Overpricing petrol stations 'deserve everything they get'

Petrol stations that are fined for charging a higher price for fuel than is displayed deserve everything they get, a consumer chief said today.

Dermot Jewell, chief executive of the Consumer Association of Ireland, welcomed the announcement by the Director of Consumer Affairs that her inspectors were checking petrol stations to ensure they were displaying the correct prices.

Director Carmel Foley said her office had received complaints from motorists across the country that they had to pay extra at the till to fill up their tanks.

She said filling stations which did not display the price they were charging at the till were breaking the law and would be fined up to €3,000.

Mr Jewell said the Consumer Association had received a number of calls in the past few weeks from motorists who had come across the problem.

“It should be a simple management problem.

If you’re going to increase the price, you have to display it. If they’re not doing that, every garage that’s not adhering to the law deserves everything they get,” he said.

“Consumers are struggling at the moment to find the best value for money.

“Right across the board it’s important that we have a system to the benefit of the consumer and to business.

“If you’re going to price incorrectly not only are you breaking the law, but you are failing your duty to the customer, and when that arises it’s entirely unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Jewell said he was very glad to see that inspectors from the Office of Consumer Affairs were actively checking all outlets in the country, and said anyone breaking the law should be penalised straight away.

Retail prices of petrol are spiralling upwards in response to the rising cost of oil.

According to the AA, fuel prices averaged more than 105c a litre for petrol and diesel in July.