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Golocatefuel scam or really bad..

22/11/2010 in 2. Heating oil, 3. Golocatefuel

Go locate fuel scam or just really really bad service?

Judging by reaction 90% of complainants are calling “Golocatefuel”  a scam.  Paying up front for oil that is never delivered.  Others do get fuel very very late having spent weeks constantly chasing.

It is hard to determine if it is a scam or just totally useless.  However, one major alert  suggesting it is a “scam” was a customer call to Golocatefuel to chase their order.  The telephone agent told them that Butler Fuels was the end supplier and payment had already been made to them.  On checking with Total Butler they confirmed they have no relationship with Golocatefuel and further confirmed they had not received an order or cash for the customer.

Other complaints seem to centre on poor performance and non delivery.  But this maybe because they are new and as yet have not got their distribution network in place.

Either way the advice is to avoid Golocate fuel completely.

For further information check out what is being said about Golocatefuel on Money Saving Expert

Update 15-12-10

Amid more complaints coming through we note with interest that a new “disclaimer” has been added to their website:

Link to this post!

 

  • Sylvieandavid

    Ordered 500lts 13th Dec 2010 £346.50p
    Money taken fromm account 15th Dec2010
    Cancelled order 10th Jan 2011 due to non-delivery and failure to confirm a delivery date
    Barclays Bank (Bless them) retrieved money 15th Feb 2011
    Dont touch this bunch of …………………s

  • Gergraham

    GoLocate Fuel have not delivered my fuel ordered 21 Jan 2011, they do not respond to telephone or email and jave now dropped they website. I am claiming my money paid back via debit card charge back scheme at my bank…this is clearly a scam and more worrying is that they now have bank information on all those who have purchesd from them and this infrmation could be used forr further fraud activity

  • Jo

    I ordered 1000 litres of fuel on 8th December 2010 and paid £724.50. I did not receive any oil even though they took the money from my account o 10th December 2010. As at 7th January 2011 I still had not received any oil! I emailed to cancel the order and they said it would take 30 days to give me my refund. It is now the 26th February 2011 and even though I have chased them via email more times than I can remember, I have still not had my money back. I have contacted consumre direct and they have contacted Lancashire County Council Trading Standards on my behalf but I havent heard anything and am really worried that I will never get my money back. i paid by Visa debit and so cannot get a charge back form my bank. Can someone advise me how I pursue this through small claims as I dont know what else to do?

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    Hi June, I have sent you an email but the best advice, to get your money back, is to contact actionfraud.co.uk they will give you a crime number which should up the refund process. Essentially they will not need to investigate as you will already have a crime number. Others have got a refund immediately by doing this.

    Let us know how you get on. Charles

  • JuneHM

    At last the website is down and no-one else is loosing their money.

    I am 78 and have an arthritic condition and osteoporosis, my husband who is bedridden is 80 and our daughter has severe ME. We Ordered 1000 litres kerosene on 27 January 2011 for £577.50 – cancelled 3 February after we realised the company were misrepresenting “express delivery” – when Ben Miles told us it was actually a 2 – 3 week delivery period. Never had any reply from them since and no answer to the phone. E mails were “delayed” to Ben’s address ben@golocatefuel.co.uk yesterday.

    A trip to the Halifax yesterday was enlightening – they do not treat this as fraud as we gave our card details – it is being handled as a “dispute” but no guarantee we will get our money back. I found later they are signed up to Visa Debit chargeback but when you look at the Visa website it says “subject to your banks terms and conditions”. I have looked through all the terms and conditions I can find and there is no mention of chargeback nor does a search of their site provide any. Has anyone been refunded by the Halifax who paid with a Visa Debit card? Or does anyone have details of their chargeback terms and conditions? They did cancel our card – because golocatefuel.co.uk is obviously dealing fraudulently in legal terms if not the banks – so at least they cannot add any further charges against our bank account.

    We just don’t have spare money only a state pension and have had to use food money for the next month to order the smallest quantity we can buy (500 litres) and so are paying even more per litre. Worse still the oil ran out last night – it is freezing cold and I just can’t stop crying.

    I just hope someone is tracking the activities of the owner of the company – I contacted Watchdog and am filling in the ActionFraud report form today – looks like the best chance someone will.

