On 31st July of this year a colleague and I stopped at Heartlands services for fuel and oil. I went through the usual procedure to pay with my fuel card- handed over card, advised teller of pump number, vehicle reg and mileage, signed receipt and left.Over a month later- by a remarkable coincidence after any CCTV evidence would have been deleted showing the teller's mistake- my colleague got a letter from VARS Technology claiming he hadn't paid for fuel on the day in question, and that the fuel had to be paid along with a £30 recovery charge.I emailed them to explain. No response. Because the deadline for payment was coming I emailed again and explained that I had paid the amount in full to avoid my colleague's car reg getting blacklisted, but I expected the £30 admin fee to be refunded.After a week a Trahearne McBride emailed and advised that I'd need written confirmation from the registered keeper of the vehicle so that they could discuss the matter with me. I obtained this.Finally, after providing the requested permission, Trahearne stated it was my responsibility to check the cashier's work for them, that admin fees were non refundable, and that because the amount was paid the case was closed. He knew damn fine that this would be his reply, but chose to make jump through hoops anyway.Well he's been told that the case is not closed, and that if the £30 is not refunded by Friday 4th October we're going to court. Scots Law is based on the premise that people act reasonably, and I am quietly confident of proving this in court.VARS Technology does not exist to target forecourt crime. Because the kind of people who deliberately drive off use fake plates or stolen cars. No, they exist to recoup money from cashiers mistakes. Whilst nobody disputes that fuel must be paid for in spite of any mistake, I think the matter of "Recovery Charges" is one for debate. Especially given that VARS will be charging fuel companies for the use of their technology and will make a decent sum.
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