APED: “Illegal profits in fuel are over, new burden: POS commissions”

Anadolu Petrolleri Platform (APED) President Kemal Yılmaz stated that the years-long tax losses and smuggled fuel problems in the fuel sector have largely ended thanks to the determined efforts of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) and the Revenue Administration, and emphasized that another problem now threatens the sector: POS commissions.

In his statement, Yılmaz stated that the sector's most pressing challenges in the past, namely illicit profiteering and fuel smuggling, have become a thing of the past thanks to strengthened regulatory mechanisms. He noted that the full implementation of the National Vehicle Identification System (UTTS) will also help prevent tax losses.

“We believe these steps will bear fruit in the short term and contribute significantly to the pockets of honest station owners,” said Yılmaz, adding that the biggest burden currently facing stations is credit card commissions.

“POS Commissions Have Crippled Us”

According to Kemal Yılmaz, credit card fees are such a significant financial burden that they're causing stations to reduce their service quality and even cause some businesses to close. The requirement for the same prices for credit cards and cash, coupled with the relatively high commission rates compared to the low profit margins of the fuel industry, is putting dealers in a serious financial bind.

Yılmaz stated that the above-market commission rates that fuel distribution companies charge their dealers for credit card sales are a common complaint in the sector.

“We will establish a common table for a solution”

Yılmaz stated that they have taken action to resolve these issues, saying, "We will establish joint working groups by contacting the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), PETDER (Peticide Der) and financial institutions. Our goal is to jointly determine steps that will alleviate the commission burden on dealers."

Kemal Yılmaz expressed his belief that following the meetings to be held, solutions that will provide relief to station owners will be found from the economic administration, banks and distribution companies.