URGENT UPDATE: Canberra drivers are facing alarming accusations of fuel theft due to a mix-up with identical registration plates. Retired public servant Phil Aungles, 66, was recently denied petrol at an Ampol service station in Weston, falsely accused of committing a drive-off.
Aungles was shocked when he was called out over the loudspeaker, only to learn that another vehicle with the same registration plate had filled up in Central Coast, NSW, 18 months prior and left without paying a $40 bill. “Never in my life have I not paid for fuel,” he told The Canberra Times. The incident highlights a growing concern among ACT drivers, who are being wrongly flagged as non-payers by fuel operators due to duplicate plates registered in neighboring NSW.
In a similar case, school teacher Cris Wright, 41, faced humiliation when staff at a Shell Coles Express in Deakin refused to serve her, claiming she was a “runner” for a previous fuel theft. “I wouldn’t do a runner for that amount. I’d do a runner for a million at least,” Wright remarked, frustrated by the lack of evidence presented by the staff.
These accusations are not isolated; both Aungles and Wright are among a small group of Canberra residents who have been wrongfully identified due to the twin registration system. Aungles had to deal with a series of toll notices from Linkt for driving on the M4 motorway in Sydney. Despite successfully disputing those notices, he received further toll charges, which he believes were also linked to his license plate doppelganger.
Authorities have yet to comment on the growing issue. Aungles reported the mix-up to Ampol, who swiftly apologized and removed him from the non-payers list.
As fuel operators struggle with the implications of duplicated registration plates, it raises significant questions about how to manage these discrepancies and protect innocent drivers from wrongful accusations. Residents are urged to check their registration information regularly and report any issues immediately to avoid similar situations.
WHAT’S NEXT: Drivers in Canberra are advised to remain vigilant and report any accusations of fuel theft to the relevant authorities. With the growing number of complaints, it’s crucial for fuel operators to enhance their systems to prevent further wrongful accusations and protect their customers’ reputations.
