Personal fuel cards, are they worth it?

[mattikake]

I've been looking around and a company called UK Fuel Cards, (http://www.ukfuelcards.co.uk/no-hidden-fees) say they are able to supply a private fuel card to be used at Esso or Shell stations (Shell always get me the best mpg, but Esso aren't far behind), at around 5p per litre less than the average pump price, for £15 per card per year (first year free).

I spot tested them on this on the phone for my area an they would offer me Shell diesel fuel for the week at 139.9p p/l. Current prices in my area are (were!) 144.9p p/l. I use about 40 litres of fuel a month and it will probably go up in the future, so this seems worth it.

0.05p * 20 litres * 25 fill-ups per year - £15 card charge = £10 up. Yay! (tight a$$)

Anyone use any for personal savings, not for business use?

Any catches?

Uk Fuel Cards insisted over the phone that there is only the yearly charge and their prices are always about 5p less than the pump prices, due to a "buying in bulk" (recharging, I guess) process. Although their terms and conditions make no mention of guaranteeing around 0.05p less than the pump price, nor just the one annual charge...

[ikarl]

this seems almost too good to be true....

[Riley Blue]

I have a Tesco credit card which I use for fuel. It earns me points and what do points mean.....?

[aarondbs]

Riley Blue said:

I have a Tesco credit card which I use for fuel. It earns me points and what do points mean.....?

Cheaper margarine...

[RizzoTheRat]

That does seem a bit too good to be true, interested to see if there's a catch.

I get 3% cashback on fuel with a Santander 123 credit card which is about the best deal I've found so far, £2/month charge but I make way more than that in cashback.

[Alucidnation]

A friend of mine runs a truck and used to use these cards promising cheaper fuel.

Its bks.

Avoid.

[mattikake]

Alucidnation said:

A friend of mine runs a truck and used to use these cards promising cheaper fuel.

Its bks.

Avoid.

In what way? Are there hidden charges that their website say and T's&C's imply, there aren't?

That would be false advertising.

[mattikake]

Riley Blue said:

I have a Tesco credit card which I use for fuel. It earns me points and what do points mean.....?

Oh and you can now claim Tesco clubcard points at Esso stations, so with this supposed offer = double bonus.

[DocArbathnot]

Mrs Doc shops @ Sainsburys. They have a £0.10 per ltr discount voucher when you spend more than £60. Sainburys offers the cheapest fuel round here and an extra 10ppl with an 80l tank makes me

[Alucidnation]

mattikake said:

Alucidnation said:

A friend of mine runs a truck and used to use these cards promising cheaper fuel.

Its bks.

Avoid.

In what way? Are there hidden charges that their website say and T's&C's imply, there aren't?

That would be false advertising.

When he had his, they were great for the first few months, however eventually the prices started to creep up matching the forecourts.

Also, when there is/was a price drop, they didn't follow suit.

He keeps getting calls from them asking why he isn't using them anymore, and he tells them the above.

Result? No. They say "it is what it is".

[mattikake]

Alucidnation said:

mattikake said:

Alucidnation said:

A friend of mine runs a truck and used to use these cards promising cheaper fuel.

Its bks.

Avoid.

In what way? Are there hidden charges that their website say and T's&C's imply, there aren't?

That would be false advertising.

When he had his, they were great for the first few months, however eventually the prices started to creep up matching the forecourts.

Also, when there is/was a price drop, they didn't follow suit.

He keeps getting calls from them asking why he isn't using them anymore, and he tells them the above.

Result? No. They say "it is what it is".

Interesting. They are offering the first year free at the moment, so I'd have thought they would only start raising prices after that first year.

I'll see if they offer/do a price guarantee, but if they can get their fuel slightly cheaper in bulk, it seems easy business to make all their money from the annual card charge, providing they get a lot of customers! Makes sense to keep hold of them.

[mattikake]

DocArbathnot said:

Mrs Doc shops @ Sainsburys. They have a £0.10 per ltr discount voucher when you spend more than £60. Sainburys offers the cheapest fuel round here and an extra 10ppl with an 80l tank makes me

Supermarket fuel is crap. Mixed with methanol or something?

If put 20 litres on Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons fuel in I get about 250 miles. If I put Shell, Esso, Texaco or BP fuel in, I'll make 300 miles to 20 litres! I've proven this to myself many times on the same trip...

[k22wes]

You don't get the tesco points at esso if you use a fuel card, I tried yesterday with the work van.

[mattikake]

k22wes said:

You don't get the tesco points at esso if you use a fuel card, I tried yesterday with the work van.

Ah so they won't allow you to use the offer "in conjunction with any others"?

[DocArbathnot]

mattikake said:

DocArbathnot said:

Mrs Doc shops @ Sainsburys. They have a £0.10 per ltr discount voucher when you spend more than £60. Sainburys offers the cheapest fuel round here and an extra 10ppl with an 80l tank makes me

Supermarket fuel is crap. Mixed with methanol or something?

If put 20 litres on Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons fuel in I get about 250 miles. If I put Shell, Esso, Texaco or BP fuel in, I'll make 300 miles to 20 litres! I've proven this to myself many times on the same trip...

I think it depends on the car. I wouldn't use it in the Sunbeam but I'm achieving 55mpg from the Peugeot and 28mpg from the SL so quite happy.