UPDATE: Canberra drivers are facing false accusations of fuel drive-offs due to a troubling case of registration plate duplication. Retired public servant Phil Aungles, aged 66, was publicly called out at an Ampol fuel station in Weston for allegedly leaving without paying for petrol. This incident highlights a growing issue affecting a small number of ACT residents who are mistakenly linked to unpaid fuel bills from vehicles in neighboring New South Wales.
Aungles was unable to fill his white Toyota Yaris after being accused of a drive-off that occurred at a Central Coast service station 18 months prior, involving a green Skoda Octavia with the same registration plate. The $40 charge for the fuel went unpaid by the actual driver, leaving Aungles shocked and frustrated. “Never in my life have I not paid for fuel,” he told reporters after the incident.
While Aungles was rehearsing with the Australian Rugby Choir in Hughes, Canberra, he received the unwarranted attention at Ampol. After reporting the issue, Ampol quickly apologized and removed him from their non-payers list.
However, this was just the beginning of Aungles’ troubles. He later received multiple toll notices from Linkt for driving on the M4 motorway in Sydney. After disputing the claims, which he believed were tied to the same registration confusion, he managed to clear the false charges with Linkt.
Aungles is not alone in this ordeal. Another local, Cris Wright, a 41-year-old school teacher from Spence, faced similar humiliation when staff at a Shell Coles Express in Deakin refused her service, claiming she had previously done a runner. “They said they weren’t going to serve me because my car was registered as a runner without paying,” she recounted.
Wright was accused of a drive-off amounting to $20, a sum she humorously dismissed, stating, “I’d do a runner for a million at least.” Despite her insistence for proof, including CCTV footage, staff failed to provide any details of the alleged incident. After contacting the helpline, she learned there was a vehicle in NSW with the same registration but a different color, leading to the lifting of her ban.
Both Ampol and Shell have not responded to requests for comment on these incidents.
The situation has raised significant concerns among ACT drivers, as they find themselves wrongly accused and facing repercussions that can impact their daily lives. The emotional toll is evident, as these incidents lead to feelings of frustration and embarrassment.
As this issue continues to develop, affected drivers are urged to monitor their accounts closely and report any discrepancies. Local authorities and fuel operators will need to address this growing problem to prevent further incidents.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent issue affecting Canberra drivers.
