HOUSTON -- As part of a pilot project, all H-E-B fuel stations will have stickers with quick-response (QR) codes that can be scanned by smartphones. At fuel stations in Houston and Dallas, Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner Todd Staples unveiled the new sticker for all Texas fuel pumps to connect drivers to a new mobile website formatted for cell phones that identifies a driver's location, provides fuel station compliance information and enables consumers to easily file onsite complaints against gas stations that allegedly shortchange drivers.
It also allows consumers to access fuel pump inspection history.
The new consumer information stickers, which replace outdated stickers, feature the URL to the new TDA mobile fuel website, http://tda.cma.com, along with a contact number and email.
"We use smartphones to email, take photos, send tweets and now consumers can use them to file complaints directly with the Texas Department of Agriculture if they suspect they aren't getting what they paid for at the pump," Staples said. "The Lone Star State's more than 15 million motorists now have the tools to ensure they get true value for their dollar."
While 93% of all fuel pumps inspected in Texas are compliant with TDA regulations, the new fuel program updates will help target those retailers that prohibit the industry from achieving a perfect score, he added.
Representatives with the Texas Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (TPCA) are committed to ensuring consumers have confidence when purchasing motor fuels.
"TPCA supports commissioner Staples' newest program enhancements to ensure all fueling facilities are properly registered and maintained," TPCA president Chris Newton said. "Today's announcement is consistent with our organization's support of initiatives to maintain a level playing field for all competitors. Support of these initiatives ensures a vibrant, competitive fuels marketing industry that benefits the millions of consumers we serve each day throughout the state of Texas."
"We appreciate Commissioner Staples' leadership to ensure Texans are protected at the pump," said Cyndy Garza Roberts, H-E-B public affairs director. "We routinely inspect and monitor our fuel pumps so HEB customers can have confidence they are receiving exactly what they pay for every time they fill up."
The new stickers also inform consumers about the requirement for every fuel station to display a current TDA registration. If drivers find unregistered locations, they're encouraged to notify TDA immediately.
In addition to the new stickers, Commissioner Staples also increased many penalties and implemented a zero-tolerance policy for retailers who fail to register their devices:
- Failure to keep pump in accurate and proper working order: $250 (up from $100).
- Failure to register a new pump: minimum of $1,000 (quadrupled from $250).
- Failure of companies licensed to calibrate fuel pumps to immediately report new pump installations to TDA: $5,000 for each outlet (up from $500).
- Unregistered fuel retail locations will have all devices tagged out of order, prohibited from use in sales transactions and fined for failure to register with TDA.
- Additionally, fines for retailers that shortchange consumers have been doubled, tripled and in some instances even quadrupled.
"No Texan should be shortchanged out of their hard-earned money," Staples said. "We appreciate the vast majority of gas station owners who do business the right way and treat drivers fairly, but those companies not following the law will pay the price."
San Antonio, Texas-based H-E-B, with sales of more than $16 billion, operates 332 grocery stores, many offering gasoline, in Texas and Mexico.
Click here for additional details.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.