KRIS

Far from being a revolutionist, because I`m not BUT I am fed up with the price of petrol. I know theres another thread running but thats got very boring.I had the same e mail so the message is simple

BOYCOTT THE PUMPS ON 1st AUGUST


K

P.S. Theres no reason to reply, just read it and pass it on

Subarussian

Actually it's the 1st of every month so you can already start in July!

Don't debate it - do it!

"Red Andrei"

[This message has been edited by Subarussian (edited 26-06-2000).]

SDB

I think I may have missed something.

How will this help?

surely it won't mean we will buy less petrol, just that we will buy more on the 2nd?

I would LOVE to do something that would make them lower the tax on petrol, but I fail to see how this will help?

I am genuinely willing to be enlightened though, as I have heard so much of this that I must just be confused?

Cheers

Simon

Ian Sutton

You need yesterdays SUN newspaper by boycotting the pumps on the 1st of each month it effects (apparently) the delivery times, out put and cash flows of the oil companies.

They did it in the U.S from state to state and forced the price of petrol down on the back of it.So it must work.

...Ian

robski

But in the UK the main problem is the price of the tax on the fuel, not the oil companies themselves charging over the top?

So we will cause them cash flow probs, they will raise prices to cover the lost revenue and increased costs, the 500% tax will be added and we will be worse off.

You aint going to change anything this way.

robski

Andy Hall

Well, its only one day, and the likelyhood of really NEEDING to fill up is probably fairly small even in a scoob. Why not give it a try, there is nothing to loose, as has been said it worked in the States, so if it works there I'm sure "Our Tony" will follow suit. If not then lets try something else, like blockading Parliament Square, but probably best to start more subtly.

Just my 2p worth
Andy

Fosters

The sun actually said, every monday.

Ian Sutton

Or you could dig up your front garden insert a lagre tank and have the petrol firm deliever direct so you have your own pump thus cheaper petrol.

Although you may find it hard trying to buy Polos and the Sunday Times from your lounge window.

Yep i've gone bonkers! :P

....Ian

HunterB

Check out

SDB

LOL @ Ian

Thanks for the enlightenment, I didn't think about the delivery schedules, although...

The schedules would only be thrown out if the delivery was scheduled for that actual day or the next. After that, the demand would have been rectified and the same amount of fuel would have been used.

Do we know for SURE that it was done and worked in the states? I have seen an email which came round, but I would be interested to know if it REALLY happened, and the reasons why it worked.

I agree though, that the petrol companies have a far stronger arm than we do, so upsetting them, may get them to put enough pressure on the government. It would be nice to find a way that didn't effect them though, as it is not their fault.

There must be some great ideas out there which hasn't come to light???

Cheers

Simon

Chris L

If anyone is interested the link for the campaign site is

BHORT

Wouldn't the best thing to do be to boycott one particular manufacture on a National basis until they are forced to lower prices to encourage people back, hopefully all the other companies should then decrease theirs. If the price went backup then boycott a different one until prices are generally lower and so on.

Of course we could always put something nasty in John Prescott's Jag's tanks

Brendan

Basil

Sorry guys, but it didn't happen here in the states - it's an urban legend stemming from an anonymous e-mail.. Check out this link:

SDB

Actually...

BHORT's onto something....

I don't think it is quite there yet (as it would be a shame to destroy the sales of a particular company), but at least with his idea, someone is actually loosing something.

Although it is not the petrol companies who need to reduce their rates, they are the ones who can put most pressure on the government.

IDEA
----
Maybe we should consider something like this...

For one week out of 4, we boycott a particular company (BP one week, ESSO the next, etc).

This will have an effect (if enough people do it) on it's own, but...
If we make an effort to use the smaller companies wherever possible as well, so we are less likely to use the big names, even if it is not 'their week'.

Maybe this would have enough effect to cause them to kick up?

Any ideas?

Cheers

Simon

BarryK

I am led to believe by a former HM customs & Excise chap, that they'd "feel" one day, but if the boycott could be made to last for 3 days, say every month, the effect on major oil companies would be nigh on catastrophic as this is very much a fast turnaround industry very dependant on cash flow to cover duty payments etc.

Subarussian

3 days is about the max I can manage on one tank. I'd support this idea or any other one because I am really p1ssed off

I like the idea of boycotting just one company. In this case the action can last for days, weeks, months... OK it's not fair on that one company but the pressure on them will be much stronger so they'll be forced to act quicker!

Triggaaar

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Simon de Banke:
<B>Although it is not the petrol companies who need to reduce their rates, they are the ones who can put most pressure on the government.
[/quote]

Couldn't agree more.

I don't think we should necessarily move away from big companies (some of us trust their fuel quality) - just boycott them one at a time (like you said).

I was glad to see the debate on GMTV this morning - they pointed out that someone earning £10k, doing 16,000 miles a year, at 35mpg, paid more tax on fuel than income tax - wow - even if you've got a salary way above that, you're still paying a huge amount (not many on this board get near 35mpg).

A few years ago, few of us really believed that importing would force uk car prices down as it has. This will work if enough people do it (it could also make tax on fuel a vote winner for the main parties).

Neil Smalley

What was the result of this debate. Let me guess. Some govt minister said. "The duty of fuel is calculated on the basis of the environmental harm it causes."