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    The website is no more. Having checked this morning the website is “not found”. Which is great news.. We won the battle but I do not think we have won the war as I suspect they probably already have more websites. Do not buy unless you know who the end supplier is and that you have a concrete contract in place. So check the terms and conditions before parting with your money.

  • Candy

    Same here, I’m afraid. Have reported them to trading standards and at actionfraud.org.uk who at least give you a crime reference number. Their website is still active & giving quotes – anyone know how to get it shut down?

    Repeat: DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!

  • Piph_18

    I order 500 litres of heating oil in November and was told it would take 10-15 working days to be delivered when this did not happen I contact go locate fuel and was told problem with supplier and that my order was considered of lower priority and I could pay £75 to make it high priority. I did not do this and was told I had to wait. I continued to contact them and nothing was being done, I was told the oil would not be here until the new year so when the new year came round I contact them again and was told it would take a further 6-8 weeks for delivery, I could not wait this long as I had no heating or hot water and my house was getting damp and mould was appearing, I needed the refund to buy oil from a real oil company. when I asked for a refund I was told that it would take 30 days so again had no choose but to wait, so when 20 days had passed I emailed Ben and asked him to confirm that I would have my money in the 10 days remaining, he ensured me that I would. 30 days passed and no refund so I emailed them again and no reply I contact them through the contact us link on the web page and no reply and I called the on the number on the website and it just ring and rings and I am now out of options. There are many people in this situation just type go locate fuel in to google and see the many complaints.

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    Hi David,As per my e-mail to you call your bank tell them that you suspect fraud and if you paid by card within 120 days you will get your money back from them and they will pursue GLF.

  • David Hawkins

    Hi Doe’s anyone have a email address for go locate I order 1500lts of heating no oil, no reply from my emails on there site, and no answer from there telephone.Can anyone help.

  • Paul

    Debit card users can still claim money back!

    You may not know that visa debit card users can still claim an unlimited sum as long as they claim within 120 days. Call your bank. Here’s what it states on the ‘this is money’ website:

    ‘Visa debit cards offer better protection than Maestro cards as Visa uses a ‘debit chargeback’ scheme, offering similar protections to the Act: you can claim money back if your goods are lost or damaged or the service was not delivered, up to a limitless amount. However, you must make a claim within 120 days of the date the goods were supposed to be delivered or the company going bust’.

  • Paul

    LOTS OF INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND HOW TO GET A REFUND

    I am afraid these people seem to be out of business – but there is a light at the end of the tunnel – read on for more.

    Here’s what I know:
    - Owner = Mr Christopher Turner
    Want to see this total git? Copy and amend this url because i can’t put a proper url into this chat as i hvent posted enough times:

    www thisislancashire co.uk/news/4662608.Tenant_deal_spark s_hope_for_Rawtenstall_bu siness_park/

    - Registered business number: 05548961
    - People who work there are liz at golocatefuel.co.uk, peter at golocatefuel.co.uk, ben at golocatefuel.co.uk, chris at golocatefuel.co.uk

    I have spoken to the following people:
    Chris at Home Fuels Direct (01642 700 725) they were a supplier but haven’t heard from go locate fuel in two weeks so believe they are out of business.

    Go locate’s website is registered to Global Technologies Ltd. Their details are: Unit, 8, New Hall Hey Business Centre, New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale, Lancs, BB4 6HL – Tel 01706 217 462. I’ve tried that number but no luck. They had/have a revenue of £6.7m (type in ‘Global Technologies Ltd Rawtenstall business park’ into google to see this file – provided on ‘WhatDoTheyKnow’ website).

    The agency that manages the address they advertise on their web site is www hurstwoodholdings com but they do not have go locate listed as a client. This agency have been contacted by quite a few people looking for go locate. They are registered in this building as Global Technologies and the agents believe that they may well have left.

    Their website was built by Zen Internet – 0845 058 9000. I’ve contacted them to try and get the site taken down and someone in accounts is trying to contact them. If they get no response then they will be (hopefully) closing the site.

