Tania Campbell was left confused after BP Connect Bay View store blamed flies on the till for why she was overcharged. Graphic / Aaron Bryan
Tania Campbell was left confused after BP Connect Bay View store blamed flies on the till for why she was overcharged. Graphic / Aaron Bryan
A rogue fly accidentally ordered a double shot flat white for a local BP customer.
At least that was the explanation Tania Campbell was given after her son bought items at BP Connect Bay View, Napier, and unknowingly paid for a coffee he didn't order.
Campbell complained, and was tolda fly had landed on the till screen and accidentally ordered the coffee.
"I rang BP up straight away and they said the flies must have been on the screen and pressed a button."
BP Connect Bay View weren't commenting, so Hawke's Bay Today put the unusual explanation to BP's head office.
BP Oil New Zealand Limited Communications Specialist Gordon Gillan said an "error" was made in the customer transaction. Photo / Warren Buckland
There were no flies on the BP response, but BP Oil New Zealand Limited Communications Specialist Gordon Gillan said: "I can confirm that there was unfortunately an error made in a customer transaction at BP Connect Bay View last week.
"As soon as we became aware of the issue we refunded the customer and apologised to them."
Gillan added: "We are sorry this has happened, and our store management team is reviewing with the team to avoid this happening again."
Campbell had sent her son to the local BP about 10pm on Wednesday and noticed the mistake on the receipt.
"The guy [had] asked if my son wanted the receipt and he got it."
BP Oil New Zealand Limited Communications Specialist Gordon Gillan said an "error" was made in the customer transaction. Photo / Warren Buckland
After phoning the BP on Wednesday night, a disbelieving Campbell visited the store on Thursday morning and told staff she didn't believe the excuse.
"It might only be $5.50, but I couldn't believe it."
Staff had stood by the explanation.
Pest expert Brent Foster, owner of pest control business AAA Services, questioned whether a fly could activate a touch screen.
"Touch screens are heat sensitive as oppose to touch, and had the feet of a fly, which are less than a millimetre big, landed they wouldn't set off anything.
"They don't weigh a hell of a lot and they are cold-blooded creatures, so wouldn't produce a lot of heat.
"I doubt very much a fly could set off any touchscreen."
Campbell warned the public to stay vigilant when making purchases.
