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Fuel Cards

  • 13-10-2009 09:00AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi,
    I've had a few calls about these fuel cards. One from fastfuel.ie who deal with Texaco and Maxol. They sound good alright and I'm a stickler for cheap fuel. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with them and who the best company to go for is? Fastfuel are based in Galway and I remember a call from another crowd in Galway too, not sure if it was fastfuel though. Seems like a win win situation from what I've heard.

    If anyone has any experience or suggestions on who to use I'd appreciate it :)


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    Whats the current price of petrol on the Fastfuel card?
    I use the Benchmark Motorcard, was paying 1.12 per litre when the station pump was trying to charge 1.20 a couple of weeks ago (all the local stations are overpriced).
    http://www.motorcard.ie/prices_this_week.php

    Benchmark's card works with Topaz stations and a few independants.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    Matt Simis wrote: »
    ...was paying 1.12 per litre when the station pump was trying to charge 1.20 a couple of weeks ago

    Do you ever get hassle trying to get the rate on the card? Or does simply paying with the card guarantee that you get the Benchmark price?
    Have you ever noticed any discrepancies with your bill? i.e. € amount charged rather than litre amount.

    Sorry for all the questions but I am considering gettign a fuel card.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    I'd be using Diesel myself. Think it's about 1.00 with average price being 105 I think he said.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,373 ✭✭✭tw0nk


    just looking at the benchmark website there, the diesel seems very overpriced, 1.06! all the stations around here charge 1.02 - 1.04 max


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    tw0nk wrote: »
    just looking at the benchmark website there, the diesel seems very overpriced, 1.06! all the stations around here charge 1.02 - 1.04 max

    Yeah, they have always been rubbish for diesel.

    To the other questions, to the retailer is like a Credit Card, comes out of your account via Direct Debit once a month. They email a PDF Invoice too, looks ok though the pre-Vat pricing is hard to work out. Had the car over 2years now.

    Note that most but not all Topaz stations take the card as well as almost anywhere that takes the Statoil card.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    eh wha, did Benchmark reverse their decision not to honour the lower price on the card if the pump price was dearer?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,732 ✭✭✭✭R.O.R


    testicle wrote: »
    eh wha, did Benchmark reverse their decision not to honour the lower price on the card if the pump price was dearer?

    Think it's the other way around - you pay the card price regardless of whether the pump price is cheaper or not. That's the way it's been working with the corporate cards since early this year.

    As as word of warning to everyone with a Benchmark / Statoil / Topaz card - they are going PIN only from the 1st December for all transactions (was just international). This month you have the option to sign or use the PIN, but from 1st December it's PIN only.

    (sorry for hi-jacking Cormie)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    No prob, the more info the better :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,484 ✭✭✭✭Stephen


    I haven't used my Benchmark card in ages because it has been more expensive than the pump price for quite some time now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    R.O.R wrote: »
    As as word of warning to everyone with a Benchmark / Statoil / Topaz card - they are going PIN only from the 1st December for all transactions (was just international). This month you have the option to sign or use the PIN, but from 1st December it's PIN only.

    We got the PINs in work for some (pool) cars, loads of questions, at least there is a month to sort out. It is a good idea though, security wise.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    So the fastfuel crowd seem a better deal for Diesel for sure anyway. With their price being 5c or so below my local that's a fair saving. Are there a lot of these companies around or is it just Fastfuel and benchmark so far?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    Just got another call/email off a crowd called fleetgreen:
    PRICE GUARANTEE* - CARBON EMISSION / BIODIESEL CERTIFICATION

    FleetGreen offers you a Price Guarantee -

    We guarantee to provide one of the markets most competitive prices on a consistent weekly basis.
    If in any week another fuel card supplier supplies you diesel at a lower rate than ours,
    we promise to match that price and refund the difference on your purchase.*

    FleetGreen fuel card, is a card designed to assist you in reducing your Carbon footprint, to make this reduction process as straight forward as possible for your business. In addition it is offering you the opportunity to meet your refuelling needs by way of one of the most cost effective pricing networks available.

