“Petrol” staff are targeting and stealing from Romanians

Paul_RO

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I recently drove into Bulgaria from Romania through the border at Giurgiu / Ruse. One of the first things I needed to purchase was a Vignette for the car. At the official point at the border where you purchase them, I was told to go to the first “Petrol” service station, I thought this was a little strange but carried on.

When I arrived, there were two other Romanian’s in front of me when they asked how much they were, they were told 100 RON (25 EUR), which is Romanian currency and not Euro, or Bulgarian Leva. They both handed the money over for the one-month Vignette and so did I (they thought I was Romanian) 200 RON (50 EUR) for the two company cars I had with me. When I asked for a receipt, I was told the Vignette was the receipt.

When I reached Shuman, I met an Army Officer friend for a cup of coffee and I said I think we were over charged. He confirmed we had all paid double the price and when he asked about the receipt, I said we only have the Vignette, he said that is common practice so the Police can extort money from you as you must have a separate receipt with you.

With all this in mind I thought being British I don’t accept things as easy as many Romanian’s and I would certainly go back there in 2 weeks when I was leaving Bulgaria.

On my return, I stopped at the “Petrol” service station took photographs outside and then went in. To the staff I said do you understand English and they said yes so I told them to listen very carefully. As you double charged me 2 weeks ago and did not provide a receipt, I am going to do the following:

1. Contact “Petrol” and inform them that boarder service station is corrupt and stealing from Romanians.

2. Submit a report to the EU anti-corruption department in Brussels.

3. Publish their activity all over the internet, which if Romanians and Romanian companies boycott “Petrol” service station it could cost “Petrol” thousand of euros.

They panicked tried to make phone calls and from a box under the cash register returned my 200 RON (Romanian currency) to keep me quiet.

I suspect they are all in on this fraud at the “Petrol” service station as well with the officials at the boarder who should issue the Vignettes as well as the Police.

This type of activity is very sad.

jjmmdd

Thank you

A good and informative post

I hope anyone crossing the borders will have read this and beware

The receipt is the most important part by the sounds of it, or you might get stung twice

Paul_RO

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From another forum:

Hi Paul,

something similar did happen to me too, last year. They tried to charge the double price at Ruse boarder crossing for the road tax without giving a receipt. That time I refused to pay.
Another time, exiting the country, I was offered to pay half of the bridge tax if I do not need a receipt.

Thanks for informing about this practice. I hope your claim at the EU will lead to some success.

Christian

Also I have just had the following reply posted by a Romanian in one of the other forums:

Thank you very much .. this is very berave and considerate to do .. there are more people observing those kind of things but do nothing about that ..

I had a simmilar experience with the border police ... they took my passport and just asked me for money .. many Romanian people take this for normal .. and pay everythig .. this is not normal .. when I said for what are you asking me money .. passing taxes they said .. so .. I said what kind of taxes are that? because there is no country doing that .. the person then said Ok. wait here outside .. gave me my passport back and one other came and said to go on because I am done.. so did not charged me any more ..

This is very sad .. indeed ..
This must stop ..

Thanks again ..
Gabriel C.

Johntom

Hi, read your message on petrol, I am coming over to Bulgaria next year for a look at country with a view to live there, i know nothing of the country and did not understand your message. is petrol a service station or a brand name ie Esso or BP. What is this viginette and are all officials corrupt. I have bought a bit of land near Burgas, and if it is all bad for expats cant expect an easy ride from the country. Regards johntom

Paul_RO

Hi Johntom,

"Petrol" is a brand of petrol stations like Esso and BP.

The Viginette is like a road tax (windscreen sticker) and you have to get them in many countries as you drive across Europe. If you don't have them and the receipt, its an expensive penalty.

Bulgaria is a corrupt country as is Romania and they rank 1 & 2 within the EU, but things are slowy changing. I do like Bulgaria and the Black Sea Resorts are great (better then Romania) the country is cleaner and the standard of driving is slightly better than Romania.

Feel free to contact me anytime.

Regards,

Paul_RO