Van users have been reminded by The Fuelcard People that cost savings at the pump is not the only factor to consider when comparing fuel cards. Steve Clarke, group marketing manager, said: “The whole point of fuel cards is to save money and we can almost certainly beat any fuel card deal that a fleet already has. Some firms are missing out, though, by not looking beyond the cost per litre.”
He pointed out that companies can be vulnerable to hidden costs, with some suppliers levying network fees and transaction charges. Steve Clarke said: “If one fuel card appears to offer a 0.2p per litre better saving than another fuel card, that would seem to mean a 10p advantage gain when pumping 50 litres. That changes, though, if the first card comes with a £2 per transaction network fee.”
Hidden fees are not the only potential pitfall for the unwary, according to The Fuelcard People. “The clue to our attitude is in the name,” said Steve Clarke. “We believe that customers want to talk to real people, not a faceless company or a system. Some van users are yet to realise that having their own dedicated account manager actually makes real commercial sense. Instead of waiting in a queue for a random call centre operator, they could be ringing the direct line of somebody who always takes their call and knows their business. Surely, nobody really wants to wait around and then start a service call by having to explain who they are?”
Van users should review their fuel cards with a few simple questions, according to The Fuelcard People. “They should ask whether a supplier offers a choice of fuel cards offering price discounts on every major oil company brand,” said Steve Clarke, “then ask whether there are any additional charges. If the supplier can pass those tests, then firms need to ask whether they are allocated a dedicated account manager or have to sit in call centre queues.”
Van users who look beyond the obvious could easily find that they have been missing out on a better deal.
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