The retail fuel supplier Certas Energy has joined the forecourt security body, BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, by installing the BOSS Payment Watch debt recovery system across its 23 company-owned sites in Scotland.
Certas Energy is a retail forecourt operator with 24 sites, with shops branded, Spar, Londis and Best One. This retail operation is part of the largest distributors of fuels and lubricants in Britain, supplying fuel to over 1200 independently owned service stations . The firm hopes that the Payment Watch debt recovery service will result in thousands of pounds saved a year from customers with ‘no means of payment’. Although ‘no means of payment’ claims from customers is not common, it can occur up two or three times on some weeks. Curbing regular offenders will create savings by the prevention of customers driving off without paying, and any delayed payments.
Colin Levy, from Certas Energy, said: “Tackling forecourt crime is a constant challenge in fuel retailing; by introducing the BOSS Payment Watch initiative we’re making a clear statement that any incidents of crime are unacceptable. The proof is in the pudding with a service such as BOSS Payment Watch. There is demonstrable evidence from other fuel retailers to conclude that the Payment Watch system helps to recover money owed, while also reducing incidents of ‘no means of payment’.”
Kevin Eastwood, pictured, executive director at BOSS, said: “We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to extend the support offered by our Payment Watch scheme to Certas Energy forecourt sites. Last year incidents of ‘no means of payment’ cost retailers £9.7 million and the BOSS Payment Watch scheme is a proven method that helps to recover money owed to retailers and pursue multiple offenders claiming to have ‘no means of payment’.”
