In recent weeks, gas stations have seen more and more drivers driving off without paying for their petrol or diesel. SODA, an organization that goes after petrol thieves and defaulters for gas stations, has received between 350 and 375 reports of 'drive-throughs' every week since the beginning of March. In a normal week there are about 300, says process manager Lourens 't Hooft.

The increase, which NOS reported earlier, can be directly linked to rising fuel prices, according to 'T Hooft. This is also reflected in the number of people who come to the register with the announcement that they do not have enough money to pay. It is then possible to fill in a IOU and leave collateral, for example a driver's license. According to SODA, the number of IOUs increased by a tenth this month compared to a normal week.

Diesel and petrol have become increasingly expensive in recent weeks as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has pushed oil prices higher. Russia is a major producer of oil, but due to sanctions and the violence of war, traders are taking into account the loss of Russian oil on the world market.

Compensation

SODA collects compensation from people who drive away without paying for their refueling for all costs incurred by a gas station owner and the amount owed. The organization emphasizes that entrepreneurs with a gas station hardly benefit from the increased fuel prices, because they receive a fixed compensation per liter. “The damage caused by unpaid refueling is higher due to the high fuel prices because the entrepreneur simply has to pay for these liters at the supplier,” reports 'T Hooft.

Recently, TinQ was forced to stop with a price stunt, because the chain of gas stations was unable to guarantee the safety of its staff due to crowds and aggressive motorists. But in general, customers have not become more aggressive at the cash registers of gas stations, says Ewout Klok of trade association BETA. According to him, customers are grateful to gas stations because they have lobbied for a tax reduction.

Also read: Carpooling as an alternative to expensive fuel prices