Petrol stations around the UK are failing to provide live prices to the Government’s highly anticipated Fuel Finder scheme, potentially resulting in drivers paying more at the pumps.
New data shows that many petrol stations have not provided any live data, despite it being mandatory, and the risk of businesses paying hefty fines.
Labour launched the Fuel Finder price checker tool earlier this year in hopes of helping drivers seek out the cheapest petrol and diesel prices in their local area.
Modelling from the Government originally suggested that drivers could save between one and six pence per litre as a result of the new measures, adding that it could save people £40 a year.
The scheme requires all UK retail petrol stations to report prices and the unavailability of fuel within 30 minutes of a change, and was finally rolled out at the start of February.
Early teething problems hampered the scheme, with petrol stations failing to update their data, and incorrect figures showing that fuel was being sold for £15, rather than 150p per litre.
Fresh research from Press Association shows that 1,751 filling stations submitted a petrol price change more than a week ago, while almost 100 had not supplied any data for at least a month.
Simon Williams, from the RAC, said that it was “not plausible” that many filling stations haven’t changed prices in a week, let alone a month.
Petrol and diesel drivers could face higher costs as forecourts fail to report live prices
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He added that most major retailers and supermarkets receive a new supply of fuel at least once a week, which would inevitably lead to a change in price.
The Competition and Markets Authority is able to impose administrative penalties on petrol stations that fail to adhere to the Fuel Finder rules.
This could include a fixed amount up to one per cent of worldwide turnover, a daily rate up to five per cent of daily worldwide turnover or a combination of the two.
Of the 7,765 forecourts across the UK that have submitted data to Fuel Finder, 2,229 are supermarkets, with 410 of them not uploading a price change for at least a week.
Estimates suggest that drivers could save up to 6p per litre with Fuel Finder
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PAA further 226 forecourts are registered with Fuel Finder, but have not yet submitted data, or have been listed as being temporarily closed.
A spokesperson for the CMA said it would take action against petrol stations which fail to comply with the law.
It acknowledged that some retailers may change their prices less frequently, given their pricing strategy.
Similarly, the Petrol Retailers Association said smaller, rural sites may not update their data as often, since they receive fuel deliveries less frequently.
The CMA states that drivers could save £9 per tank when using the Fuel Finder tool | PA
The latest data from the RAC Fuel Watch suggests that the price of petrol, diesel and premium fuels should fall in the near future.
At present, drivers are paying an average of 151.4p per litre for unleaded, while diesel drivers are being hit with costs of 167.14p per litre.
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “The majority of petrol stations are inputting data to Fuel Finder promptly, helping consumers across the country find the cheapest fuel in their area.
“The Competition and Markets Authority has the power to take action against any forecourt not signed up or reporting prices.”