Drivers have been warned that forecourts and petrol stations are failing to update their live prices on the new Labour Party government Fuel Finder tool. New research shows petrol stations are not acting despite it being mandatory, risking hefty fines for businesses.
Fuel Finder Scheme Requirements
The scheme, rolled out at the start of February, requires all UK retail petrol stations to report prices and fuel unavailability within 30 minutes of a change. It places a mandatory obligation on all petrol filling stations in the United Kingdom to submit their pricing data.
Non-Compliance Data
New data from Press Association reveals 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 it was "not plausible" that many filling stations haven't changed prices in a week, let alone a month.
Fuel Finder Integration
Fuel Finder data is already being used by some of the UK’s most popular price comparison sites. As it is a new scheme, some developers are still working to integrate the data into their apps and sites. Around 90% of petrol stations are now signed up to Fuel Finder, and the government requires all outstanding stations to start sharing their prices now.
Enforcement Powers
Should a small number of stations continue not to share prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has the power to take enforcement action against them. 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."
