Date: 201412
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: B757-200
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
ATC / advisory: Ramp ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was preflighting the aircraft; and received a final Weight and Balance that showed 23.0 for total fuel. The aircraft only had 14.5 on board. I immediately notified the Maintenance Personnel who arranged for fuel to be added to the requested 23.0  I then called for the Ramp Agent in charge of the flight and told him the problem; that we had a final W/B but that the fuel on board the aircraft did not match the final. There are two major problems here; first; I have a Ramp Agent sending me a Final W/B (not Prelim W/B) without verifying the fuel load 'from any source.' This system is designed to have checks and balances; and one check is for the Ground Crew to verify the load and fuel; and the flight crew to do the same...if there is a discrepancy; then it should be picked up in this phase. The second problem is that the ramp agent did not understand the difference between a Prelim and Final W/B; [the agent] kept arguing with me that it is OK to send a final without the fuel on the airplane; and that this is how [its] always [done.] I tried to explain that this is OK for a prelim but not for a Final W/B. I finally told the agent that it was wrong; and that I wouldn't accept a Final W/B when I did not have the proper fuel on the airplane. NOTE: the aircraft was fueled and we received the fuel ticket about 15 minutes later.  I coordinated with Ground Operations and they understood the issue.  Ground Operations was very helpful in coordinating with the ramp office and getting me a prelim and final W/B 'after' the aircraft was fueled. This is very dangerous that ramp agents are sending a Final W/B without the proper fuel or cargo accounted for in their preparation. A Prelim W/B is for 'planning purposes' and is what we expect; a Final W/B is to certify what is on the aircraft; not what we hope will be on the aircraft.  If we do not follow this process; then the entire system is invalid. I truly believe that the ramp agent does not understand this concept. If this is how [it is] 'always does it' as [I was] told; then [there is a] need to be trained to do this correctly.Human Error. I don't believe that cargo on board the aircraft can be verified in a final W/B if it is not on the aircraft; the same for fuel...it cannot be verified to be on board in a final W/B if it is still in the fuel truck and not on the aircraft.We have a series of checks and balances in flight preparation; and part of the checks is the ground personnel working along with the flight crews to ensure correct and proper loading of the aircraft.  If there is a discrepancy in the Final W/B; determined by either party; then the operation needs to stop until the discrepancy is worked out.  In this case; the flight crew found a major discrepancy in the final W/B; and the Ramp Agent argued with the flight crew that this is the way he always does it instead of listening to the problem and correcting the discrepancy.  I respectfully request feedback on this issue.




Synopsis: B757-200 Captain reported receiving a final weight and balance document that did not accurately reflect fuel on board.