Bowsers under pump
INSPECTORS will conduct a fuel pump blitz after a rise in service stations caught shortchanging drivers at the bowser.
National Measurement Institute experts testing petrol and diesel dispenser accuracy last financial year found 4.8 per cent underpoured — double the rate of two years earlier.
“In light of this trend, NMI’s national compliance plan for 2018-19 includes a focus on inspection of this instrument type,” the regulator said.
Of 1933 pumps checked, 1.6 per cent also gave motorists more than they paid for.
Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association chief executive Mark McKenzie said accuracy could deteriorate over time due to wear and tear.
“The onus is on outlets to ensure regular calibration and verification by qualified techni- cians, and regular maintenance,” Mr McKenzie said. “This is an important aspect in keeping trust among consumers.”
The maximum permissible error is plus or minus 0.3 per cent of the volume delivered.
The tests uncovered 123 dodgy bowsers recording inaccuracies outside the acceptable limit. Of those, 93 were to consumer disadvantage, and 30 to consumer advantage.
The authority does not identify rule breakers, nor the size of mistakes, unless there is a conviction in court.
The NMI’s annual report on national trade measurement compliance also shows: ABOUT half of inspected fruit and vegetable, meat and seafood retailers were found to be flouting the law in some way in initial audits. ALMOST 5 per cent of reviewed packaged goods lines had less product than on labels. OVERALL, inaccurate measuring instruments were more likely to benefit consumers (3.7 per cent) than cost them (2.3 per cent).
The NMI does mainly targeted audit programs. Most errors were “relatively minor and usually quickly addressed”.
Non-compliance can include failing to deduct packaging weight in over-the-counter sales; labels not meeting requirements; “short measure” packaged goods; and, unapproved or inaccurate measuring instruments.
The NMI said consumers could be confident of receiving what they paid for, with more than 94 per cent of businesses found to be compliant “after any necessary follow-up”.
Two-thirds of all complaints relate to suspected fuel rip-offs.
“However, it has been a consistent trend over recent years that only a small proportion of those complaints are found to be justified,” the regulator noted.