Shell responsible for my misfuel - unleaded in diesel car standards non compliance

Another_Sucker

What good are the BSI and the standards covering the appearance of petrol pumps? What redress can I get from a company who claim to follow standards, but don't?

Driving my diesel car I went to a Shell garage to fill up. I saw a diesel pump. It was red white and black. Then I noticed that the next one was also red, white and black and was cheaper - so I filled up from that. But the second red, white and black pump contained unleaded.

I complained to Shell, who wrote "The predominant colours used for fuel grade branding on service stations across the U.K. industry are dictated by the relevant British Standards (BS EN228 and ...".

I read the standard, which recommends that unleaded pumps are coloured green. When I pointed out the discrepancy to Shell, they said I'd misunderstood their letter. It seems clear enough to me.

The standard also states that "For the purpose of this British standard the dispensing nozzle shall be predominantly coloured green forward of the grip". Mine was 95% red. And it states that "The minimum dimensions [of the petrol grade] shall be [15mm]. The dimensions on my pump were 12mm.

So Shell claim to follow a standard, whereas they clearly don't. The appearance of their pumps is out of line with all other major suppliers. But they don't care. Their marketing campaign for V-Max is more important than customers' health and safety.

What is the use of trading standards?
What are the statistics for mis-fuelling?
Do Shell have a higher rate than others?
What can be done about misrepresenting their compliance?
How should I seek redress? I've contacted the upper management of Shell, and they aren't interested.
I'm going to Watchdog and the Daily Telegraph etc
Does anyone know Jeremy Clarkson's email address?

"We can't have your safety interfering with our profits".

Esqui

Putting aside the colour of the pump, did both of them say Diesel on them?

vax2002

Do you have photographs and what colour were the hoses ?

Forwandert

I read the standard, which recommends that unleaded pumps are coloured green. When

Not that familiar with the standard but a recommendation is different to the pump having to be a certain colour. The size of the pump isn't that relevant as the diesel pump is the larger of the two pumps so by the OP the pump was even smaller than a petrol pump so possibly noticeable even more. Think you may have to accept you didn't read what was being dispensed on the pump and be more careful with what you are filling your own car with.

Crazy_Jamie

Another_Sucker wrote:

Driving my diesel car I went to a Shell garage to fill up. I saw a diesel pump. It was red white and black. Then I noticed that the next one was also red, white and black and was cheaper - so I filled up from that. But the second red, white and black pump contained unleaded.

From a practical perspective, did alarm bells not go off in your head when the second 'diesel' pump was selling diesel for unleaded prices? The difference is notable. Also, to repeat the point made by Esqui, what did the pump actually say on it? You're case against Shell is going to be weak indeed if you didn't take heed of information that was right in front of you, irrespective of the colour of the pumps.

mattyprice4004

I don't think Shell have anything to worry about, seems a combination of not reading and lack of common sense mixed together have spelled disaster here.

I always make sure I double check what the pump says, then triple check. 5 years and no mistakes yet.

michaelvintner

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

I don't think Shell have anything to worry about, seems a combination of not reading and lack of common sense mixed together have spelled disaster here.

I always make sure I double check what the pump says, then triple check. 5 years and no mistakes yet.

Tend to agree I don't pay any attention to the colour of the pump. It could be yellow with pink polka dots on it. I read the writing on it that says "Unleaded".

arcon5

I feel for op... on many occasions this could have been me. Admittedly when your in a hurry and been stuck behind that person who goes in to pay by cash and do some shopping you just pick up the pump and fill -- in my case green (unleaded). Can everybody here really say they check the pump thoroughly EVERY time they visit the petrol station?

Saying that, it's not their fault if it stated what it was on the pump and the standards appear to be guidelines, not rules. Maybe don't spend much time fussing over your mistake?

fluffnutter

arcon5 wrote: »

I feel for op... on many occasions this could have been me. Admittedly when your in a hurry and been stuck behind that person who goes in to pay by cash and do some shopping you just pick up the pump and fill -- in my case green (unleaded). Can everybody here really say they check the pump thoroughly EVERY time they visit the petrol station?

Saying that, it's not their fault if it stated what it was on the pump and the standards appear to be guidelines, not rules. Maybe don't spend much time fussing over your mistake?

Yeah, I do. I have one car that's diesel and one that's petrol. I always check. Madness not to.

arcon5

fluffnutter wrote: »

Yeah, I do. I have one car that's diesel and one that's petrol. I always check. Madness not to.

But if you just had 2 petrol cars, i'm wondering if now and again you'd just pick up the pump without having to think twice...

Its a case of getting too familiar with consistency.

browneyedbazzi

OP noticed that the price on the pump was cheaper than the diesel pump though and used that pump because it was cheaper without thinking 'I wonder why the price is different' and taking a second look to double check that it was the right fuel type...surely the price was a massive hint that it's a different, cheaper product coming out of the pump (ie petrol!). To now try to blame shell for the deliberate ignorance is just laughable.