I fly into LAX about twice a month. Because I rent from Hertz, I usually fill the tank before returning the car at the Texaco on Century Blvd.

Each time I have used this Texaco over the past 2 months (most recently this past Sat.), I've encountered pretty aggressive pan-handlers, for lack of a better term.

I've noticed they conceal themselves in the shrubbery, and then when you're preoccupied with pumping the gas come out and ask you to help them out. I work in midtown NYC, so I'm used to saying "no", but this most recent guy started complaining: "C'mon man, I wouldn't say that to you!", and wouldn't walk away.

Maybe I'm hitting this place at the wrong times, but my advice would be to keep extra alert when you're filling the tank around LAX, keep the doors locked, be on your toes, etc.

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Who is John Galt?
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This kind of activity has been going on for years not only at that service station ,but also the AM PM service station right down the street. Be alert and carefull!

Thanks for the tip, I am going there this weekend, I hate that. Speaking of midtown Manhattan, there is one panhandler here that blocks the door in the entrance to a Chase bank ATM after hours. You can't go in without passing her and she "offers" to open the door for you (all but one are locked and as you try various doors to find one that is open, that's when she springs into action.) She watches you get cash so she knows you have money. Then on the way out, again through the only unlocked door - she says, "hey can you help a pregnant woman out." I don't think she is pregnant anyway but it is awful to do this.

CozumelJen,

I'm sure that Chase ATM Security would like to hear from you about that. You can call 212-935-9935 and ask for ATM Security. I had a similar regular problem with the Citibank at 34th & 7th.

I always find it amazing that people wait @ an ATM. What do they expect, that I am going to fork over a twenty?

A simple "no" does the trick.

Geez, you really get robbed at that Texaco. Their prices are like 20-30c more than anyone else around.

Good point. Maybe Texaco is planting these people to distract me from looking at the price. If so, it's an effective strategy because all I was thinking about was the potential need to hose the guy down with the gas nozzle.

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Who is John Galt?
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I have used that station before...and I have been approached by a bum at least twice in the past. My "boilerplate" response to them is that I am broke and this gas station is the reason for it. Then I ask them if they take credit cards because I am out of cash (one of these days some wise-guy bum will pull out a credit card machine then I will be in trouble).

Remember the slogan "Just say NO"?

JS - nice thought but just saying no does not always work. She started cursing at me when I tried that and I still had to get past her to get out of the door. Also as a single woman it unnerves me to be alone in a confined space at night with a panhandler. I am just lucky that in this case it was a woman, so I was not really afraid but still you never know.

Not always, often you need and EMPHATIC NO with adjectives if they persist

That Texaco is the biggest rip-off in LA. I always use the Chevron on Century & La Cienega, the price is always at least 20 cents cheaper and I have never seen any panhandlers there.

[This message has been edited by defunct (edited 06-19-2001).]

One of the reasons I rent from National is that as an Emerald Club member, you don't have to stop and fill it up. National charges you @ the local gas rates. I know the gallons might not be exact, but I hate stopping on the way to the airport.

I did just that with National at LAX last weekend. I had driven about 200 miles, all freeway. When I returned the car, the gague showed 3/8 full, but I got charged for 15 gallons on a Buick Century. The agent said they go by the mileage, not the gague. I'm sure they go by city mpg, so I got ripped off because my miles were all highway. But it did save me from having to refuel in the hood.

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