news

Coles shamed for high petrol prices

The NRMA has given Coles Express service stations an ultimatum - guarantee it will have the lowest petrol prices or face a boycott.


Coles is under fire following a report which revealed the supermarket giant was slugging motorists with the most expensive petrol prices in every major city and leading the whole market higher.

"On any given day the range from the lowest available retail price to the highest is usually between 15 to 20 cents per litre," said Australian Competition and Consumer Commission petrol commissioner Pat Walker.

In Melbourne yesterday, some Coles Express service stations were pricing their petrol up to 14 cents a litre above the average.

This becomes particularly expensive for motorists who are mislead by shopper dockets, and end up paying far more for their petrol despite the discount.

For residents in WA at least, the FuelWatch scheme has been introduced with great success, forcing petrol stations to lock in their prices and make them available online.

This scheme won't be seen in the remaining capital cities until at least December, until then NRMA Motoring and Services president Alan Evans is not shy about naming and shaming retailers who gouge consumers at the pump.

"The real key now is what Coles does to make sure they redeem themselves (and) of what the petrol commissioner does to ensure motorists aren't ripped off in the future," he said.

Mr Evans suggested the Government look more seriously at giving the petrol commission some real power to ensure motorists aren't ripped off like this in the future.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent