There are a lot of fuelcards to choose from, and many tempting offers of price reductions and special deals. But is lower fuel pricing the only factor courier companies should be looking for in a card ? And is it possible to get a card which offers great savings in fuel as well as great service ?
The level of service and support offered by different cards can vary significantly – and not just between retail (never a good option!) and commercial cards, but between different commercial card providers.
That’s why it’s essential to fully examine the service offer of the card company. Not only to check that what is given in the headline savings on fuel is not taken away in the small print – in the form of high monthly subscription charges, charges for card issues, statements, reports, or for on-line account management facilities, etc. But also to see whether the service offered is relevant to your individual needs and, rather than costing you more, might actually deliver further savings through streamlining administration or other operational requirements.
Steve Clarke, Customer Services and Marketing Manager of Abbey Fuelcards, claims that by tailoring products to the individual needs of customers, Abbey fuelcards deliver both competitive fuel pricing and high quality, relevant service.
He commented: 'Just as no two courier companies are quite the same – differences in area of operation, number of vehicles, type of fuel used, administration routines, etc. – so Abbey offers a range of card and account management options. Members can choose the card that best fits their individual business needs, including diesel only and petrol and diesel options, and achieve significant savings in both fuel and administration costs.'
Abbey levies a single monthly charge of 50p per card, and this covers all member services, including a dedicated customer services representative. There are no additional charges, for example, for account set-up, card replacement, customised management reports and analyses, 24/7 on-line account access, or for the various security features of their service, including instant card stop, irregular usage monitoring and alert facility. And, when drivers are out on the road, they can call on Abbey’s online, sms text and free satellite navigation services to pinpoint a convenient fuel stop wherever they happen to be.