The oil company rep said "It's not us it's the govt"

And Eamon and bimbo presenter just nodded whistfully in that 'I'm ok I earn a million a year so i'm exempt from anything but I DO so feel for you little people' way...

Not being too cynical am I?

SDB

I like where this is going...

I have a great "add-on" idea...

I we boycott one company, say for a week, then move to the next....

We should send a letter to that company explaining that after fuel taxes are cut, we will make efforts to use them over other companies until the balance has returned. This does two things...

1) Doesn't (as much) harm the individual companies.

2) Give them an extra incentive to get the taxes sorted.

Regards

Simon

Showtime

This is gathering momentum, Chris Tarrant did a feature on this on air this morning (Capital)...worth a go this is, puplic opinion is mounting and now that radio has it, well...do your bit guys.

stratman

I am in favour of any boycott that will shake us Brits out of our apathetic state. Look at the achievement of the Top Gear campaign by making the public aware of the Great British Car rip-off. Hopefully the same could apply to the fuel rip-off too.

Now I know some will say that the Government would be forced to recoup lost revenue by other means but as far as I am concerned they should do this by charging £10 for a packet of ****! or by closing the loop holes exploited by Britains companies and fat-cat executives.

I wouldnt mind if some of the petrol tax revenue was ploughed back into improved roads maintenance, new roads, more car parks etc.

Opps..... sorry I sound like I am ranting. Better shut up

Cheers, Stratman

Kempo

This is a good idea in principle but how easy would it be to actually rally enough people to make a difference across the country? Think about all the company car drivers who, and this is not a dig honest , re-claim or better still make on their petrol usage and the mums on the shopping run who are only worried about filling up the family runabout. These would far out weigh the "protestors" boycotting the pumps.

I (personally) think that writing to the transport minister or even better signing petitions would have more impact. We could demand to know why Britain has the highest fuel prices in Europe, the highest % of tax, poor roads. It is clear that the tax revenue is not spent on improving the roads and yet there is no alternative to the car. I get the train to work but it would simply not be practical to not own the car, and use it!!

Granted, something needs to be done to ease congestion and cut pollution but they know raising the price of petrol won't stop car usage and they will just get even more money from us!

Triggaaar

Neil,
No, I think your cynism is understandable - they didn't have a debate (oil company and govt rep) where 'fy ona' does her nails, they were just reporting stats.

The press are stating 1st Aug, and each Monday - I think we would be better boycotting companies 1 at a time, but I will follow the general decision even if I don't think it will work, as this needs everyones backing.

Simon,
You say that we should boycott companies 1 at a time(which I agree with), for say a week each, but you also say we should send a letter to that company explaining that after fuel taxes are cut, we will make efforts to use them over other companies - if we're boycotting all the companies in turn, we can't then be loyal to all off them. I wouldn't bother with the letter - if enough people do this, they would know why, and they would have to put pressure on the government, as it will really mess up their distrubution and cash flow.

Kempo,
This affects company car drivers too - the more the company are charged for the petrol, the less they will spend on your car. Also, those with company cars often have partners who pay for their own fuel - and many who are pi55ed off with rip-off britain will join in anyway, especially if it is easy - and boycotting one company is easier than not filling up for one day.

Richard F

Round my way there's only one garage (Esso) that sell SUL with the nearest other brand being 30 mins away. I've got an STi 5 which I've always run on SUL and I'm not about to change it. This doesn't give me much scope for protest...

Triggaaar

Richard,

You have an excuse to take an hour drive - what's your problem?

It will only affect you when ESSO are on the list - just do your best to time it right.

Richard F

heheh

Hadn't thought of it like that....

BHORT

In addition to boycotting a company don't forget to write to your MP whoever that is and state that you will only vote for whoever reduces fuel tax regardless of other issues. This could be telling porkys but that never stopped MPs

Brendan

Yex

Been having a little play on the discussion group of the 'boycott the pumps' website. I mentioned the idea raised here about picking on one supplier for a few days, then another and was accused of vitimisation

Anyway, it appears that SkyNews have been mentioning the site almost every hour and have raised the media interest considerably. Lets just hope that from all the ideas and good intentions an organised protest of some kind can be put together so us poor buggers who get victimised every time we fill up can have our say at last

Yex

Sith

Errrr, I'm confused. Lets say we have three companies, Esso, Shell and BP. Now we boycott Esso. The Government still get the same revenue through us going to Shell or BP. Therefore the Treasury and 2 Jags et al are happy. Esso are sad, they have lost out on their cash, they put up the prices a little to recoup the losses. IMO the only way to hit out is to not buy petrol for as long as possible, or use less. This hits all petrol stations and the goverment loose large amounts of revenue. If you can use the train etc without it being too much of an inconvenience, it will proove 2 things, we will not stand for the tax and that the transport system couldn't handle all the extra passangers.

I stand ready for any verbal!

NickF

I repeat the comment I made on the previous fuel cost thread - how else would Sir like to pay his tax?

Regardless of the rights and wrongs, the government have banked on raising a certain amount of cash this year. If (and it's a big if) you boycotters manage to in some way to upset the goverment to the extent that they reduce the fuel taxes, they'll seek to recover that some other way.