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The Truck Net UK forums and Rikki Chequer have been fuelling the debate about diesel and credit cards Discussions on fuel have dominated this week. In the Owner and Fleet Operators forum, CM news editor, Christopher Walton, was looking for feedback from operators who use fuel/bunker cards for the investigation that appears on page 20 of this week’s issue.
One comment has already shown that many operators are unhappy with the way that fuel card companies price their products. The post said: “The biggest gripe I have with fuel card companies (I use three different ones) is [that] the price they charge isn’t based on the volume used. They charge you as much as they can get away with until you notice and start to use another card, then they drop their price. I hate this practice, and if there was a company that, without fail, linked the price to how much you use (i.e. spend more with us and you get a lower price), I would stick with them.
“There are owner-drivers regularly using 2,000 litres a week that are getting a better price than people using 10 times that.” Another poster comments on the “bond” that many card providers demand from new businesses. “Why is this right? Because someone else has ripped them before? Why should I have to give a deposit/guarantee? Don’t people keep moaning about a level playing field with their competitors/foreign hauliers? I think being judged by someone else’s actions is very unfair.” In response, a forum member, who regularly provides up-to-date information on the state of the fuel markets, said: “Imagine you were Mr Fuelcard Firm and there was one haulier that had been around for years, alongside a new company. If the new company asked for a credit line of £2,000 per week, that would work out at £8,000 exposure for the 28 days of credit offered. They have no filed accounts, no history; no anything. Are you expected to take a risk on that? Doubtful. Would you like to see £8,000 urinated up the wall because you gave them the benefit of the doubt? No, is the answer.”