ACCC may ban discount fuel dockets

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Watchdog may ban discount fuel dockets

by: Robyn Ironside From: The Courier-Mail March 13, 2012 12:02AM



CRACKDOWN: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is looking into the impact of the discounts on independent service stations. Source: The Courier-Mail
SHOPPER docket discounts for fuel may be banned as a result of a new investigation by Australia's consumer watchdog.

SHOPPER docket discounts for fuel may be banned as a result of a new investigation by Australia's consumer watchdog. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is looking into the impact of the discounts on independent service stations with a view to cracking down on the practice.

In a letter to the Motor Trades Association of Queensland, ACCC enforcement operations manager Scott Gregson said they were seeking information from a number of independent fuel retailers ``particularly affected by the fuel shopper docket arrangements''.

The information sought includes the volume and value of fuel sales during specific shopper docket promotions and whether the retailers changed their prices to match those of Coles and Woolworths' outlets.

The MTAQ sought an investigation following a summer discounting war between the retail giants that saw motorists offered up to 20 cents a litre off.

Chair of the Service Stations and Convenience Store Association of Queensland Tim Kane said it was now up to the ACCC to do its job.

"For too long the ACCC has stood back and watched as service stations have closed and prices have gone crazy,'' he said.