Registration for the Fuel Finder scheme is now live, over two weeks after it was due to open. But with retailers having to be signed up before the service goes live on February 2, further delays could be caused by slow postal deliveries, which is the method by which activation codes are being sent out.
Firms registering with Fuel Finder are being told: “We’ll post a letter with 12-digit activation code to your registered address. The letter can take up to seven working days to arrive. The code is valid for 15 days from the day it’s generated.” This process is in-line with other government systems, such as registering for some tax services.
Fuel Finder, which mandates retailers update petrol and diesel prices within 30 minutes of any changes being made, is regulated by legislation, which dictates that despite the delay in registration opening there will be no change to reporting requirements, which come into force on February 2.
Retailers are therefore being urged to sign up to the scheme as quickly as possible to ensure compliance.
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, says his organisation encourages “all retailers to register their sites as soon as possible”.
Lowman says that while the Competition and Markets Authority will be focussing on supporting businesses for the first three months of the scheme’s operation, rather than immediately taking enforcement action and issuing fines, the scheme’s implementation nonetheless represents “a tight turnaround which poses major challenges for retailers”.
After those first three months have passed, firms breaching Fuel Finder rules can be fined up to 30% of their UK turnover.
