⚠ HGV Operators — Risk Surcharge Warning
UK Fuels (operated by Radius) applies a risk-based pricing surcharge to accounts flagged as higher risk. For HGV and haulage operators, this surcharge has been reported at 25p–30p+ per litre above the quoted weekly price — applied immediately and without prior notice under the company's terms and conditions.
- Surcharge can be triggered by missed or late payments, credit reassessment, or account review — with no guaranteed advance warning
- Multiple HGV operators on forums report waking up to a surcharge already applied, with no explanation letter or call received
- At current diesel volumes, a 25p/litre surcharge on a 400-litre HGV fill adds £100 per fill to your fuel cost
- The surcharge cannot be retrospectively refunded once applied — dispute resolution requires escalation to the account team
- Subsequent surcharge changes after the initial application require only 7 days' notice under UK Fuels' published terms
What to do: Request written confirmation of your current pricing tier and the specific conditions under which a risk surcharge would be applied before signing. Ask for the surcharge trigger criteria in writing.
A loyal customer of 4–5 years praised finally getting a dedicated account manager ("Sasha") who is knowledgeable and communicates clearly, explaining things properly. This is a recurring theme — Trustpilot is dominated by glowing praise for individual staff members who go above and beyond.
Staff named "Rachel" described as friendly and resolving issues efficiently. Multiple reviewers say the support team is "super helpful and very efficient." The pattern of named-staff praise suggests a strong customer service culture internally.
Forum users warn to avoid UK Fuels and similar third-party card services, alleging prices are lower than what's actually charged at the pump ("they low-ball prices"), adding undisclosed admin fees on top. This concern — a divergence between quoted and actual costs — is the single most common critical complaint across forums.
A former customer closed their account due to overcharging and moved to Harvest/Keyfuels cards. Another user labelled UK Fuels "the worst company ever." Ripping off customers through excessive charges was the core complaint. Several posters had already switched away and were satisfied with alternatives.
A long-term user of the fuel card with no problems over many years. Receives a weekly email with the price for the week and settles weekly bills without issue. Straightforward, low-friction experience for a rural/fleet user — consistent with the Trustpilot majority view.
Independent industry reviewer scored UK Fuels 4.0/5. Pros: dedicated account manager, large motorway coverage, spending limits, PIN protection. Cons: coverage limited primarily to motorway stations — less useful for off-motorway drivers. Positioned as a solid but specialist product for fleet operators.
What customers praise
- Dedicated, responsive account managers
- 97% UK postcode coverage
- PIN protection & spending controls
- Weekly pricing transparency via email
- Long-established (since 1990)
- Owned by Radius — financial stability
What customers criticise
- Prices above quoted pump price
- Hidden or unexpected admin fees
- Coverage mainly on motorways
- Better-value alternatives exist (Keyfuels, Harvest)
- Forum users describe feeling overcharged
Summary verdict — 6.2 / 10
UK Fuels scores very strongly on Trustpilot (4.9/5 from over 10,000 reviews), reflecting a genuine culture of good customer service, particularly at the account management level. The 97% UK coverage and long track record since 1990 make it a credible option for business fleets.
However, independent forums and communities surface a consistent pattern of pricing concerns — notably that the card price at the pump can exceed what was quoted, and that admin fees add cost. These concerns come primarily from smaller operators and individual drivers who are more price-sensitive. Larger fleets with dedicated account managers appear to have a much better experience.
Best suited for: medium-to-large fleets prioritising coverage and account support over the lowest possible fuel price. Less suited for: price-focused operators or those needing off-motorway station access.