    Oh – and I have contacted my bank (HSBC) who have totally awesome!!! They are temporarily repaying the money to me, then chasing go locate fuels bank for the money. if go locate can’t prove I had the oil then they have to pay HSBC back! How cool is that?

    HSBC have stated that if his bank can’t prove (via go locate) that i got my fuel then the bank have no option to give the money back. This is because all visa debit card payments are insured as long as you claim within 120 days.

  • Lisa Pickersgill

    Hi am suffering with the exact same problem. Ordered same date as you, sent emails and phoned no answer no reply am fed up!

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    You should call your bank to get your money back. Golocatefuel seem to have “done a runner”?

  • Susan Atkinson

    I have tried, without success to contact golocate fuel to find out when our order is likely to be delivered – it was placed on 28th January – no-one answers the telephone or responds to e-mails – am thoroughly fed up.

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    This has to be one of the most harrowing stories we have come across yet. It is probably just as well you do not live closer as it would add to your difficulties. Use the contact I sent you via e-mail.

  • Graham

    DO NOT , I REPEAT DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY.
    I ordered oil on the 1st Dec 2010 recieved it on the 19th of Jan 2011.
    I ordered express delivery after being rung up to say I could have it in the week.
    It never arrived, I wasnt there to shut down and drain the pipes when the oil ran out, I was looking after my terminally ill father who died on the 19th of Dec. I came home on the 23rd to find the house totally frozen including the toilet cisterns, 3 smashed radiators, 8 bursts, damaged boiler. Therefore I couldnt be at home over xmas and new year. I couldnt get through to them and when I did they didnt know who, or wouldnt tell me who was the supplier and didnt know when it would arrive. I am writing to them in the hope I can get some compensation but I wont hold my breath.
    I can tell you if I lived nearer to their business premises I would be seriously considering taking a sledgehammer to their cars……

    Local newspapers to contact next and watchdog….

  • Fiona

    Oh help…… I ordered from Go locate on 14 Jan for my old dad. Thought I was doing him a favour by getting a good price on the internet…. needless to say no fuel and no answers to emails and the phone is never answered. I am going back to Visa to lodge a dispute.

  • Liz

    We had the same problem, ordering before Christmas. After contacting Trading Standards, who told us exactly what to write, we received delivery – about 4 weeks after the order on Express! We did also receive a letter of apology from Golocate, I think because of the threat of legal action.
    We shan’t be ordering from them again!

  • Gill

    Many thanks for this information. I’ve tried to phone again today, still no reply.
    Has anyone living in that area tried calling at their offices to see if they are still there and operating?

  • http://www.seo-services-uk.co.uk/ Charles

    Hi Gill, we have just tried to call them ourselves to investigate further but we too are not getting an answer. we have looked into their registration details and the address given is:

    Ground Floor, New Hall Hey Business Centre
    New Hall Hey Road
    Rawtenstall
    Rossendale
    BB4 6HL
    United Kingdom

    Their company registration number is 5548961:

    GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    GROUND FLOOR NEW HALL HEY BUSINESS PARK
    NEW HALL HEY ROAD
    ROSSENDALE
    LANCASHIRE
    UNITED KINGDOM
    BB4 6HL

    As others have mentioned, if you paid by card, speak to your bank and explain the situation to them. They should investigate it as a fraud and you should get your money back. But we are not experts in the banking field.

    We will however continue trying to contact the company and to ask them why they are treating their customers so badly.

  • Cherryl

    I ordered oil on the 14th January on Express and on the day it was due I tried to contact Go Locate to see what time the arrival would be as it was getting late in the day and there was no answer. Tried numerous times and emailing, but nothing. Continued to try over the following days then was getting very concerned as levels were getting very low. Started searching on internet to see if I could see if they had gone out of business and came across several sites of complaints again them. Very enlightening, I could kick myself, why didn’t I look prior to ordering from them.

    There is a contact number on here for Home Fuels Direct which is apparently one of their suppliers, so I contacted them. They haven’t been able to contact them either and haven’t had contact from them for some time, which I find VERY strange if they are still trading surely they’d be forwarding orders onto them?!?!?!

