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Driver fury at ``shonky'' petrol tricks
Kelly Robinson
18 April 2008
FRUSTRATED northern beaches motorists claim peninsula petrol stations are using false advertising to sell fuel.
Drivers say they are being lured into stations with the promise of cheap fuel only to find the advertised petrol isn't available or dearer than shown.
A Killarney Heights driver, who does not wish to be named, said he pulled into the Shell Coles Express in Forestville on Tuesday for discounted petrol, but found the bowsers for ethanol-based fuel were shut off. ``There was not one E10 bowser which was able to be used,'' he said.
``I was somewhat happy to see the highlighted price at $1.26 per litre but when I got to the bowser I noted that the net price would be $1.29 per litre,'' he said. ``I do not deny their right to advertise the prices in a different manner, however I believe what they have done is shonky.''
A Fair Trading Department spokesman said the complaint was being looked at.
The Manly Daily revealed the petrol station had changed its discounted advertising sign from the regular unleaded fuel to the ethanol-based version yesterday.
Newport resident Joy Clark said the Mobil station in Newport had unleaded petrol priced at $1.32 on Tuesday night. ``It was quite cheap for this particular station, however at the cashier there was a long queue of frustrated customers who were being charged $1.46 at the till,'' she said.
A Coles Express spokesman said he was not aware of issues at that particular petrol station. ``It is very likely the cause was a technical issue.''
A Mobil spokesman said customers should contact the company and make a complaint if they felt they were being overcharged.
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