yip was on a forecourt, however not a shell, esso, BP etc. Location was in Northern Ireland - at the risk of injury to my health from those who profit from such activity I would prefer not to divulge the location of this garage.
70p was the supermarket price at the time. Customs confirmed this was the lowest price at which legal fuel could be possibly be sold.
I doubt customs would enter this area to conduct their investigations - when I enquired of the local police if I should pursue the owner of the outfit - they were less than enthuasiastic about my idea.
There is a possibility of it being a genuine error by the garage, but the thing that pink fluffy dice me off is that as the victim of the crime or someone elses poor judgement, why should the \"innocent party\" be charged before a full investigation has been carried out.....
Leon
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Without wanting to appear naive, how did they catch you? Was it a "random" check or were they already watching the garage?
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& I'm still amazed at how blatant the (farmer??) fueled the Escort van, he'd just bought from Peterborough auctions was, one Friday pm.
Drive van, untaxed & no trade plates of course, into auction car park. Remove opaque 25ltr drum of 'red' from Land Rover, place drum on roof of van & syphon fuel into it!
Now where were HMC&E spies, that day?
& when they do an inspection on our accounts, I'm pulled up for claiming VAT back on a jacket, 'cos I could wear it privatly. Is DayGlo reflective yellow, with grease stains, IN this year??
VB
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Good old HMC&E
They have greater powers than the police. Dont need a warrant to search or confiscate. Dont need the same powers of proof as criminal law. Had a few run ins with them during my illegal CB days. Anyone who has been on the wrong side of the VAT man will tell you all about HMC&E
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I know exactly what you mean, LoD - I think I've posted elsewhere that (at least until recently) more than half of the fuel sold here in NI was illegal one way or the other - it's either home heating oil, red diesel, red diesel with the dye bleached out with acid, or smuggled. In a high number of cases, the profits fund paramilitary organisations.
Where I live, a rural area, four local filling stations within five miles of one another (which means four out of six!) had samples of diesel taken by C&E - not one of the four samples was the same as any of the others. Unfortunately, with this happening on such a huge scale, it's simply impossible to be assured of buying fuel you know to be legal every time you fill up. I think you've been very badly treated here.
I know this is bolting the stable door somewhat, but if you're ever near Belfast or Crawfordsburn you could try the biodiesel I've used for running my Leon over the past 30k miles - always one or two pence cheaper than the average local price for derv. I can vouch for the quality and legality of the fuel (usual disclaimer that I am not connected with the supplier other than as an extremely satisfied customer) as well as the fact that you can be certain your money isn't going anywhere unsavoury. In fact, when I buy at the plant, the guy always gives me a receipt stamped "Duty Paid", in case I ever do run into C&E.
andymc
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Cheers Andy,
We did briefly discuss biodiesel on your thread a few months ago. I did take your advice and now only buy from either of the two locations to which you refer.
- slightly off subject, like yourself I am well pleased with the performance and having had numberous chats with Terry I am content all is above board. Have heard from a friend in Germany whos leon developed all sorts of problems that although Seat have no problems with using Biodiesel in their engines, the injector manufacturer has stated biodiesel will damage the injectors. I am currently awaiting more details.
Like yourself I carry the receipts and a log of my mileage in the glovebox - just in case.
It was a mobile checkpoint type customs / police operation. When I get a chance I will put the full details on here if anyone is interested.
Leon
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Ah, I'd forgotten about our chat on the other thread.
Be interested to hear why the injector manufacturer (Bosch? can't be bothered to check) would make such a claim, when the biodiesel is within the same viscosity range as derv, burns more efficiently and has higher lubricity. I'd say Terry would be interested too, or at least amused! I know that people experienced problems running straight veggie oil (not biodiesel) in cars/vans with rotary pumps (old Ford Transit springs to mind), but haven't heard anything about injectors. I'm just wondering whether this is more guff of the kind BMW tried to trot out when they claimed that biodiesel was too high in sulphur, when it doesn't contain any sulphur at all ....
BTW, not my intention to hijack your thread. Still interested in hearing anything about the C&E experience.
andymc
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Hmmm....you surely look to be hard done by Leon.
HMC&E do seem to get above themselves sometimes - weren't they responsible for confiscating some old dear's car after a booze cruise?
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I would prefer not to divulge the location of this garage.
And I would appreciate that you refrain from doing so in any future posts. This site has a strict no naming and shaming policy.
DD. BR Moderator.
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