Dispute

[HAVEY]

We are in dispute with large petroleum company and filling station over fuel we bought that was contaminated. Basically our brand new pick up truck that was 2 weeks old was affected and we have had to fork out £400 to get it cleaned, drained and repaired. We don't know for definite yet who, if either party will take responsibility and our local trading standards people are suggesting it may be up to us to pursue it through the small claims court. We have samples of the fuel and trading standards were fully aware of the issue before we got in touch with them. can anyone offer advice? It seems so unfair when we have produced all necessary receipts and we are one of a number of people affected. Is it likely we would win if we took it to court and what does it involve? Thanks in advance for your help.

[EDDIE51]

What was the problem with the fuel? how was it contaminated? petrol or diesel ? Just one filling station involved or more? did any other people get the contaminated fuel and if so what is happening with them?

[HAVEY]

The fuel was contaminated with water...it was diesel and it had abnormal levels of water in it and it looks like pond water. There are at least half a dozen people that we know of but we don't have their details. One of them is a local taxi company who had an account with the fillings station. It's not a supermarket petrol station...independent smaller one.. ..

[factor-fiction]

Options- submit a claim yourself through the small claims court, engage a solicitor or contact the press. If you can find out who the taxi firm is then surelyy they'll be taking action- maybe join with them

[boxtops]

There would be more power to your elbow if it were a group effort, rather than a bunch of individuals. Get your local paper on the case, they can run a story and ask the other people affected to contact you.

[EDDIE51]

Yes , it will be far cheaper and more effective to band together and make a joint claim. You should claim against the garage that sold the fuel not the petroleum company, it is their responsibility as they sold it. The garage may well then claim against the supplier but that is not your concern.
A letter to the local paper asking for anyone who has a claim to get in contact may help, or the trading standards may know of other victims.

[SirOracle]

Have considerable experience of "taking on" a large multi national oil company,who denied that the diesel they supplied contained any impurities.

Dispute involved over 100 vehicles,and took over 2 years to resolve.

We had to engage a university professor,an expert in Marine Chemistry. He was able to prove that the diesel contained salt water.

This was a very substantial claim,and I think you will find the oil magnates will continue to deny any liability. It would be better if you all clubbed together to make your claim thus reducing your considerable potential costs.

Always bear in mind that these oil moguls have been known to bring down governments.

I wish you every success in this very difficult matter.

[HAVEY]

Thanks to everyone who replied. We find out next Monday the outcome so fingers crossed but my gut feeling isn't positive. I know it's only £400 which isn't a vast amount but this has affected our warranty for the fuel injection system and the whole thing is so unfair. Things do go wrong which is fair enough but it's how they are dealt with that counts. Thanks again.

[EDDIE51]

As I said you should claim against the garage not the oil company.
The most likely way the water got into the fuel is that there was a leak in the garage storage tank that let in rain water or ground water. If the water was in the fuel when it was delivered then other garages would have been effected as well.

[SirOracle]

Yes Eddie I agree that the first port of call should be the seller of the diesel ie the garage. The garage will then have to have their storage tanks checked to make sure that they are "waterproof".

If they are not then the garage are at fault and are liable.

If however the garage storage tanks are found to be ok then matters move on to the fuel suppliers,and this is where the fun really begins,and the costs start to accelerate rapidly.

It is imperative that the fuel is examined to determine EXACTLY the constitution of the "water" that has been found in the diesel.

A long and expensive course is involved here as I know,as the fuel companies are not noted for their generosity.

Again I wish the OP the very best in his pursuit of justice.

[factor-fiction]

Did this ever get resolved, Havey?