Direct fuels

activityyup

Ive got a call from direct fuels about discounted fuels that you get a card from them, you get a set price from 1300 garages around Ireland but dont have to use the cards if their price is higher.

Has anyone got 1 or can you tell me if ive got it right above?

crabbypaddy

activityyup wrote: »

Ive got a call from direct fuels about discounted fuels that you get a card from them, you get a set price from 1300 garages around Ireland but dont have to use the cards if their price is higher.

Has anyone got 1 or can you tell me if ive got it right above?

Network looks the same as DCI, 90% of the core sites in my area I wouldn't fill up at due to old tanks, old pumps, noname operations or just plain expensive.

Non core site price was 1.5c more than core and was never cheaper.

I probably saved €1.50 on a 50 liter fill at best. Then they signed me and others up to a 2 euro card charge for 'protection' without our consent and I ended up cancelling.

activityyup

crabbypaddy wrote: »

Network looks the same as DCI, 90% of the core sites in my area I wouldn't fill up at due to old tanks, old pumps, noname operations or just plain expensive.

Non core site price was 1.5c more than core and was never cheaper.

I probably saved €1.50 on a 50 liter fill at best. Then they signed me and others up to a 2 euro card charge for 'protection' without our consent and I ended up cancelling.

The way they explained it was all topaz, esso, top, maxol etc all the big ones.

What was the protection for? Doesnt sound like its worth it if there is not that much savings on the normal prices.

_Kaiser_

I have a DCI card and got the letter about the protection thing. I just emailed them per the details and opted-out. No issue?

I use it in main brand stations like Maxol and Esso and it's fine but not much cheaper generally - and at the moment in fact it's about 6c dearer than my local Maxol.
Still, it's handy to have close to payday or if you fill up regularly (I do about 1500km a week) and the 3 week credit terms are ok, but it's not as convenient as the OLD Topaz card which just invoiced you once a month for everything you used - but I'm told they should be able to look at those terms for me once I've built up a bit of a credit history with them.

crabbypaddy

activityyup wrote: »

The way they explained it was all topaz, esso, top, maxol etc all the big ones.

Theres a map on their site click core sites and most of the topaz stations are gone.

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I have a DCI card and got the letter about the protection thing. I just emailed them per the details and opted-out. No issue?

You can't simply sign someone up to a completely new service without their consent on an opt out basis. If you could we'd have bord gáis sending letters saying we signed you up for level pay, vodafone saying we signed you up for a 15GB data package, AIB saying we signed you up for card protection services ..

Red Silurian

Can anybody apply for these cards or are they not just for businesses?

Red Silurian

Can anybody apply for these cards or are they just for businesses?

kala85

What's the topaz card like for value

cormie

I use Direct Fuels for all fuel purchasing for the VanTasks fleet. They are based in Bray. They supply 3 cards:

Direct Fuels:DCI card and accepted in Ireland and can be used in the UK too. One price, set twice weekly.
Current price: 110.79 Net of vat @ 23% :eek:
I have this card but never use it

EDC: DCI card and can be used throughout Europe at EDC sites. Different price zones in different countries (3 in Ireland and in most countries, 2 in the UK, 7 in Spain, some with only 1 etc). Price given each week.
Current prices for Ireland:
ZONE 1 - 86.33
ZONE 2 - 87.58
ZONE 3 - 88.83
This is my card of choice in Ireland

Esso: Esso cards are no longer accepted in Ireland after Topaz took them over. DCI cards are accepted at pretty much every Topaz and Esso though. Esso cards can be used around Europe at most Esso or Shell station. It's pump price plus 1.5% I think. The Esso card can also be used to pay for tolls on the continent in a lot of countries and can also be used to arrange breakdown cover through the AA, even if you don't have European breakdown cover. So you can call through to the AA and they'll arrange a tow etc so you've less chance of getting ripped off I guess.
This is my card of choice in Europe.

The convenience factor far outweighs what used to almost be an obsession trying to find the cheapest pump price to fill at Now I never even look at pump prices anymore, except when in Europe and it could be the difference of 30c or so per litre depending on country and whether or not you fill at a motorway service stop etc.

The main convenience is the billing and having drivers being able to fill up without using a credit/debit card. Rather than doing an invoice entry for every fuel purchase, I'm only doing one every few weeks, it's far less paperwork and especially with European travel, it saves a lot of hassle.

They have tried to bill me €15 per card + VAT on one invoice each year but I've noticed it and told them I don't want to pay it. I got it credited last year but I'm still waiting for them to credit it back this year. There was also a discrepancy on some toll bills in Europe that there was a higher charge than expected which I've been waiting for a resolution on. Other than this though it's been a pretty reliable service.


