Gas leak? Options

[sarasa]

Not sure where to post this and I just want some thoughts on the issue on what it might be. I know it's vague and impossible to diagnosis without actually seeing the car.

When I first bought the car, I noticed it would smell like gasoline if I filled the tank and waited for the gas pump to stop for it to be full. It smelled of gas really bad and it would happen only when I filled the tank completely full. One guy who changed my oil thought it was a hole in the gas tank. When we took it in to get an estimate, they put it on a lift but told us that they couldn't tell what the problem was without taking the car apart. They also noticed gasoline down the side of my gas tank. I've filled it 3/4 to 7/8ths full and I haven't smelled fumes. I also don't notice a decrease in my gas mileage, but I cant estimate it accurately.

Would a hole be dangerous to drive around with? Could the car explode? Sort of silly question but I read online somewhere it is a possibility. If it was a hole though, wouldn't I smell fumes more often other than filling the tank completely?