Beware petrol-vending machines
Consumers have been cautioned about filling up their tanks from vending machines after some customers were found to have received 10 per cent less fuel than they paid for.
Deputy director-general at the Commerce Ministry's Internal Trade Department, Songklod Ubolsing, said the department's inspection team found many fuel-vending machines in Bangkok and nearby provinces to be substandard. As a result, customers were likely to get less than their money's worth. The random survey found that many of the machines offered less fuel than the customer paid for. For instance, if customers paid for 5 litres of fuel, the vending machine would release only 4.6 litres. So far, about 5,000 vending machines have been installed at petrol stations nationwide. To prevent unscrupulous petrol-station operators from taking advantage of the situation, the department is drafting legislation to regulate the operation of fuel-vending machines. The act will be ready next month. However, the department has warned it would use the Weight Control Act to punish vending machine operators who cheat customers. Under the act, violators are subject to a maximum fine of Bt6,000 and/or two years' imprisonment.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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