction, but rather a legally defined means of payment
that should not be refused by the creditor in satisfaction of a debt."
The Bank of England, on "Bank notes". See:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/factnote....
As you will have already taken the fuel, the petrol station is your creditor, so can they refuse any legally
defined offer of payment in satisfaction of that debt? Payment in kind, or labour can be refused, or if a
reasonably sized and placed warning notice that other kinds of payment is shown, but I can't say if a debit, or
a credit card is sufficiently 'legally defined'. Any of m'learned friends here?
In a slightly different situation, I was recently stuck by forgetting that my credit card had changed to a
different company and that the old one had been cancelled. Tankful of fuel on the Motorway, card doesn't work ,
"use the cash point, Sir." They were singularly unhelpful, even threatening to call the cops when I suggested I
would leave my trailer and race car behind and go home for another card (not far, TBTTG). When I pointed out
the publicity disadvantages (Local racer arrested by in Services! Staff call police!) they relented.
There is nothing like the power of the Press, or even the suggestion of it!
John