From April 1, it was forbidden to sell gasoline and diesel, methane and propane for cash. The Kun.uz reporter learned how the new order works at the branches in some districts of Fergana region, and was interested in the drivers’ opinions.
You went to fill your car with gasoline or gas, and you only have cash with you. But it’s too early to be discouraged: as with any limitation, in practice, there are already ways around the discomfort as easily as possible. We witnessed this once again when we entered a number of branches in the cities of Kuva and Fergana and Rishton district.
“We will pay in cash, but there is a percentage…”
We turned to the operator at the first branch, told him that we only had cash with us, and asked if they would complete our work without a plastic card. The operator said that the cashier would handle it. We went to the cash register and handed over 50,000 soums. The employee said that interest will be deducted from the cash and they will pour 47,500 soums worth of propane.
But not everywhere. At another branch, we poured 50,000 soums of propane, and the cashier did not deduct any commission. In this situation, we think that he chose one of two ways: either he did not issue a purchase receipt, or he corrected the account by withdrawing 50,000 soums from the card of another individual.
An additional 1,000 soums to 65,000 soums…
Then, in another city, we managed to fill AI-92 gasoline for cash. The price of 5 liters of gasoline was 65,000 soums. However, at their request, they had to pay an additional 1,000 soums, totaling 66,000 soums.
We met a similar commission in another branch. The operator said that there is a commission of 1,000 soums because we paid cash for propane worth 100,000 soums.
“Atakhan doesn’t know how to deposit money, help me…”
At one of the gas stations, we met an elderly driver scratching his head with a wad of money in his hand. He had poured methane into his car, and was wondering how to put the cash he had in his hand into the ATM to pay. At that moment, a voice was heard on the microphone from inside the cash register: “Father doesn’t know how to deposit money, please help…”. One of the operators quit his job and came to help and put the driver’s money on his plastic card.
The cashier said that the ban on cash transactions is causing inconvenience to both drivers and employees of the station.
“70-80 percent of customers come with cash. Card holders – 20-25 percent. Now, because it’s news, it’s he says.
Drivers filling up the card through infokiosks are dissatisfied with the commission being deducted. Many residents we spoke to said they believe the new order should be scrapped.
