Petrol pump coincidence
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understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.
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In January of this year (2012) I purchased some petrol at a well known Superstore that only takes payment by Debit Card at the pump. When asked whether I required a receipt I pressed "Yes" and I received a printed receipt but with another behind it. Mine was correct i.e. Petrol - correct amount - correct date - and most important of all, the last 4 numbers of my debit card (which is all that is shown) were correct. The other receipt however was for diesel, the same date but 4 mins earlier, and to my relief the last 4 numbers of the card were different. The coincidence however is that the last 4 card numbers on the second reciept were my "PIN" for my card. I contacted my bank fearing a "scam" but they assured me it could only be a coincidence, but made note of my call anyway.
Date submitted:Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:28:06 +0000Coincidence ID:6177
