A DHC8-100 PIC DEPARTS HIS STATION WITH LESS FUEL THAN RELEASE HAD CALLED FOR WITH THE ERROR BEING NOTED DURING CHKLIST USE IN DSCNT 20 NM FROM ZZZ; US.

Narrative

AFTER LNDG IN ZZZ1; I INSTRUCTED THE FO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REFUELER FILLS THE ACFT WITH 3800 LBS OF FUEL AND THAT I REALLY HAD TO USE THE RESTROOM. RETURNING TO THE AIRPLANE; I FOUND THAT THE STATION WAS STARTING TO BOARD AND THE FUEL TRUCK WAS STILL AROUND THE AIRPLANE. I APCHED THE REFUELER AND ASKED HIM IF EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. HE REPLIED WITH 'YEAP; IT'S ALL GOOD.' AS I ENTERED THE FLT DECK. I ASKED THE FO IF EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER AND HE SAID YES. WE THEN PROCEEDED WITH THE BEFORE START CHKLIST AND WAS 1/2 WAY FINISHED WHEN WE WERE INTERRUPTED BY THE RAMP PERSONNEL WANTING TO KNOW IF HE COULD PUT MORE BAGS ON BOARD. I TOLD HIM IT WAS OK AND CONTINUED WITH THE CHKLIST; NOT REALIZING THAT THE CALL FOR THE FUEL WAS MISSED. IT WAS MY LEG BACK TO ZZZ-Z WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE WHEN THE FO COMPLETED THE DSCNT AND APCH CHKLIST. AFTER LNDG IN ZZZ-Z; I ADVISED DISPATCHED THAT I WAS SHORT ON FUEL AND NEEDED TO RETURN TO ZZZ1. AS I WAITED FOR DISPATCH TO MAKE A DECISION; I FOUND THAT THE REFUELER HAD PUT ONLY 2800 LBS IN THE PLANE INSTEAD OF THE 3800 LBS I REQUESTED EARLIER. FINALLY; I WAS REDISPATCHED BACK TO ZZZ1 ONLY TO FIND OUT [AFTER ARR] THAT DISPATCH HAD A CHANGE OF PLANS. AT THIS POINT; I PERSONALLY QUESTIONED THE REFUELER AND FOUND OUT THAT HE MISUNDERSTOOD THE FO AND DID NOT HAVE A WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF THE REFUELING PROCESS OF THE DASH. I CHKED THE REFUELING BUGS AND THEY WERE SET AT 2800 LBS. WAITING ONCE MORE FOR DISPATCH TO FINALIZE EVERYTHING; I MADE SURE THAT I HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO GET TO ZZZ3. AFTER LEAVING ZZZ1; THE REST OF THE NIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL.