20 March 2013 | The Fuelcard People

Businesses warned: beware of false fuel card claims

The Fuelcard People has warned businesses to beware of false claims from fuel card companies trying to push their products.

James Richmond, general manager of The Fuelcard People, said: “Our customers tell us that some suppliers make very odd claims when trying to push their products. It seems that the fewer fuel cards in a supplier’s range, the wilder their claims become. They can sound very plausible, so businesses should be aware of what to look for, and why the claims are false.”

He highlighted some of the more common misleading claims being bandied around by unscrupulous suppliers.

Claim 1: “Discounts don’t matter.” Some suppliers actually expect customers to pay pump prices − or even more − for their diesel and petrol. Whatever other benefits may be on offer, any fuel card which does not save you 2p to 3p per litre is not worth having. The whole point of having a fuel card is to save money, so avoid any that do not offer discounts.

Claim 2: “All fuel cards are the same.” They are not. Esso, for example, has separate cards specifically geared towards HGV and LCV/car users. If all fuel cards were the same, The Fuelcard People would not go to the trouble of offering the industry’s widest range, covering every major brand. This false claim is very common, because almost all other suppliers offer only one or two different cards.

Claim 3: “You don’t need personal service.” Few suppliers have the honesty to claim this out loud, but it is the policy they operate. If you want to talk to your supplier, most of them will expect you to wait in a call centre queue before speaking to a random operator who has never heard of you. It should be obvious that it is better always to speak to the same person, because a dedicated account manager will know and understand your business.

Claim 4: “Universal use is important.” This is a real red herring. BP, Esso, Shell and Texaco all have huge networks, as do Keyfuels (Diesel Direct) and UK Fuels. Having a fuel card which can only be used with one or two of these brands is not a problem, unless you really believe that their sites are hard to find. It is a funny route which will not frequently take you past your chosen brand.

Claim 5: “Branded fuel cards cannot be used at supermarkets or on the smaller fuel networks.” This is simply not true. The range offered by The Fuelcard People includes cards which can be used at supermarkets, including Tesco, Morrisons and The Co-operative, and with such fuel suppliers as Jet, Murco, Moto and Gulf. If a supplier claims this, it simply means that their own particular card cannot be used in such places.

Other Press Releases from The Fuelcard People

04/8/2014 - Cheaper refuelling simplified for the public sector The Fuelcard People has signed a Framework Agreement with the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), making it easy for public sector vehicles to access cut-price fuel. The Agreement, RM1027 − Fuel Cards and Associated Services, greatly simplifies the procurement of diesel and petrol, and helps to avoid the £2 transaction fees imposed upon public sector customers by other suppliers.

21/7/2014 - Fleets losing money by not learning from the past Fleets are losing money with every mile travelled, according to The Fuelcard People − a Fuel Card Group company − because they have neglected to learn from the past. Thousands of cars are refuelled at excessive prices every day, because their drivers are using outdated fuel cards.

30/6/2014 - What would you do with an extra £200 per car? What would a fleet manager do with an extra £200 per car? This is being asked by The Fuelcard People. Steve Clarke, general manager, said: “If you pay 4p per litre less for diesel or petrol, you save £200 on 5,000 litres, which is not excessive annual consumption. That simple maths explains why pump price fuel cards are falling out of favour. Fleet managers enjoy having to answer the £200 question.”

25/6/2014 - Fuel cards: honesty or truth? Fleet managers have been reminded by The Fuelcard People of the importance of verifying fuel card suppliers’ claims. Steve Clarke, group marketing manager, said: “Always remember the difference between truth and honesty. If a supplier tells you that it offers fixed weekly pricing, that might be true, but if it forgets to add that it also levies transaction charges, it is not being honest.”

30/5/2014 - Fuel cards: look beyond the obvious Fleet managers have been reminded by The Fuelcard People that cost savings at the pump is not the only factor to consider when comparing fuel cards.