BP Gas Station Facing Lawsuit Over Car Wash Codes
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The BP America, Inc., gas station franchise is facing a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court after a woman is claiming one station had sold car wash access codes to customers with illegally short access codes, according to court documents filed Friday.
The documents do not specify which BP gas station was involved in the alleged fraud.
The woman's complaint states that she purchased a car was access code from a BP gas station on Nov. 12, 2011, but was not able to use the code immediately. It was either due to long lines at the station's car was or because it was too cold when she went to have her car washed.
Customers can get car wash access codes when they purchase a wash either at a gas pump or from a clerk. The access code is printed on the customer's receipt and is typically good for a certain period of time. Some stations offer codes that expire within just a few days, according to court documents.
The woman suing BP tried to use her access code on Dec. 19, 2011, more than a month after it was purchased, but her access code was rejected and her car wash was denied because it expired a week earlier, according to court documents.
The attorney representing the woman in the case says Minnesota law prohibits any expiration certificates redeemable for pre-paid goods and services within five years of the date of purchase.
The case is still under investigation at this time.