    FleetGreen is the only fuel card that offers this diesel price guarantee which gives you the reassurance of competitive prices week after week

    Environmental impact
    In addition to our price promise, we are giving you a biodiesel certification for every litre of fuel you use – making FleetGreen a unique combination.
    We are committed to replacing diesel used by your company with a blend of 5% biodiesel supplied from a number of reputable companies to industry standard EN 590 into the network. Your carbon emission reduction will be advised on your invoice.

    FleetGreen offers access to over 800+ sites nationwide, catering for all types of vehicles with various operating hours available.
    We are customer focused, and concentrate our efforts on working with customers to ensure that the customer gets value in terms of cost, relevant information, access to people. Working with customers to create a professional and beneficial relationship for both.

    FleetGreen offers ONE weekly price across the entire CORE site network .

    PRICE: PRODUCT NET VAT RATE
    Derv (road diesel) 83.44 cpl 21%

    What does a FleetGreen card offer you?
    A weekly diesel price – the same at all CORE sites nationwide
    Additional 2cpl on non core sites.
    Competitive price GUARANTEE
    Biodiesel Certification
    Carbon Emission reduction notification
    The largest fuel card network in Ireland – over 800 locations available
    No application fees or set up charges
    No minimum purchases necessary
    No Fixed contract – you can cease using the facility any time you wish. No minimum usage and no minimum number of cards required.
    One weekly invoice and one weekly payment ( 21 days after invoice)
    PIN card security
    The price adjusts on a weekly basis and can be advised via e mail or text.

    Locations:

    The network now offers 850 locations around the country to fuel your vehicles. This is one of the largest fuel networks of its type in Ireland, and growing.
    WE ALSO HAVE EVERY TOPAZ SITES NATIONWIDE AVAILABLE.WE ALSO HAVE A SELECTION OF GREAT GAS EMO ESSO TOP TEXOIL TEXACO

    Fuel management:

    All fuel transactions are available online through our WEB fuels facility. At www.webfuels.com FleetGreen will forward this information via e bill showing detailed transaction history by card along with VAT breakdown.

    Payment terms

    All accounts are invoiced on a weekly basis and payment is due by direct debit on or about 21 days following date of invoice. Transactions invoice run from Monday to Sunday each week.

    Security:

    The fuel card is issued with a PIN security number that the card holder uses to validate his fuel transaction. The security is as good as the card holder is trustworthy in so far as if the card holder allows the PIN number to be given freely to others it lessens the security in place.
    In addition a receipt is available for all fuel transactions to use as a cross reference with your transaction report information.

    Reports:

    Invoices are available by E Billing format as previously stated.

    FleetGreen would be delighted to meet with you to discuss any items referred to above and would be willing to try and accommodate in as far as possible any other requirements you may have.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19 Aoife00


    Stay clear from fuel cards if you can. They all bump up the price over time and if you don't keep an eye on it you'll soon find you're paying way above the normal pump price


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72,883 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Aoife00 wrote: »
    Stay clear from fuel cards if you can. They all bump up the price over time and if you don't keep an eye on it you'll soon find you're paying way above the normal pump price

    Any Topaz Fuel Card Services cards don't have introductory offers, so they don't go up over time. I have a personal and a company one; personal was obtained via Benchmark but I've never dealt with them since. Both have identical prices.

    The main advantage of fuel cards is for business customers - one single VAT invoice, can let them handle the VAT reclaim, reduced admin work. If you've got staff it reduces expenses claims and the hassle that goes with that.

    I mostly have my personal one for the international element, I pay the pump price and get a decent currency conversion rate if its non-Euro and get the pay the month after the trip. Theres no charges for this at all, which is very handy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Aoife00 wrote: »
    Stay clear from fuel cards if you can. They all bump up the price over time and if you don't keep an eye on it you'll soon find you're paying way above the normal pump price
    Not keeping an eye on the price reminds me of that woman who phoned Joe Duffy to complain after filling her own car up at €1.79 a litre.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,906 ✭✭✭✭Kristopherus


    I have DCI and Benchmark cards. Dont use either much as I can get diesel 2/3 cents cheaper locally. Benchmark is 111c this week and DCI is 108c.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    R.O.R wrote: »
    Think it's the other way around - you pay the card price regardless of whether the pump price is cheaper or not. That's the way it's been working with the corporate cards since early this year.

