Author: Simon Pavey

Good prices and choice of locations - John Grose

John Grose: Good prices and choice of locations boosts our business

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Keeping the customer happy is our top priority here at Fuel Card Services, so we’re always delighted to receive positive feedback from satisfied clients.

Suffolk-based new and used car sales specialist John Grose recently got in touch to share what they value the most about working with us.

 

Good rates and locations

John Grose has enjoyed various aspects of working with Fuel Card Services, including our competitive rates and speedy ordering of new fuels.

Accounts assistant Leit Henry said it’s also really useful that we’re able to send reports that help with the management of the company’s fuel cards.

Furthermore, the wide range of locations where the cards can be used was a “key factor” in why the firm chose to work with us, proving particularly beneficial for their drivers.

John Grose has a mixed fleet of cars and vans, drawing both petrol and diesel and spending between £35,000 and £40,000 a month.

As well as making the most of Fuel Card Services’ competitive rates and wide range of locations, the car sales specialist has also enjoyed the benefits of MyFleetHub, our one-stop shop for complete vehicle management.

“The new website Fleethub for the management of cards is very useful to find up to date information whenever needed,” Leit said. “Having the data you need available straight away is very useful for our business.

“The personal skills of the staff adds value to the experience of using fuel cards.”

All in all, a happy customer, which makes us happy too.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We were absolutely thrilled to get this positive feedback from John Grose, and particularly happy to hear they have been making the most of MyFleetHub. Here’s to many more years of a successful working relationship!”

Drivers told to beware battery problems in cold weather

Drivers told to beware battery problems in cold weather

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Much of the UK has been hit by wet and windy weather and low temperatures this month, leading to potentially hazardous driving conditions.

As well as raising the risk of accidents and disruption on the roads, cold weather can lead to various mechanical problems that all car owners should be aware of. One of the most common issues is a flat battery, as a road safety and breakdown organisation has warned.

Battery bother

GEM Motoring Assist has advised that being aware of potential battery issues at this time of year can help you avoid getting stranded at the roadside – a particularly unpleasant experience in the middle of winter.

The company pointed out that cold weather can cause a slowdown in the chemical reactions that take place inside car batteries.

When the temperature drops to 0 degrees C, a battery loses 35 per cent of its effectiveness.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said: “Cold weather also reduces the battery’s ability to hold its charge – meaning it’s potentially at its weakest when you’re likely to need it the most!”

If your engine fails to start but you can hear a slight noise from under the bonnet, a flat battery is the most likely cause.

Lack of any sound at all when you try to start the engine probably means a loose connection on the battery, or that it has no charge left at all.

If you have a good set of jump leads and another car owner willing to do you a favour, you can try to jump start the battery. However, it’s also possible that your car’s battery has reached the end of its lifespan and needs replacing.

“Batteries don’t last forever – in fact the average life of a battery is five years, so be ready to replace it when the time comes,” said Mr Worth.

If you want to get your car checked out for battery health and general reliability during the winter, MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services can help by providing access to regular servicing and maintenance at thousands of garages nationwide.

More than 30 vans stolen every day

More than 30 vans stolen every day, study finds

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Fleet managers have been warned how many vans are stolen in the UK every day, with many potentially at risk because they’re not fitted with an alarm as standard.

What Car? Vans submitted a Freedom of Information request to the police and found that more than 43,000 vans have been stolen since 2016, which equates to more than 30 a day. A further 117,000 have been broken into over the same period.

‘Cause for concern’

These crimes are thought to have cost drivers and businesses nearly £62 million in lost tools and other items.

One of the potential risk factors for drivers and fleet managers is the fact that four out of ten new vans don’t come fitted with an alarm as standard, while just over a third (36.5 per cent) offer a factory-installed alarm as an optional extra.

Only 5.5 per cent of vans on sale today are not available with an alarm at all. These tend to be older models that are due to be replaced.

Other security features are better represented, with more than 90 per cent of vans featuring remote central locking as standard. Four out of five vans on sale (80 per cent) come pre-installed with deadlocks, which don’t use a spring, making them harder to pick.

The data also showed that London is the worst area for van thefts, with 14,263 vans stolen in the capital since 2016.

Jim Holder, editorial director at What Car? Vans, said the relatively low number of new vans that don’t come with a factory-fitted alarm is “a cause for concern”.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Countless small businesses and trade professionals up and down the country rely on their vans for their livelihood, so these figures are concerning. If your van doesn’t have a pre-installed alarm, it might be worth investing in one to protect your vehicle and its contents.”

