Imagine being unable to fill up your car at over a thousand petrol stations, all because of a disputed fuel debt. This is the reality for one family, who found themselves in a battle with a leading petrol station security company.
The Story of an Unfair Ban
Amjad Khan and his family were barred from multiple petrol stations for a staggering 19 months. The reason? An alleged fuel theft of £20.01 at an Esso station in Manchester. But here's where it gets controversial: Amjad insists he paid for the fuel with cash, and the evidence presented by the security company didn't add up.
VARS Technology, a company providing ANPR cameras and debt recovery services to a significant number of UK petrol stations, sent a demand letter to Nasim Khan, the registered owner of the couple's car. They requested payment for the fuel and an admin fee, totaling £50.01. Amjad, 58, fought the accusation, but during this time, their car was banned from over 1,300 VARS-operated stations, causing immense inconvenience.
Nasim described the experience as embarrassing, with alarm systems triggering as if they were armed robbers whenever they entered a VARS-protected forecourt. The couple even avoided visiting their son in London, fearing they'd be stranded without fuel.
Amjad requested video footage to prove his innocence but never received it. The situation escalated when a debt recovery company, DCBL, sent a demand for £140.01. At a small claims mediation hearing, VARS presented an ANPR image and a handwritten note, but Amjad pointed out the timeline discrepancy.
Despite their efforts, the couple received a court summons from VARS. However, upon arrival, they discovered the claim had been discontinued. The Blackburn couple described VARS as intimidating and aggressive, with zero customer support during their year-and-a-half dispute.
And this is the part most people miss: Amjad and Nasim's story is not unique. Review websites are filled with similar accusations against VARS, with individuals claiming wrongful fuel theft debts and a lack of evidence beyond a single photo.
VARS provides services to major operators like Asda, EG Group, and Valli Forecourts. Angela Binns, for instance, received a debt notice for an alleged theft at an Esso station in Leeds, despite having proof of payment. Her husband, Mark King, appealed with bank statements, but VARS persisted.
"They just steamrolled on to debt collection," King says. "This has stressed my wife out immensely."
The stress led the couple to pay the debt to move on. An ex-VARS employee told Guardian Money that the ANPR software has issues, a claim refuted by VARS, who state their system is trusted and accredited.
A VARS spokesperson said, "We resolve incidents promptly and fairly." But with multiple similar stories, one has to wonder: Are these incidents truly rare, or is there a systemic issue with their debt recovery process?
What do you think? Is VARS' system reliable, or are there flaws that need addressing? Share your thoughts in the comments!
