Fuel for thought update

In November last year, we reported on pipelinecard.org, a website hoping to attract enough registrations so that its members could negotiate a bulk-buying discount from a national petrol retailer.

At the time, founder Ben Scammell said that he had agreed an “in principle” deal with a supplier and needed less than 100,000 registrations to make the scheme a reality.

Earlier this week the website proudly announced its 100,000th member had joined so we went back to Mr Scammell to find out when the cards would be issued.

The first thing he told me was he surprise at the success of the site. “Details of the scheme spread around the web like wild-fire so we achieved our initial target far quicker than we ever hoped we would," he said. "We originally thought it would take until the spring to get sufficient members," he added.

He explained that although he already has enough members to issue cards immediately he would not do so until around April or May because "the more registrations we get, the bigger discount we can negotiate.”

Again, Mr Scammel refused to be pinned down on the exact level of the discount, but he promised that it would be off the forecourt price and not the retailers national average price.

“The level of the discount may fluctuate depending on the normal price of petrol but I am certain it will be at least five pence a litre and hopefully, if we get enough people to sign up, it will be more.”

Mr Scammell said he is in regular contact with the still unnamed petrol retailer. “The company is pleased with our progress and has promised to fund the running of the scheme and the sending out of the cards.”

So far, almost 90 per cent of people who have signed up to the website have supplied their postal addresses so Mr Scammell does not envisage any problem sending out the cards.

“Before the cards are sent out, all members will sent an e-mail with a link to a registration area where they will have the chance to update or change their details.”

Mr Scammell also insisted, despite the scepticism of some Times Online readers, that he would not use the details he has accumulated to make money by spamming.

“Many companies have already approached us and offered money simply to send an email about promotions they are running but we have always declined. The only situation in which we would consider it is if the deal related to motoring and would benefit our members.”

To read the original blog on the pipelinecard scheme click here

For more ways to save on your petrol click here

Parking fines: the new council tax? Click here to join the debate

What is going on with house prices? Click here to find out

To read about Cahoot's money problems click here

Comments

[Gordon Pidcock]

Perhaps the principle of "proportionallity" should be an element of the penalty protocol for "illegal" parking. Where a motorist causes danger, (or obstruction), by cavalier parking, (often seen outside schools), then the penalty should be set so as to really deter the miscreants. If parking is sensibly possible and there are no reported problemssupporting the ticket, then that no parking order should be rescinded, on the authority receiving valid protests from, (say), more than six motorists.
It is apparent that some restrictions have to be made, but many of the "prohibitied" parking places are merely an attempt to extort money from the motorist.

[Malcolm Fowles]

A colleague told me about pipeline.com this morning. I looked through the site, and browsed the excellent range of comments on your original blog. But having read your follow-up, I think I'll wait until news arrives of cards being issued. Whether conspiracy or (more likely) cock-up, something looks not quite right.