Shell has joined forces with not for profit organisation fuelService to help drivers with disabilities receive assistance at the majority of its service stations. That’s because filling-up the car is one of the biggest challenges for the UK’s disabled drivers.
“Disabled drivers have always struggled to get their cars refuelled,” said Niall El-Assaad, fuelService’s founder. “In the past the options were to use an infrared transmitter, but few service stations supported it, and at those that did, it hardly ever worked. The other option is to beep your horn, flash your lights and wave your blue badge about – which is potentially embarrassing and offers no guarantee of service.”
fuelService changes this. Through a range of options including a smartphone app, an interactive voice phone number, SMS, and online at fuelservice.org/findstation, drivers can contact the service station before they make their journey to arrange for help when they arrive. Payment is secure too, with the Shell Fill-Up & Go mobile payment available at selected service stations.
Michael Hominick, Marketing Manager for Shell Retail UK said, “We are very pleased to be accepting fuelService, and working hard to make it available to as many of our customers as possible. Using it alongside our Shell mobile payment service, shows how Shell is focusing on delivering great service for all motorists to make their everyday journeys better. We encourage other fuel retailers to take the same action for motorists who require this help.”
“Refuelling has consistently been one of the top three challenges our members have told us about,” added Graham Footer, Chief Executive, Disabled Motoring UK. “Disabled Drivers have been struggling to get refuelled for far too long, and it’s great to see a solution being deployed nationally with the support of a company like Shell.”
About fuelService
fuelService was founded by Niall El-Assaad, a disabled driver who became paralysed after a bicycle accident in 2013. Niall discovered the problem of refuelling for disabled drivers the first time his car ran out of petrol. Using his experience of more than 20 years in IT he created fuelService. All fuelService profits are donated to Spinal Cord Injury research to help find a cure for paralysis. Further information including a walkthrough demo is available at fuelservice.org
