TR Transport resists BP call for bank guarantee
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A Liverpool haulier is accusing BP of bullying tactics for insisting he has an expensive bank guarantee in place before it will supply him with fuel.
John Parkinson, chairman of TR Transport in Liverpool, says his original agreement with Mobil allowed him a credit limit of .£60.000 which has been wiped out by BP since it took over Mobil last year. BP is now insisting on a bank guarantee before it will supply Parkinson with any fuel.
Parkinson's bank charges 1% for such a guarantee, costing him £700 a month. He was spending around £70,000100,000 a month on fuel with Mobil but when he tried to buy from BP recently he was refused.
"It's another way of tying the haulier up," says Parkinson. "If we did have a guarantee we'd have to buy all our fuel off BP because all the fuel companies would do the same and we can't afford to pay 1% each time."
He is adamant that he will not supply oil companies with a bank guarantee for his fuel.
BP says that its commercial dealings with customers are confidential.