Gas pump glitch that overcharges Alberta man caught on video

WATCH: A video that is quickly going viral shows a St. Albert gas pump continue to charge the customer after he stopped pumping. Tom Vernon has the story.

EDMONTON – It’s a problem Jarid Wulff had to see with his own eyes to believe, and one nearly 500,000 people have seen thanks to a cellphone video he posted to his Facebook page.

While filling up his diesel pickup at the Canadian Tire Gas+ station in St. Albert, a malfunction with the pump saw his total purchase price continue to go up, even though he was no longer pumping any fuel.

“I figured, okay, I’ll just leave it for a bit, and then it kept gradually, as you can see in the video, climbing,” Wulff told Global News.

Wulff pointed out the problem to the gas station attendant, who refunded him the amount he was overcharged.  Wulff hopes the message people get is to not blindly trust the pumps.

“We assume we should be able to, and that’s why I brought this up,” Wulff said.

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“We shouldn’t always assume. Just keep an eye out for it.”

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In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson with Canadian Tire said:

“The pump used by Mr. Wulff was immediately taken out of service, as we worked to not only fix it, but also to understand what caused the problem. We have since learned that the issue was a malfunctioning plunger on the fuel dispenser.  It has been replaced and an outside contractor has verified that the pump is now working correctly.”

WATCH: In this cellphone video posted on Facebook, a St. Albert gas pump continues to charge after the customer stops pumping

The Canadian government has recently strengthened the laws governing gas pumps.  They must be inspected every two years to ensure they’re accurate.  Pumps found to be more than half a per cent out in favour of the retailer must be closed and repaired.  Stations that don’t comply face fines as high as $50,000 for repeat offenders.

Industry Canada also provided a statement about the problem.

“Measurement Canada was not aware of this situation but will be following up with the retailer to ensure that this matter has been resolved and consumers are getting what they paid for.”

Despite the glitch, Wulff says he doesn’t intend to hold a grudge against the station.

“I will go back,” he says.  “I still like my Canadian Tire money.”