    I have just contacted my bank as I paid via Visa Debit, and they are investigating it now and siad the money should be back in my account within 48 hours. I won’t hold my breath, but will have my fingers crossed. Then I can ordered some fuel off a company that haopefully may deliver. Any recommendations??????

  • Gill

    We ordered oil on 29th January. I started to get a bad feeling about this company and have tried to phone, but get no reply. I have also emailed them but no reply. Any advice or help would be welcome.

  • Chris

    Dear all,

    I would be interested to hear the final outcomes of all of your cases as I may be able to raise awareness of these issues in the media. If you are happy to do so, please email me at uk_energy@yahoo.co.uk.

    Many thanks …Chris

  • Dav Cormack

    Same here, will give you any help. I ordered oil Dec 19th and still waiting, Ben says it should be within the next 2 weeks, i e-mailed him yesterday cancelling my order and it’s the only e-mail of many i have sent that he has not replied to. I also contacted my CCard company to ask them to persue my refund, but they said because i had already cancelled they couldn’t do much about it unless he does not refund or deliver the oil. I explained i didn’t want the oil now after all this time, especially as it’s droped almost 20p since i ordered it.

  • Jeanette Brook

    I ordered and naturally paid for 1000l of oil 17/12 express delivery; still waiting I’ve been repeatedly promised ‘before next week’, I explained that I have two 90yr olds living here so running of of fuel is not an inconvenience its dangerous. We have now ran out of fuel, Ben Miles the manager was very sympathetic and suggested that we order from elsewhere as the old people might die! Ben has cancelled my order as they can’t meet my needs. My money could not be refunded for 30 days…Where do I find several hundred pounds from?

  • Wenange

    Like many others I foolishly ordered online from this company. I wish I had read some of these comments first!! The website is unclear that the cheapest fuel is economy and can take up to a month for delivery. I chased them up today and was given this information and that I could expect delivery up to a month after placing my original order. However for a payment of a further £25 I could expect delivery before 6th Feb. The gentleman called back later to say delivery couldn’t be made before 8/9 Feb. I thought they had me over a barrel (pardon the pun) so I agreed. Having had time to think about it I contacted another supplier who promised delivery next week and cheaper! I subsequently rang golocate to cancel my order only to be told that it would take 30 days to reimburse my money although it was taken from my bank on the day I placed the order 16 Jan. They couldn’t tell me who the supplier would be nor confirm when delivery would be made. I don’t know whether I’ll get my money back and being a pensioner I can ill afford to lose it but be warned check with other suppliers first I think golocate is a dodgy company.

  • Chris

    Considering the same thing – Don’t care if I don’t get any money back – It’s the principle of the thing. Early days I know, but any significant progress as yet? Be gald to add weight to the case if of any help!

  • Chris

    Unfortunately, I too can add to this long list of complainants. All of the things said previously apply to my case also. Interestingly, when the oil was finally delivered after 5 weeks of waiting and constant communication, I find out that it was only ordered 3 days prior to delivery when fuel prices had dropped by 10% over the intervening period.

    Ben (Idon’tknowhowhecansleepatnight) is quick to say we have hundreds of customers every week and we only make 50p to £1 on each deal. Well, when I pointed out that they had made about £100 on the drop in fuel prices and could I expect my £99 refund?

    Do I really need to tell you the answer I got!

    It is time that this company is closed down – What the hell is Trading Standards for? – They do absolutely nothing!

  • Fergus19772

    Hurrah, Got my money back, will never use this company again.

  • Alandted

    I have begun legal action against Go Locate as I did finally get my money back, but it was longer than 30 days, therefore they are in breach of contract under the Distance Selling Regulations 2000. They also refused to tell me who my supplier was – another breach under the act.

    Watch this space – I will keep you updated.

