Netherlands Fuel Ration Program
The Dutch Government approached the Exchange in 2001 and requested to replace the coupon system with a card program for the purchase of tax free fuel. Due to the priority of the Germany ESSO Card program, they were advised that a card program for the Netherlands would be developed after the initiation of the Germany card program. It is the view of the Dutch Government that VAT and duty free fuel is a privilege, and not a right and that more stringent procedures and control mechanism were needed to provide greater visibility of individual transactions and to reduce the possibility of fraud.
Discussion ceased for many years until the beginning of 2010. Since then there have been multiple discussions with the Dutch Government on the proposed card program and the best way to implement the program. Early in 2014 ESSO advised the Exchange that they wanted to get out of the coupon program in the Netherlands by January 2016, as it was too labor intensive with only a small income to the ESSO Stations. Only a hand full ESSO Stations were still willing to participate (14 out of over 330 Stations) in the program at that time. This number will reduce to 0 by January 2016 with no other mechanism to purchase tax free fuel on and off Post/Base in The Netherlands. The Exchange identified a contractor to oversee the fuel card administration and in April 2015 the Dutch Government and the Exchange finally agreed on the new program. Please note that the new card program for The Netherlands greatly differs from the Germany card program.
Under the new program the fuel card will work at ALL (over 330 – including the unmanned stations) Dutch ESSO Stations. The fuel card will be tied to Military Star - requiring all customers to have Military Star Account. Development and programming has been ongoing since June 2015 and as of 1 January 2016 all authorized customers wishing to purchase fuel in The Netherlands will have to be converted to the card program.
How will the gas card work?
The gas card will be tied to the customers Military Star account. The customer will complete the application, Terms and Conditions and POV/STV rules and the fuel card will be issued at the Brunssum Retail Store or Volkel Retail Store. The card is immediately active upon receipt. A PIN mailer is issued to the customer with the card. The 4 digit PIN number is necessary for all transactions at the Netherlands ESSO Stations. Customer will drive up to the gas station, fuel up their vehicle and then go inside to pay (at manned stations). Inside they will present their fuel card. The purchase will be totaled and the fuel card will be swiped, and will require the customer to enter the 4 digit PIN number. The transaction is then completed and the customer signs for the purchase. The customer will receive a receipt with only the Euro price printed. No payment will take place at the time of the transaction. The transactions are extracted daily and transmitted to the fuel card company for all necessary checks and balances. At that time it is decided whether the customer should be charged the tax free price or the taxed price and the transaction will post to the customers Military Star account within 24 to 72 hours.