Measuring up at the pumps
The Council’s trading standards teams have been out across the borough checking that pumps at petrol stations are offering customers the correct measure of fuel they are paying for.
Cost of living issues have seen the price of fuel increase over the last couple of years.
Working with the North East London Metrology Partnership, Havering’s trading standards team have visited and checked on all 17 petrol stations in Havering.
Out of the 488 pumps checked at the different venues, 11 were found to be incorrect.
Seven of the pumps were delivering short measures and a further four were providing inconsistent measures.
At the time of the visits, the impact of this was that unleaded petrol at £1.46 per litre represented an overcharge of around £42 on customers.
Any pumps delivering incorrect measures during the inspections, were taken out of use so the businesses could correct the error within an agreed timeframe.
As well as checking on fuel measures, trading standards officers also regularly carry out checks on a wide range of instruments used to weigh and measure goods in the public domain.
This is to test for their accuracy and includes weight of vegetables from a greengrocer, meat from a butcher or the volume of alcohol purchased in a pub.
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:
“A lot of work has been carried out by our trading standards teams to help protect our residents from being overcharged at the borough’s petrol stations.
"Especially as things are difficult in the cost of living crisis. It is important we check that our residents are getting what they pay for on the forecourt.
"Where we found evidence of short measures, businesses are working with us to correct this so customers receive the right amount for their money.”
Anyone that has a concern can report this to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.