Golocatefuel.co.uk - It's a CON!

sailor1003

I too have been conned. If you paid by credit card, you have a claim against Go Locate for failure to supply goods for which you were charged. They are supposed to come up with these within 19 days of the payment being taken. Today, my bank is beginning dispute procedures against them. I have also reported them to trading standards. They are a con-merchant outfit - they claim to be like "Go Compare" for insurance (or tried to when I phoned yesterday), until I pointed out that Go Compare puts you in direct touch with the supplier of the product. I have also written to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 - this outfit needs national disgracing. Very angry, as have no fuel for Xmas. More fool me for trying to save £60 - has cost me an extra £150 to get fuel oil from a local supplier.

thylocine

After comparing prices, I (naively) decided to place a heating oil order on 5/11/10 with GoLocateFuel, who promised a 10-14 day delivery period on their website. The money was taken by them from my bank account (VISA Debit) the following day.
After a week or so I decided to chase them up for a prospective delivery date, but every time I ‘phoned there was either no answer, or a recorded message saying to leave a message or send an Email. I did both many times over the next couple of weeks, but without managing to provoke a reply. After contacting Consumer Direct I was advised to send them a recorded delivery letter stating that if I did not get any response from them within 7 working days then I wanted a full and immediate refund. This I did, and on 25/11/10 I had a call from someone who apologised, but he had been off sick and did not know what had happened to my order, and promised faithfully to get the oil to me by 2/12/10 latest. As I could not afford to pay for another oil delivery from a different supplier I had to reluctantly accept this promise.
The weather had taken a real turn for the worst during the last half of November and as I now had no oil for central heating, I placed fan heaters in my loft to try to prevent any freeze–ups. (Although the pipes were lagged the loft floor was insulated.) Despite this precaution I returned home late morning 2/12/10 to find that the pipes had in fact frozen at some point in time, and had now burst, flooding most of the house: making it uninhabitable.
Immediately after contacting my insurance company I ‘phoned GoLocate, gave them the sharp edge of my tongue and told them that I held them totally responsible for the disaster.
I followed this up with another recorded delivery letter to them holding them responsible, and made Consumer Direct, my insurers and the loss-adjuster aware of the situation.
The oil was eventually delivered on 4/12/10, showing an order date of 26/11/10 on the delivery note, but as I no longer have water or electricity available it is useless to me!
Consumer Direct escalated matters to Trading Standards, but they called me on 14/12/10 and said they were powerless to do anything as I had actually received the oil and no criminal act had taken place! I am now having to live in a rented holiday caravan until whenever....
Judging by the other posts in MSE relating to the appalling performance of this company, GoLocate should be forced into cessation of trading, but just how does one start the ball rolling? Anyone know of an ‘official’ organisation that can be made aware of this company’s woeful shortcomings?

leedsleedsleeds

AVOID Golocate at all costs - I have had exactly the same experience as others with this company. I ordered fuel 23rd November and was guaranteed delivery (their words) for 29th November so paid the premium price to get this. When they failed to deliver by the 30th they initially admitted they had only just placed the order, it was an administrative error. When I started asking for them to find an alternative supplier they then changed their story and said they had placed the order on time but the weather was to blame and it could take another 8 days to deliver. When the order arrived 15 days after order was placed I found out from the supplier that they had only place the order on the supplier the day after I was guaranteed delivery. Because of their despicable behaviour I was without heating for over a week during one of the coldest winter spells. This is fraudulent trading and I am still waiting on my premium fee to be refunded. Please avoid this company as they continually lie to you and do not deliver on promises. I have reported them to Trading Standards but hold no hope that any action can be taken.

Supermario

I am furious!! Ordered 500 litres on 19th December 2010 and have still not had it by 2nd February 2011 (6 weeks later!) I paid £357 which was for 14 day 'Express delivery' - Got so low I ordered it from Boiler Juice who are reliable and they delivered within 4 days in January so how can this company take so long? Requested chargeback form from bank as I paid by switch but have also spoken to someone in accounts at Go Locate to get the ball rolling from that end. What is the point of taking money from people and then refunding it? Is it just to get interest? Please don't ever give these people your money - You may never see it again. I just hope I can get it back.

mumofthree3

Have already posted a reply on the general forum, then discovered this one. My experience is that I ordered and paid for fuel 15 Nov - fobbed off with a multitude of excuses - cancelled order 4 Feb. No contact from them since. Have informed Trading Standards, have sent letter by recorded delivery (nobody there, not delivered). Have also informed the government department Consumer Direct who were very interested. Registered with Consumer Action Group where I found almost 100 (rising daily) people who were either waiting for oil (ha ha) or a refund (ha ha).

I paid by credit card, and my provider is now actioning a dispute with Go Locate (if they can locate them), so maybe I'm one of the luckier ones. However, like most of the other consumers, I've had to order more oil, at a higher price, while Go Locate still have my money. Bank account is looking grim.

I have also emailed Dom Littlewood at Flame TV (the chap who aims to expose dodgy traders).

I just wish there was some way to stop people continuing to order from Go Locate - their website is still running, luring the unsuspecting consumer in. I'm furious! :mad:

Best of luck to anyone trying to get their refund.

Come on Martin - isn't there anything YOU can do?

PS According to one furious 'poster' on the Consumer Action Group site, the owner of Go Locate is a Mr Christopher Turner, Registered Business Number: 05548961. He has also spoken to a Chris at Home Fuels Direct who was a supplier, but havent heard from Go Locate in two weeks, so believe they are out of business.

I would urge any one to contact both Trading Standards and Consumer Direct, as it appears that they will build up a file.