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Tesco in car repair payment offer Retailers offer car repair refund
(about 3 hours later)
Tesco has promised to pay for repairs to cars damaged by a batch of faulty petrol sold in stores across parts of the south-east of England. Supermarkets have promised to pay for repairs to cars damaged by a batch of faulty petrol sold in stores across parts of the South East of England.
The supermarket chain has printed full-page apologies in several newspapers, saying stores have been refuelled with a "fresh, clean supply". Tesco and Morrisons have asked drivers who suffered problems after buying affected petrol to contact them.
Its advert adds: "More to the point, we'd like to pay for the repairs." Tesco has printed a full-page apology in several newspapers, saying stores have been refuelled.
Tests on samples of unleaded fuel from a storage facility in Essex found it to be contaminated with silicon. Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 motorists can claim for the petrol, any repairs and "consequential" losses.
The advertisement appears in a number of papers under the headline: "Tesco petrol. It's back to normal and we're sorry." Tests on samples of unleaded petrol from a storage facility in Essex found it to be contaminated with silicon, which may indicate the presence of silicone - often added to diesel.
It carries a telephone number - 0800 028 6428 - for customers to obtain further information and advice. Thousands of drivers last week reported engine trouble and breakdowns after filling up with unleaded petrol from a number of retailers, including Tesco and Morrisons supermarkets.
Breakdowns SILICON & SILICONE Silicon is a chemical element - symbol 'Si' Silicone is a chemical compound containing silicon and oxygenSilicone can take solid or liquid form and is used as a lubricant and insulator When silicon is found by tests on petrol it may indicate the presence of silicone
The Tesco advertisement appears in a number of papers under the headline: "Tesco petrol. It's back to normal and we're sorry."
It says "we'd like to pay for the repairs" and carries a telephone number - 0800 028 6428 - for customers to obtain further information and advice.
Motorists will be asked to send in receipts for the faulty petrol bought from Tesco and any car repairs carried out as a result of using it.Motorists will be asked to send in receipts for the faulty petrol bought from Tesco and any car repairs carried out as a result of using it.
A Tesco spokeswoman said if people did not have receipts they should call the advice line anyway because each case will be considered individually. 'Reasonable' repair refunded
"What we are saying is we will look at each case," she said. A Tesco spokeswoman said if people did not have receipts they should call the advice line anyway because each case would be considered individually.
"Give us as much information as you can. If you don't have a receipt we will still look at your case. HAVE YOUR SAY Tesco have approached this in a responsible manner Doug, Ayr class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5703&edition=1&ttl=20070228174332">Send us your comments
"A bank statement or credit card statement would be worth sending. "Give us as much information as you can. A bank statement or credit card statement would be worth sending," she said.
"We will refund any reasonable costs of having the car repaired as a direct result of Tesco fuel.""We will refund any reasonable costs of having the car repaired as a direct result of Tesco fuel."
Last week, thousands of drivers reported engine trouble and breakdowns after filling up with unleaded petrol from a number of retailers, including Tesco and Morrisons supermarkets. A Morrisons spokesman said they would also refund petrol costs and repairs and said anyone who did not have receipts would be "supported".
Compensation
He said customers wishing to make a claim should call 0845 611 5111.
"I am not sure we will be advertising in the same way as Tesco," he said.
"We have clearly sold contaminated fuel to customers. If people haven't got the receipts we will try to support that."
A spokesman for the consumer advice service Consumer Direct said: "We are advising people that they might be able to make a claim.
"The contract they had was with themselves and the organisation they bought the fuel from.
ADVICE LINES Tesco: 0800 028 6428Morrisons: 0845 611 5111
"If they can prove the fuel was the cause of the fault they could claim for the petrol they bought, reasonable repairs to their cars and compensation for consequential losses incurred such as alternative arrangements they made."
The contaminated fuel was eventually traced back to four tanks at a Vopak storage facility in West Thurrock, which fuel supplier Harvest Energy said contained "unusually high levels of silicon".The contaminated fuel was eventually traced back to four tanks at a Vopak storage facility in West Thurrock, which fuel supplier Harvest Energy said contained "unusually high levels of silicon".
TESCO ADVICE LINE 0800 028 6428
Harvest Energy shares tank facilities at the depot with another oil company, Greenergy, which supplies both Tesco and Morrisons.Harvest Energy shares tank facilities at the depot with another oil company, Greenergy, which supplies both Tesco and Morrisons.
In a statement, Greenergy said a component understood to have been used by Harvest Energy in the production of unleaded petrol had tested positive for excess levels of silicon.In a statement, Greenergy said a component understood to have been used by Harvest Energy in the production of unleaded petrol had tested positive for excess levels of silicon.
Tesco emptied its unleaded tanks at 150 outlets in the South East, while Morrisons stopped selling unleaded fuel at 41 outlets supplied by the depot until tests were complete.Tesco emptied its unleaded tanks at 150 outlets in the South East, while Morrisons stopped selling unleaded fuel at 41 outlets supplied by the depot until tests were complete.