Drivers slugged by credit card charge: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 12 June 2006: 3.
Abstract
"It is bad enough customers are getting ripped off at the pump by the oil companies, we don't want them ripped off at the cash register as well," NRMA president Alan Evans said.
"I blame the oil companies for squeezing profits to service stations and I blame the supermarkets for selling below cost and forcing operators to the wall. And I also blame the card operators, who haven't reduced their fees.
Retailers and motoring groups are to meet oil company and credit card representatives this week. With prices hovering around 140c a litre in the eastern states, the NRMA insists it is time for the Government to intervene.
MOTORISTS being bled dry by record fuel prices are facing a further financial squeeze with service stations charging customers for using credit cards.
"It is bad enough customers are getting ripped off at the pump by the oil companies, we don't want them ripped off at the cash register as well," NRMA president Alan Evans said.
His comments came after the Service Station Association revealed some operators were charging an administration fee of up to 2.6 per cent, an extra $2.60 to fill a large sedan.
SSA chief executive Ron Bowden said there was no plan for the widespread introduction of credit card fees but some operators were under pressure.
"If someone rocks up with an American Express card, which charges 2 per cent commission, sometimes more, this means the operator is selling at a loss," Mr Bowden said. "That is not sustainable.
"I blame the oil companies for squeezing profits to service stations and I blame the supermarkets for selling below cost and forcing operators to the wall. And I also blame the card operators, who haven't reduced their fees.
"Everyone is making increased money out of petrol stations -- banks, oil companies, the government tax take, it is all going up, but service station operators are going down."
Retailers and motoring groups are to meet oil company and credit card representatives this week. With prices hovering around 140c a litre in the eastern states, the NRMA insists it is time for the Government to intervene.
"This is putting a big hole in average family budgets," Mr Evans said. "The cost of fuel has gone up 25 per cent in the last 12 months but the price of a barrel of crude has actually come down.
"No one can understand why we are paying so much. With the increase in mortgages, many families are really feeling the pinch."
Australian Automobile Association executive director Lauchlan McIntosh agreed the price rises were having an impact on family budgets.
"They have to fill up whether they like it or not," he said. "It is having a substantial impact and is concerning people."
UNDER PRESSURE
Average price of a litre of unleaded petrol
- ................. Yesterday ... 28-day average
Hobart ......... 144.9 ............ 141.0
Darwin ........ 143.2 ............. 142.8
ACT ............ 141.5 ............ 136.7
Sydney ....... 139.0 ............. 135.7
Melbourne ... 136.6 ............. 135.3
Adelaide ...... 135.3 ............ 134.7
Perth .......... 132.7 ............. 135.0
Brisbane ..... 128.3 ............. 125.4
Source: Shell Australia
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