By Consumer Reporter Tak Landrock
t.landrock@krdo.com

COLORADO SPRINGS - A warning about paying at the pump with a debit or credit card has many thinking twice before sliding their own cards.

The warning, sent in an e-mail by Colorado Springs Police, says that if you don't hit clear after your done filling up, you could be paying for the next customer's gas "She received her receipt like normal," the e-mail states.  "However, when she checked her statement, there were (2) $50 charges added in addition to her purchase. "

According to the letter, the woman later realized by just driving off, it allowed others to piggyback off her transaction.  "To keep this from happening, after you get your receipt, you must press the 'CLEAR' button or your information will be stored until the next customer inserts their card.  Be sure to tell all your friends/family so that this doesn't happen to them!"

Officer Dave Gilman sent out the e-mail, but says the person that forwarded it didn't include the most important part. "The first couple of lines were telling people that those pumps are very rare and hard to find."

He tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 that he contacted manufactures of the pump and found out that those problems only happen with first generation models. "I doubt you will ever find one here in Colorado Springs, it was just a good piece of information."

He does say if you go to a small town that hasn't updated their pumps, you may run into this problem. He recommends anyone filling-up and using a credit card to make sure the sale is final, by not only waiting for the receipt but also making sure the nozzle is put fully back into place.

"It only takes a few seconds."