Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 22 March 2001

Signs of Cheap Fuel

Instances of petrol stations displaying cheap fuel signs at their sites when the fuel is not available, have started to be made known to the Ministry of Fair Trading's FuelWatch service by WA motorists.

"Although it would appear that the reported instances are oversights, to advertise fuel at a certain price by displaying signs when the fuel is not available at that price is an offence under the Fair Trading Act", Petroleum Prices Commissioner and Commissioner for Fair Trading Patrick Walker said.

"Our enquiries have revealed that some petrol stations have displayed signs which were advertising fuel at a certain price, while not having the fuel available at that price and had actually locked those pumps due to the fuel running out.

There is no evidence of any retailers deliberately advertising cheap fuel when it does not exist just to attract customers. Retailers are required to remove signs advertising cheap fuel once supplies of that fuel are exhausted" http://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au. Mr. Walker said.

FuelWatch Officers are on duty seven days per week and will be conducting spot checks as well as following up information supplied by consumers.

Consumers can contact FuelWatch for the cost of a local call from anywhere in WA by calling 1300 55 45 45.

To check fuel prices:

Go online: www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au
Phone: 1300 55 08 08 (cost of a local call)