    As as word of warning to everyone with a Benchmark / Statoil / Topaz card - they are going PIN only from the 1st December for all transactions (was just international). This month you have the option to sign or use the PIN, but from 1st December it's PIN only.

    (sorry for hi-jacking Cormie)

    I think Benchmark did reverse that actually, you always pay the lower price, either pump or card.

    Also I have 2 cards and 2 PINs and still havent been asked to put in the PIN in any Garage. Benchmarks letters said PIN was mandantory.


    To the comment about "bumping prices over time", thats not at all how the Benchmark card works. They redo the price weekly, its clearly on their site:
    http://www.motorcard.ie/prices_this_week.php. They dont "hide" when their price is more than the AA average either.

    Is the Fleetgreen card available to the public too, like Benchmark? If not, then its not really comparable (though Benchmark have generally always been poor for diesel).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    Still haven't decided to go with any of the above. I guess I could just get them all and decide at the pump.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    Just got another call off DTI fuel cards (or maybe it was DCI), based in Galway. Would probably make sense to get one for convenience, although I'm not sure if it would be convenient, more accounts, more bills, more potential problems.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    I have the Topaz one myself, current price is 148.03c which is about 2c less than my locals. It's handy to have I suppose.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,619 ✭✭✭✭Vicxas


    Ok, forgive my ignorance.

    But do you need to be a business to get a fuel card? Otherwise why have i not heard of this before?!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭BronsonTB


    I was looking into getting one as I do a fair bit of mileage with work but on comparing prices for the last 4 weeks, the price at the pump has always been cheaper.(Bare in mind I do shop round for the best price) (Paying 139.9 for diesel as of today)

    Sligo Metalhead



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    Vicxas wrote: »
    Ok, forgive my ignorance.

    But do you need to be a business to get a fuel card? Otherwise why have i not heard of this before?!


    I have mine through a group scheme in work, so no.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 838 ✭✭✭Wats_in_a_name


    I have a topaz one for personal use & am only 18 so doesn't appear to be any criteria to get one. Sign up through motorcheck though so you get it for free.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    current prices for Topaz are:

    Your Diesel price today is 142.38 cpl inc vat (117.67 excl vat)
    Your Unleaded price today is 148.03 cpl inc vat (122.34 excl vat)

    most places I've seen for petrol are around 149.9 or 150.9 so it's a litle cheaper, I find it handier to pay once a month as well. They are also doing a free coffee when you buy the Irish Independent for fuel card users at the moment.


  • Posts: 2,001 [Deleted User]


    Just signed up there, currently 147.73 per liter with the card, a good 4c less than any stations near me.

    Paying in once go will be handy too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,855 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    Who did you sign up with? Would prefer one that can be used at any station as opposed to just Topaz and the likes. 142 price for diesel is high enough.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    cormie wrote: »
    Who did you sign up with? Would prefer one that can be used at any station as opposed to just Topaz and the likes. 142 price for diesel is high enough.

    Benchmark Motorcard is both DCI and Topaz.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,262 ✭✭✭Vertakill


    BronsonTB wrote: »
    I was looking into getting one as I do a fair bit of mileage with work but on comparing prices for the last 4 weeks, the price at the pump has always been cheaper.(Bare in mind I do shop round for the best price) (Paying 139.9 for diesel as of today)

    Well, as was said earlier in this thread, they don't seem overly great at diesel prices. They are definitely cheaper than the majority of other stations for petrol though.

    And, bear in mind, if the price at the pump is cheaper, you pay the price at the pump.
    So actually having the card in your wallet has no negative really because you always only pay the cheapest rate (either pump or card).


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,322 ✭✭✭wet-paint


    Vertakill wrote: »
    And, bear in mind, if the price at the pump is cheaper, you pay the price at the pump.

    It hasn't been that way for about two years, I'd say. They emailed round, saying they were stopping that practice.


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