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Tesco's £18,000 fuel fault fine Tesco's £18,000 fuel fault fine
(about 24 hours later)
Supermarket group Tesco has been fined £18,000 after motorists at a south Wales service station were overcharged for fuel for nine months.Supermarket group Tesco has been fined £18,000 after motorists at a south Wales service station were overcharged for fuel for nine months.
Caerphilly Council prosecuted the firm under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 after a routine inspection by trading standards at its Ystrad Mynach store.Caerphilly Council prosecuted the firm under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 after a routine inspection by trading standards at its Ystrad Mynach store.
The grocery chain was also ordered to pay £6,500 court costs after admitting six measuring offences.The grocery chain was also ordered to pay £6,500 court costs after admitting six measuring offences.
Tesco began refunding customers in February. It has been asked to comment. Tesco said it had contacted customers to apologise and offer a refund.
Caerphilly Council said customers received 4% less fuel than they paid for from 18 of the service station's 36 fuel nozzles.Caerphilly Council said customers received 4% less fuel than they paid for from 18 of the service station's 36 fuel nozzles.
The short measures were caused by an "incorrect modification" to chip and pin readers.The short measures were caused by an "incorrect modification" to chip and pin readers.
Short measuresShort measures
But the council said no accuracy checks or tests were carried out on the affected pumps by engineers who had carried out the modification work.But the council said no accuracy checks or tests were carried out on the affected pumps by engineers who had carried out the modification work.
Tesco admitted six offences of delivering short measures of fuel and using unjust measuring equipment between October 2007 and July 2008.Tesco admitted six offences of delivering short measures of fuel and using unjust measuring equipment between October 2007 and July 2008.
During this period more than 9.2m litres of fuel were sold.During this period more than 9.2m litres of fuel were sold.
Jacqui Morgan, Caerphilly trading standards and licensing manager, said: "This has been a significant case for trading standards due to the size of the problem and the length of time it went undetected.Jacqui Morgan, Caerphilly trading standards and licensing manager, said: "This has been a significant case for trading standards due to the size of the problem and the length of time it went undetected.
"It clearly shows the importance of weights and measures legislation that applies to such equipment to prevent problems occurring in the first place and the safety net of inspections carried out by fully independent trading standards officers in protecting the interests of the public.""It clearly shows the importance of weights and measures legislation that applies to such equipment to prevent problems occurring in the first place and the safety net of inspections carried out by fully independent trading standards officers in protecting the interests of the public."
Fuel pumps at more than 70 Tesco filling stations in the UK had to be checked after people were overcharged in Ystrad Mynach.Fuel pumps at more than 70 Tesco filling stations in the UK had to be checked after people were overcharged in Ystrad Mynach.
In February, Tesco started refunding customers who had used the garage. Tesco started refunding customers who had used the garage in February.
The average overcharge amounted to £2 to £3 over nine months and customers were also given the option of the money being donated to charity if they did not want to claim the refund in person. A company spokesman said: "As soon as the seriousness of the problem at Tesco Ystrad Mynach was discovered, we undertook a major operation to establish the full implications of the fault at the pumps and the customers likely to be affected.
However, some local businesses who used the petrol regularly were possibly owed "a couple of hundred pounds", a Tesco spokesman said earlier in March. "We have since contacted many thousands of customers to apologise for our mistake and offer a refund or, if they prefer, a donation to a local charity.
"Tesco will also make sure that the total refunds and charity donations add up to more than twice as much as the original overcharges caused by the fault at the pumps."
The spokesman assured customers it had checked other sites as a "precautionary measure", and said it was an "isolated incident".
He said the firm was also "strengthening" procedures to ensure the mistake was not repeated.