Fuel card fuels price row
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• A Welsh haulier is urging operators to examine fuel card bills closely after he found he was paying 2p a litre more than pump prices—despite assurances from the card company that its prices are "competitive".
Carmarthen-based John .Challenger of general haulier Cowshill says the discrepancy only came to light after his bank unexpectedly bounced a direct debit to fuel card Diesel Direct, issued by Abbey Fuels. Once he looked at his statements he realised he was being charged more than pump prices, he says.
"I've had the card for almost three years without incident but when a problem arose I looked at the statements more closely and found I was being charged 47p (ex-VAT). Shell tells me the national average is 45p. It would have been cheaper to use a normal credit card," he says.
Earlier this year Kidderminster-based Clive Titley (CM 1622 March) demanded compensation from the firm when he found he was being charged lp more than local forecourts. Diesel Direct returned the card's annual fee.
A spokesman for the firm says the price it charges customers reflects the amount of fuel purchased and credit terms agreed.