Irving offers customers rebate

Irving Oil customers who brought Supreme grade gasoline in New Brunswick will have a chance to get back some of the money they spent in recent months after a mix-up at the refinery.

Irving discovered Friday that a lower grade of fuel was being sold as Supreme.

The company has now launched a toll-free number and is inviting customers to call to work out an agreement for compensation.

"We'd basically like to take an approach that if our customers are telling us that they've been loyal Supreme gasoline buyers for the last several months, then we will honour that and work out a fair compensation based on that," said Mark Sherman, an Irving spokesperson.


The refund is equivalent to just over 3 cents per litre purchased since Jan. 1. Customers will be sent a gift card for that amount.

Sherman said he does not anticipate customers having to provide a receipt for all gasoline purchases.

The company said a broken valve at the refinery in Saint John was to blame for the error.

This week, Irving is selling all grades of gas at the same price until supplies are refreshed.

Irving also supplies other gas stations, such as Esso, PetroCanada and Ultramar.

Some of those companies have told CBC News they have ordered affected stations in the province to suspend sales of high-grade fuel for now. They said they will also consider a rebate program.

[IMG]http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2010/08/17/nb-irving-pumps.jpg[/IMG]
A mix-up at a refinery caused lower octane fuel to be sold as Supreme.


The toll-free line is 1-877-686-0792.

More information can be found online: [url]http://irvingoil.com/hotline/default.asp[/url]