EDITED TO ADD: The above is for diesel, from the times I've bought unleaded, the price has been way higher than pump (except with Esso as it's just the 1.5% on top).

Kristopherus

I have a DCI card and the rate until Friday is 83.4c + Vat @23% = €1.0258.

padair

cormie wrote: »

I use Direct Fuels for all fuel purchasing for the VanTasks fleet. They are based in Bray. They supply 3 cards:

Direct Fuels:DCI card and accepted in Ireland and can be used in the UK too. One price, set twice weekly.
Current price: 110.79 Net of vat @ 23% :eek:
I have this card but never use it

EDC: DCI card and can be used throughout Europe at EDC sites. Different price zones in different countries (3 in Ireland and in most countries, 2 in the UK, 7 in Spain, some with only 1 etc). Price given each week.
Current prices for Ireland:
ZONE 1 - 86.33
ZONE 2 - 87.58
ZONE 3 - 88.83
This is my card of choice in Ireland

Esso: Esso cards are no longer accepted in Ireland after Topaz took them over. DCI cards are accepted at pretty much every Topaz and Esso though. Esso cards can be used around Europe at most Esso or Shell station. It's pump price plus 1.5% I think. The Esso card can also be used to pay for tolls on the continent in a lot of countries and can also be used to arrange breakdown cover through the AA, even if you don't have European breakdown cover. So you can call through to the AA and they'll arrange a tow etc so you've less chance of getting ripped off I guess.
This is my card of choice in Europe.

The convenience factor far outweighs what used to almost be an obsession trying to find the cheapest pump price to fill at Now I never even look at pump prices anymore, except when in Europe and it could be the difference of 30c or so per litre depending on country and whether or not you fill at a motorway service stop etc.

The main convenience is the billing and having drivers being able to fill up without using a credit/debit card. Rather than doing an invoice entry for every fuel purchase, I'm only doing one every few weeks, it's far less paperwork and especially with European travel, it saves a lot of hassle.

They have tried to bill me €15 per card + VAT on one invoice each year but I've noticed it and told them I don't want to pay it. I got it credited last year but I'm still waiting for them to credit it back this year. There was also a discrepancy on some toll bills in Europe that there was a higher charge than expected which I've been waiting for a resolution on. Other than this though it's been a pretty reliable service.

I take it joesoap cannot get EDC card?

cormie

I don't know if EDC is for consumer too. Kristopherus, who supplies your DCI?

activityyup

So what does direct fuels get from it and how do they make their money?

Kristopherus

cormie wrote: »

I don't know if EDC is for consumer too. Kristopherus, who supplies your DCI?

DCI Ireland, the Galway office.

cormie

activityyup wrote: »

So what does direct fuels get from it and how do they make their money?

I assume it's based on buying power and they get a cut from it.

Kristopherus wrote: »

DCI Ireland, the Galway office.

They've tried to call me numerous times to get me to sign up, as have others. Interesting that you're on a cheaper price than me though, I assume that's also for diesel, how does it work if you want to buy unleaded?

Kristopherus

cormie wrote: »

I assume it's based on buying power and they get a cut from it.



They've tried to call me numerous times to get me to sign up, as have others. Interesting that you're on a cheaper price than me though, I assume that's also for diesel, how does it work if you want to buy unleaded?

Diesel only. All my vehicles are diesel. The price quotes I get from them are for Core Sites, which includes Maxol outlets. I have a Maxol site near me. Funnily enough I passed it today & its selling diesel at 99.9c, which is 3.5c cheaper than tha DCI. Go figure !!!!

Slutmonkey57b

Sorry cormie, are you saying that by using one of your card options you're guaranteed to pay *more* than the pump price? Why would anyone sign up??

cormie

Yeah, seems there's no real consistency with the pricing

Slutmonkey, I'd never use the Esso card here in Ireland but the convenience factor is worth the 1.5% when on the road in Europe and of course it means drivers don't have to carry around a company credit card or anything with them.

activityyup

cormie wrote: »

I assume it's based on buying power and they get a cut from it.


He said it covers 1300 service stations including top maxol topaz esso etc so i dont see how they can give 1 price for every 1300 of the stations when the price differs so much from topaz to top and dublin to country

Big Lar

I use the topaz card and I think that is 2c off the pump price, tis right handy for receipts and invoices as they are emailed directly for accounting purposes. I think you can use it in maxol garages also

Had the DCI card before and ended up always paying more than the pump price.