  • sallyb

    i ordered fuel on 7th Jan, 3-5 working days, + still hasn’t arrived. Have cancelled order and been told via email that payment is with “supplier”and to expect it in approx. 30 days. Thank you for the previous blogs which have helped me because i got on to the bank. If you paid with visa or visa debit, your bank will get you refunded as long as you claim within 120 days

  • Helen Brunton

    We ordered fuel on the 30th November 2010 paying nearly £700 and stupidly believed Go-Locate Fuels website of delivery within 10 days. It is now January and still no fuel, we have been without fuel for weeks, suffered burst pipes and had a miserable Christmas! We have made several calls and sent e-mails to the company and they always stall for time.
    DO NOT USE GO-LOCATE FUEL
    I have contacted a consumer advice line and got very little satisfaction, but will be putting pressure on Trading Standards tomorrow after reading all the comments on this site (we thought we were the only ones). This is surely a scam! If I get no satisfaction with Trading Standards I will be contacting the police as to whether this can be investigated as a criminal offence by their internet fraud section (it suggests this when suppliers have not even heard of Go-Locate Fuel).
    I am now going to contact BBC Watchdog website and would love as many people to do this as possible – the address is http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/
    Helen

  • kj

    when getting quotes for oil be wary if it seems too cheap, i was weary when i got a quote from golocate for £213 for 500ltr when every where else was at least £230 so i thought id check them out before placing an order and have found all this, glad i didnt give them my money.
    GOLOCATE IS A SCAM and if its not a scam they are completely useless so no point in ordering from them cheats.

  • http://golocatefuel David Galvin

    Do not use these people.

    They cannot say where the fuel is coming from and neither can they when it is going to be delivered. They are selling heating oil that isn’t theirs to sell.

    BEWARE AND DO NOT PAY THEM.

  • Gordon Fergus-Higgins

    I too ordered oil through this firm and used my cold weather payment to pay for it. Told them we had no oil and disabled, but did not seam bothered. I have waited over A month, kept getting fobbed of with excuses, told my order was placed with the suplier. I have contacted all the local firms and none have heard of go locate. got oil delivered by A local firm at extra expense, but arrived within 2 days. I have contacted Rip off Britain. I would never recomend this company. They are A bunch of rip off merchants. I am A pensioner and can not afford this loss.

  • Sean Boyle

    Following constant telephone calls today golocate admitted that they were unable to fulfil my order and offered me a full refund.
    However having seen the blogs I asked when I would receive my monies. The rep said he was unable to say for sure as it was passed through their accounts department but should be within ten days. I will wait for that period before chasing again.
    Meanwhile I have had to top up my tank physically and order oil elsewhere at an extra cost of approx £150.
    To say I would not reccomend Go Locate would be an understatement!

  • Sean Boyle

    Hi,
    Similar to Alex’s situation i’m afraid. I placed an order 20th Nov that has still not arrived.
    When I called to complain and ask when it would be delivered I spoke to a very unhelpful person who identified himself as Jay. He was totally non-comital and when asked if he could make a telephone call to the supplier and let me know when my oil would be delivered he refused. He also refused to provide me with the name or phone number of the supplier, continually over talked me and eventually terminated my call.

    I have sent the company (if we can call them that) an e-mail requesting guarenteed delivery by thursday or if can’t be guarenteed my money back so I can go elsewhere. Like Alex though i will encur more cost as the price of oil has gone up since I placed my order!

    My advice to anyone would be to avoid this company like the plague!

    Sean

  • Nyall Davies

    I received the same treatment as the thread indicates on MoneySavingExpert. No oil arrives. As you don’t have a delivery date it is 3 weeks before you contact. They agree to ring back but don’t. You catch up a week later and they ring back straight away. Their supplier has let them down (surprise) They will get another supplier onto it but it will cost more. On principle I said no. You’ll get your money back in 10 days. 12 days later no money. Now they say it takes 30 days plus 10 due to streamline. As I had only a total of 60 days to claim on my credit card that time would have run out so I claimed anyway. The credit card company says that I will have it within ten days. Go Locate are clearly playing for time, IT HAS TO BE A SCAM of sorts. I have reported them to consumer direct. DON’T USE GO LOCATE

  • alex wells

    Go Locate have had my money since 24th October.

    They will no longer return my calls or emails, I have had to involve Trading Standards (who aren’t being very helpful, I may add)
    I am going to take a Civil Action against them for the extra I have had to pay, as fuel has gone up since I ordered it, also the extra cost of electric to heat my home after I ran out 3.5 weeks after I ordered it.

    The few times that I did get through on the phone, operatives were obstructive and vague, but I have no oil, no refund. and am extremely frustrated!!!