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Original poster

Scam or not?! Not paid for petrol?

42 replies

finleysmummy · 04/05/2024 22:31

Today I received a letter in the post from a company called QDR solicitors claiming they are acting on behalf of 'British Oil Security syndicate ltd'.
The letter states that I failed to pay for fuel on a certain date.
Details such a name and car reg are mine and I do indeed use the petrol station in question fairly regularly on my way to work. However, I have NEVER driven off without going in to pay for my petrol.
Reviews for this solicitor are nearly all negative, but some reviews state they had wrong car reg or sometimes petrol stations no where near where they live.
Because the details are mine and it is a petrol station I use I can only assume perhaps my card didn't go through at some point however, they would almost certainly make me aware of this at time of purchase.
Has anyone else had anything like this before? I'm reluctant to pay, one because it is saying I owe an extra £18 on top but also that many of the reviews state that even after payment the company continues to contact them saying payment hasn't been made.
It's worrying me that this £20 non payment of fuel letter will go against my credit history and appear as debt or is it a scam that is preying on people feeling as I do!?

OP posts:
MsMarple · 04/05/2024 22:51

How do you pay for fuel? If by card, could you go through your statements and see if there is a charge that day or soon after?

molotovcupcakes · 04/05/2024 22:55

Do you have a match on any statements for a petrol purchase from the same day?
Do you have a routine for purchasing petrol- for example once a week and is there a gap in payment?
Can you go down to the petrol station and confirm that they have taken action against you.

ilovepixie · 04/05/2024 23:02

I used to work in a petrol station and it's amazing the amount of people who forget to pay for their petrol. Or maybe you tapped your debit/credit card and it didn't go through. I'd go into the petrol station abs ask to see their CCTV they will have a copy of the transaction.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 04/05/2024 23:05

Did you get petrol there on that date? Have you checked your account? Have you bought petrol there since that date?

Changingplace · 04/05/2024 23:08

I would contact the petrol station company directly and ask if they use this solicitor to follow up non payment and verify that it’s actually from them.

justasmalltownmum · 04/05/2024 23:16

Ignore. It's a scam to see who falls for it

Bjorkdidit · 05/05/2024 03:12

Definitely worth investigating before paying up.

Asking the petrol station in person, or emailing head office if it's a chain is a good idea to see if it's real and they use this company for recovery.

Also check what fuel you have paid for over the relevant period. Eg if you don't do a lot of miles and filled up and paid shortly before the alleged non payment that might satisfy you it's a scam.

But it could well be, because many people will simply pay to avoid hassle, so worth doing although it seems suspicious for such a small amount, it would take many letters to make any decent money if they're asking for £20+£18 each time. Plus I think they have to pay a small fee to get details of registered keepers further reducing the profit of the exercise.

But having said that, the company does look like a legitimate service so is there a chance you could have forgotten or had a failed payment, eg a pay at pump and you've not noticed?

https://bossuk.org/about/?accept-cookies

About - BOSS - British Oil Security Syndicate

BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, campaigns to reduce forecourt crime and make petrol stations safe and secure environment. By working with retailers and the police, BOSS is able to tackle forecourt crime including bilking, Drive-Offs and No Me...

https://bossuk.org/about?accept-cookies=

Original poster
finleysmummy · 05/05/2024 08:18

Thanks everyone.
I usually pay by card but do sometimes pay by cash.
There are no payments on my statement for that day or couple of days either side.
I do recall paying by cash one day as I went over by 1p and only had a £2 coin and having a conversation with the man telling me not to worry about the 1p.
It's not a pay at pump station.
I have emailed BP head office
The letter states I can pay at the station if within 7 days on date of letter, letter arrived on day 6 and we don't live near the petrol station in question.
I'm more than happy to pay it and even if I had already I'm happy to pay it again to get this removed.
My concern is engaging with a company whilst not knowing how legitimate it is.
Googling the solicitors it appears to be a legitimate company, it is the reviews that threw me.

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 05/05/2024 08:18

As others say were you there on the date in question and if so do you have record of making payment?

Is the car definitely yours and not a clone?

sashagabadon · 05/05/2024 08:26

Sounds like a scam to me. QR codes are the new way of scamming people include letters pretending to be from inland revenue ( there was article in times yesterday with people getting letters telling them to use QR code to pay tax they “owe”)
I’d ignore I think but do sone investigation including going back to the petrol station ( but beware they could be in on scam!)

LittleMissSleepyUK · 05/05/2024 08:32

I had one of these last year! I had been at the station in question about 15 minutes before and had proof, but they kept saying it must’ve been me.

