HOW DARE THEY MAKE MONEY OUT OF MISERY
‘Absolute disgrace’ motorists ripped off by inflated petrol prices, says ex-minister
GREEDY fuel bosses ripping off desperate drivers with rampedup pump prices have been branded an “absolute disgrace”.
Petrol shot up to more than 150p a litre at hundreds of filling stations – while one site charged 208.5p, but still ran dry.
Former roads minister Sir Mike Penning said: “Motorists are being ripped off by companies who are already making millions from us.”
The Tory MP added: “Some firms are cashing in on a crisis.” The RAC called the rises a “bleak picture for drivers”.
Panic buying began as a lack of tanker drivers stopped fuel supplies getting through to some
filling stations last week. BP said on Thursday night it had to shut a handful temporarily – sparking a stampede to the forecourts.
Simon Williams, of the RAC, said some retailers were “taking advantage of the current delivery situation by hiking prices. When it comes to pump prices, it’s a pretty bleak picture for drivers”.
While Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: “I am hearing 5p to 10p increases [per litre] are the norm.
“Several garages have contacted us in confidence saying greedy wholesalers are pushing up bulk supply prices, not based on oil costs but because of this latest panic demand.”
The cost of filling an average family car’s 55-litre fuel tank has soared to at least £75 in many parts of the country. Sir Mike Penning, Tory MP for Hemel Hempstead, added: “It’s an absolute disgrace that motorists are being ripped off by companies who are already making millions from us. Some are cashing in on a crisis.
“I’ve seen it in my own constituency. Some pump prices have remained unchanged but [other firms] have whacked 10p on a litre of fuel literally overnight. They see motorists as a cash cow and, frankly, they are a disgrace.”
Motorists have been so desperate to find fuel that Britain’s most expensive forecourt, the Gulf Service Station in Sloane Avenue, West London ran out despite selling petrol at 208.5p a litre and diesel at 197.5p.
The average petrol price is 136.59p, with a typical litre of diesel costing 138.48p – but many garages have hiked prices sharply.
There are fears prices may rise by 10p a litre in the next few weeks.
Drivers were yesterday seen queuing along the M3 to reach a BP services in Fleet, Hants which was charging 153.9p a litre. Other motorists said some sites turned off lit price displays so customers only knew the cost when they paid.
One irate driver said: “I filled up my car at 137.9p a couple of weeks ago. When panic buying started, prices had risen to 149.9p in the same garage. Last night that same garage was charging 157.9p.”
A worker at a BP garage on the A33 in Hampshire said he had sold fuel to pyjama-wearing panicked motorists at 4am while other drivers tried to stock up using unapproved plastic containers.
One woman filled a plastic bag with petrol in St Albans, Herts. Comedian Paul Chuckle was among drivers furious at being charged 15p per litre more than the advertised price at one garage.
He wrote online: “Texaco A1 advertise £1.39 per litre outside, come to pay and it’s £1.54 per litre. Disgusting. Boris Johnson, please get lorry drivers back.”
Tory MP Robert Halfon said: “Motorists are now being fleeced at the pumps at a time of great financial uncertainty. That’s why Fair Fuel UK and I have long been campaigning for Pump Watch – a watchdog to monitor the fairness of petrol and diesel prices and cut the cost of living for drivers.”
His backbench colleague Craig Mackinlay added: “It’s disappointing to see reports of pump price profiteering. The recent spike in demand for petrol and diesel caused by the confected panic has led to unnecessary pressure at our fuelling stations.
“But I would urge retailers not to take advantage of the situation – drivers have long memories. Many people need the freedom and flexibility of the car to do their work in crucial sectors so all should act responsibly in filling up their cars, but we also need trustworthy pricing at the pumps.”
Shares in oil giant Royal Dutch Shell last night closed 4 per cent up at £1,589.95 while BP jumped nearly 3.5 per cent to 331.3p
Analysis shows BP, Shell, Chevron and Exxon have made almost $1.5 trillion in profits in 30 years as oil, gas and coal reserves power rising energy demands.
The fuel crisis comes three
months after an RAC audit showing an average petrol price of 132.19p a litre – a level last seen in October 2013. The organisation said prices had risen by 18p since November, more than 2p a month.
Long queues formed at filling stations as panic buying continued yesterday. Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: “All hell has broken has loose but there is plenty of fuel at the terminals.
“It’s getting to sites that remains the issue.We can recover the situation and get sufficient stock to meet demand if motorists give supply chains a chance to recover.
“If people go out and buy fuel all at the same time, it makes it very difficult. Having huge spikes in demand takes days to recover. If you don’t need fuel, please wait until we get back to normality.”
One Sainsbury’s site near Sevenoaks, Kent had a sign reading: “Emergency services only”.
The RAC’s Mr Williams said: “With the cost of oil rising and now near a three-year high, wholesale prices are being forced up which means retailers are paying more.We might yet see higher forecourt prices... irrespective of the current supply problems.”
Non-league Lewes Football Club in East Sussex axed tonight’s game against Carshalton Athletic, the first sporting casualty of the crisis, after fuel problems hit “players, coaches, officials and supporters”.
CONCERNS the fuel crisis might get worse appear to be coming true. As it moved into its fourth day, the Petrol Retailers Association said 50 to 90 per cent of member sites had no fuel – and although there was stock in refineries, it would take a few days before it hit the pumps.
As ever, misery breeds opportunity. With weary inevitability, hard-pressed motorists are being ripped off as petrol firms cash in on demand, ramping up prices to above £1.50 a litre. Some expect fuel to spike a further 10p a litre.
What to do? Firstly, drivers should stop panic buying. Secondly, key workers should get priority – and should most certainly not be abused, as was ambulance worker Becky Hough when refuelling. Those who don’t need to use their cars must consider alternative transport until matters settle.
Should Boris Johnson approve proposals for the Army driving tankers – and allow temporary visas for 5,000 EU workers to return – then let it happen. Something has to unblock the pipeline.
Meanwhile, cynical price-gougers should be remembered and a watchdog established.
Finally, the crisis shows that we must continue to hasten the take-up of more secure, greener forms of fuel.