UK on course for telematics insurance boom

UK on course for telematics insurance ‘boom’

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

The coming years could see a major boom in the use of telematics solutions for car insurance in the UK, with 3.8 million British motorists likely to switch to ‘black box’ policies, according to new research.

A survey by Compare the Market found that the increasing interest in the technology has coincided with growing concern among many people about the future cost of car insurance.

Realising the benefits of telematics

Telematics systems can have big benefits as far as insurance costs are concerned. The technology tracks driving behaviour habits and, for safe drivers, can lead to reduced insurance premiums that reflect their good habits.

Compare the Market pointed out that telematics policies are not yet the norm in the insurance industry, but forthcoming trends suggest that telematics devices could become increasingly common and familiar in the near future.

The company’s research showed that only two per cent of people are currently using this technology, but ten per cent of drivers are expected to switch to insurance cover that uses telematics in the near future.

Opportunities to lower policy costs will be welcomed by drivers and fleet managers across the UK. The survey found that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of people expect the price of car insurance to increase over the next three to five years.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at Compare the Market, said introducing telematics technology is a “great way to reduce the cost of insurance”.

He added: “It can also make drivers more conscious of their driving habits, which can only improve road safety. It has taken some time, but telematic policies will become a lot more common and could well become the standard across the UK in future.”

Overshadowing other technologies

Another finding from the study suggested that telematics is capturing more interest than other innovations that could benefit drivers and the environment.

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of the 2,000 motorists surveyed said they have no intention of using ride-sharing apps, despite the green advantages they offer.

Subletting or renting out a car can help to offset the overall cost of owning a vehicle, but only one per cent of people have tried it, and 85 per cent have no intention of doing so in the future.

Similarly, less than one per cent of respondents said they were taking advantage of subscription-based insurance. This system sees drivers pay monthly premiums based on how much they use their car, rather than a flat annual fee.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “There are certainly some interesting developments taking place in the car insurance space at the moment. It seems that the UK public still needs some convincing where ride-sharing and car subletting are concerned, but it’s exciting to see that telematics is on course for considerable growth in the near future.

“This can only be a good thing for drivers and fleet operators.”

Your business can benefit from affordable fleet telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com.

washing your car is important in winter

Why washing your car is important in winter

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Washing the car is usually seen as a summer activity, but it’s just as important (if not more so) to make regular efforts to keep your vehicle clean over the winter months.

Heading outside with a bucket of water and a sponge might not be the most inviting prospect when it’s freezing cold, but there are some very good reasons why you should be brave enough to do so.

Also take a look at our tips for driving in dangerous weather conditions.

Combating corrosion

One of the biggest motivations to continue regularly washing your car during the winter months is to fight corrosion, which can have a damaging impact on the vehicle’s paintwork and exterior finish, but also (and more importantly) vital mechanical components.

Corrosion can occur when the salt that is often spread across roads at the coldest times of the year comes into contact with your car’s metal surfaces.

If this salt is left in place for too long, it can start to eat away at the metal and cause rust, which not only looks unsightly but can also have an impact on vital parts of the car.

Accumulation of dirt and grime

Aside from the mechanical problems and more serious damage that wintry conditions can cause to your car, there are all sorts of cosmetic issues you’re likely to notice at this time of the year.

Inclement weather means your car is likely to come into contact with mud, slush and plenty of water on the roads, all of which can lead to dirt and grime building up on the undercarriage and lower portions of the vehicle.

If you take pride in the appearance of your car and want to keep it looking good all the time, you’ll probably find that it needs more attention in the winter than during times of better weather.

Clean interiors

Winter cleaning needs to go further than just the outside of your car, since all the water, mud and dirt that gathers on your footwear and clothes during these months will soon make a mess of the inside as well.

To keep your interior clean and presentable, even in the winter, it’s best to keep on top of it and clean regularly, rather than waiting for the grime to build up. Accumulations of moisture and salt on the interior carpeting can even leak through into the undercarriage and cause damage.

Winter tips

There are various things you can do to protect your car over the winter months. Spraying it with a protective wax can help to shield the exterior from rust and salt damage, keeping it in the best possible state despite seasonal conditions.

Using waterproof covers on seats can also be a good idea, along with replacing carpeted mats with rubber mats to provide maximum floor protection on the interior.

If you’re worried about the winter conditions having an impact on mechanical components and how your car runs, it’s a good idea to have it checked and serviced by professionals.

MyService.Expert from Fuelcard Services makes it easy to look after your vehicle with access to thousands of garages up and down the country.