In the end I stopped replying and nothing else happened

SnakesAndArrows · 05/05/2024 08:35

Changingplace · 04/05/2024 23:08

I would contact the petrol station company directly and ask if they use this solicitor to follow up non payment and verify that it’s actually from them.

This. And ask the solicitor firm for the CCTV proof.

LaWench · 05/05/2024 08:40

If it was me. I'd be requesting all transaction details and CCTV. They have to prove without a doubt that you have not paid this outstanding amount. If you paid by cash, it's a bit trickier to prove from your side.

Divebar2021 · 05/05/2024 08:49

im really interested in the process that the petrol station is going through to identify you Where is the CCTV kept and who is going through it to link the car with the non payment at the till. Even if there is CCTV of you how do we know that you didn’t pay for it. ? CCTV is only relevant if you got in your car immediately and left. If it shows you going into the shop then you need confirmation from the computer / till that there remained an amount owing and it belonged to the pump that you used at that time.

OpusGiemuJavlo · 05/05/2024 08:49

Write back and say "If I genuinely made this mistake I will definitely pay. However it's well known that criminals will use cloned plates on other cars in order to not be detected in various motor-related offences so I do need to see CCTV footage to be sure it was myself and my car detected. Please arrange for this and if the evidence is there then I will pay immediately"

Make sure you keep a copy of this and deliver in a way that means you can prove it was received. Send copies to both the solicitor and the garage.

If it's genuine and ever gets to court this will protect you as it proves your good faith.

kitchenhelprequired · 05/05/2024 09:02

If you get a speeding fine through the post it's always accompanied by evidence, does anyone know if that's the same if you overstay in a free car park which only allows you to stay for 2 or 3 hours? I would expect there to legally be a requirement to provide evidence of anything like this not just a letter. It sounds like a scam using the element of truth factor (your reg number and a garage you regularly visit) which makes you think it could actually apply to you.

Coconutter24 · 05/05/2024 09:03

It’s a criminal offence to drive off without paying for fuel so would it not be reported to the police? I’d go into the fuel station and confirm if the letter is genuine first. Look at bank transactions to see if you were in the area. If they say the letter is genuine then ask for cctv stating the time you was at the fuel station to confirm you were actually there. If you pay with card in cctv and no record on your statement it obviously didn’t go through, if you hand over cash you paid and if you can’t be found then you weren’t there and more than likely a scam. How long ago was the date this supposedly happened?

BathshebaEverdene1 · 05/05/2024 09:09

I would just ignore it and wait for them to go away....
Which they will.

Original poster
finleysmummy · 05/05/2024 09:11

The date on the letter says it was 21st March. Letter dated 1st May, received yesterday.
I drive past every day for work during the week so always in that area.
I do usually (but not always) get my petrol on a Monday as I usually have more time on those mornings.
I am going to try and pop over to the petrol station today or tomorrow and show them the letter. The thing is its only £20.01 (plus the £18 fee). I was inclined to just pay it and be done with it but not if its a scam and it ends up coming back with further letters as many reviews state.
I always thought if someone drove off without paying the police would be in contact as its theft, but I could be totally wrong.
I had the car for 10 years and never had an issue before so not sure it's a case of cloned plates.

OP posts:
xyzandabc · 05/05/2024 09:25

So you've checked your bank statements and nothing there.

Do you have Google maps on your phone? If you do, go to your timeline and change the day to 21st march. It will show everywhere your phone has been that day and the times it was there. So you'd be able to tell if you just drove past, or whether you stopped there for a few minutes to get fuel.

kitsuneghost · 05/05/2024 09:58

There was a situation I went in to pay and was nearly out the door when the cashier only just managed to shout me back to say my card didn't go through.
Could something like that have happened? Have you checked your statements on alleged date?

Oblomov24 · 05/05/2024 10:09

My old work we had petrol stations phone up and chase for a payment card to pay for an unpaid amount from the day before. (Peoples fuel cards occasionally failed). I'd start with the petrol station first.

SoupDragon · 05/05/2024 10:12

The thing is its only £20.01 (plus the £18 fee).

So it's likely to be the time you paid in cash and didn't have the 1p? Could the scam actually be that the cashier pocketed the money leaving the petrol bill unpaid?

Tel12 · 05/05/2024 10:15

Sounds like it's the underpayment of 1p that might be responsible?

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 05/05/2024 11:33

Who does the letter say that the solicitor is acting for? It's possible the garage is a franchise, and has instructed a cheap and cheerful solicitor, but there is no way that BP itself will have done so - they will have an in-house legal team.

So very likely a scam or the cashier pocketing the cash payment. Either way, I would engage with BP and the garage, not the solicitor, and definitely ask for proof.

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