Haulier forced off road after fuel card firm cuts credit
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By Ashleigh Wight A HAULIER has expressed his frustration with his fuel card company after he was forced off the road when his credit terms were slashed without warning.
Manchester-based Chris Ogden of C&L Haulage, who runs three artics and has been trading for just under two years, told CM he was contacted out of the blue at the start of September by Diesel Price Guarantee, which is part of UK Fuels.
The haulier had been using his fuel card to purchase £3,500 to £4,000 of diesel per week for eight months without incident.
He claims that, despite not having missed a payment, his credit terms were reduced from 21 days to seven. Although he found the additional money, he subsequently missed a payment under his new weekly terms after customers were late paying him. This resulted in the deactivation of his Diesel Price Guarantee card.
“They basically put the brakes on me trading,” said Ogden.
“They wouldn’t even allow me 24 hours’ grace on a payment.
“Four of my biggest customers didn’t pay me in the irst week of this month – if the customer doesn’t pay me, then I can’t pay the fuel company.” Ogden said this prevented him from operating for a week as he was unable to buy fuel.
He is paying off his debt to Diesel Price Guarantee in weekly installments.
UK Fuels, which owns Diesel Price Guarantee, told CM it is unable to comment on individual cases.