Tesco has issued a statement on the future of fuel filling after it emerged that motorists will soon be charged a £99 deposit at petrol stations across the UK.
The retail giant has announced plans to replace its £1 pre-authorisation deposit charge at its Pay at Pump facilities to a £99 charge instead.
According to TeesideLive, the changes – which are currently being piloted at several stores across the UK – have been made because the rules have been changed by card companies including Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.
If the trial is successful, it is understood the changes will be rolled out across the UK later this year – not just at Tesco.
The announcement of the plans has seen the supermarket chain inundated with angry messages from customers who had discovered the new deposit system when refuelling their vehicles, and social media has been full of users alerting others to the changes over the past couple of days.
“Under these changes, the customer’s bank will pre-authorise £99, with the unused amount released back to their account within the hour,” a Tesco spokesperson confirmed.
“All supermarkets are making these changes following amendments to the rules by Visa and Mastercard [and] we’re definitely not taking a deposit.
“An amount up to £99 is ringfenced in the customers’ account, with the unused sum released immediately.”
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Here’s everything you need to know.
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What are the changes and why are they being made?
A Tesco spokesperson confirmed: “Under new rules implemented by Mastercard, Visa and American Express, we must now request authorisation from your card issuer for up to £99.
“Once you’ve finished filling up, the final transaction amount is sent to your card issuer, and the remainder of any unused funds up to the maximum filling amount will be released back to your available balance [so] we’ll only ever charge you for the value of the fuel you’ve actually purchased.”
Tesco also confirmed that the rules have been changed to help cardholders keep control of their budgets in real time.
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Will my statement show a £99 transaction? But what if I don’t have £99 in my account?
Tesco says it will only ever charge drivers for the value of the fuel they have purchased.
The supermarket added that if your account balance is under £99, your card issuer should respond with the lower amount they’ll allow and the fuel pump screen will show the value you can fill up to. However, some card issuers might not allow partial authorisations below £99 and the advice then is to try another card.
You are also advised to talk to your bank if they have concerns over the changes.
What about other supermarkets and Pay at the Pump facilities?
The changes will be brought in to cover all pay at the pump petrol stations as they are being driven by card companies.
According to the Mastercard website: “The way you pay for your fuel at an automated fuel pump in the UK is changing.
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“Your card issuer/bank will temporarily reserve up to £99 of your available balance while you fill up [and] then when you have completed fuelling, you’ll be charged for the correct amount of fuel you have used and the remainder of any reserved funds will be released back to your available balance.”
Featured Image – Freepik
UK News
Covid vaccines set to be made available on UK high streets
Danny Jones
You will soon be able to get Covid-19 vaccines outside of the NHS for the first time since their introduction in December 2020as jabs are scheduled to land on the high street next week.
Set to be made available to anyone aged 12 and above from 1 April onwards, British pharmacy and beauty brand Boots will be the first retailer to sell Covid vaccines to the general public.
Boots will be stocking the Pfizer jab in a total of 50 stores across the country, with single doses said to cost £98.95 a pop, the new private vaccine purchases provide an option for those who do not currently fit the criteria for a free booster.
A Boots spokesperson told The Times: “Our private service builds on our existing delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations for the NHS and we are pleased we can now offer Covid vaccines both on behalf of the NHS and privately, as we have done with flu vaccinations for many years.”
The high street staple insists that offering Covid jabs over the counter will help bring peace of mind to people who still want added protection from the virus who are currently unable to get one via the NHS, whose official vaccination programme ended in 2021.
Eligibility for boosters has mainly been reserved for those considered high-risk, including over-65s or patients who are immunosuppressed as a result of pre-existing conditions.
Meanwhile, although healthier young people and adults are unlikely to suffer severely from coronavirus, vaccines can still help shield them from uncomfortable symptoms such as coughs and sore throats.
Jabs will still have to be administered inside the shop itself, with Boots releasing appointment slots from this week ahead of the rollout next month. Opting for the single-dose Pfizer vaccine also means patients will not need to return for a second visit.
Compared to the likes of the flu jab which are roughly between £15-20 in most cases, it remains to be seen whether the cost of Covid jabs will put people off getting them on the high street.
Plans to sell them privately were outlined back in December 2023 with both Pfizer and Moderna making it clear they were keen to sell their products on the high street, but prices will still be set by individual pharmacies as more brands inevitably come on board.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last year that it was happy with private sales, stating: “We have spoken to manufacturers we’re [contracted] with and made it clear we won’t prevent them initiating a private market for Covid-19 vaccines, rather we’d welcome such an innovation in the UK.”
If you’re interested in getting a Covid booster, before going right ahead and booking a private appointment at your nearest Boots, you can double-check if you’re eligible to get one free through the NHS HERE.
Stockport Council secure in funding £1.6 million to help fix the roof of historic Bramall Hall
Danny Jones
Stockport Council has secured approximately £1.6 million in funding to help fix the roof of Bramall Hall, one of Stockport and Greater Manchester’s most historic buildings.
The iconic Tudor hall and old vestige of Stopfordian village’s Cheshire roots has been described as a national treasure and attracts over 36,000 visitors every year.
However, the condition of the Grade I-listed structure and its roof in particular has been gradually worsening over the years and the Council warned it would be left at “urgent risk” if repairs were not made soon.
With that in mind, local authorities have acquired sufficient funds through the Arts Council England’s Museum Estates and Development (MEND) fund, making it one of 70 museums and libraries across the country set to benefit from £33m through the government’s wider Cultural Investment project.
Dating as far back as the Middle Ages before being rebuilt in the 16th, the regular tourist destination for Bramhall locals is SK residents it’s just one of the oldest buildings you’ll find in the town but anywhere in Greater Manchester.
Sitting as the crown jewel atop the picturesque Bramhall Park and having been used as a filming location for various TV shows and films over the years, not to mention hosting school trips and tours for decades, it has also played a key role in local culture.
All that being said, beyond maintenance and the money going directly towards fixing the roof, the MEND funding will also go towards “preserving invaluable historic objects and architectural features, such as internationally significant Tudor paintings, a rare surviving example of an Elizabethan pendant plaster ceiling and the work of arts and crafts architect George Faulkner Armitage.”
As per an official statement from the council, work is slated to start this winter and is expected to take up to two years to complete, but the Hall will be kept open around renovation works as Stockport Museums look to build a new programme of special events and activities.
Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Stockport Council is proud to own, operate, and care for Bramall Hall. Not only is it a jewel in Stockport’s crown, but it’s also a national treasure, and we must preserve this first-class historic house and its enviable collections for generations to come.
“It is great news that we have been awarded this funding, which will support us in doing this.”
He went on to add, “It’s fitting that this major renovation work is announced during Stockport’s year as Town of Culture, showcasing our amazing facility to people yet to visit or who want to re-discover it.
“The Hall and Stockport museums are keen to get people actively engaged with the renovation works, feeding into this year’s cultural programme celebrating Stockport’s people, places and stories.”