ComCom to take BP to court over pricing errors and discounts
The Commerce Commission will be filing charges against BP Oil New Zealand Ltd (BP) under the Fair Trading Act for allegations the company failed to give customers discounts they were entitled to, and charged incorrect prices at BP Connect Service Stations.
Deputy Chair Anne Callinan says the Commission is committed to holding large companies to account on behalf of Kiwis.
“We expect big businesses to take the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right. Consumers should be able to trust the information they receive when they are buying goods and services,” Ms Callinan says.
“I have limited patience when it comes to large, well-resourced businesses who aren’t investing in their systems to get the basics right.
“When a business advertises a deal or discount to certain customers, those customers must receive that benefit when they pay,” Ms Callinan says.
The Commission opened its investigation into BP in April 2025 after receiving complaints from customers saying they bought fuel at a number of BP Connect stations and scanned their Everyday Rewards card but did not receive the discounts as advertised.
In response to the investigation, the company made changes and investments intended to reduce the likelihood of ongoing issues.
“However, since our initial investigation we have uncovered a further instance where customers allegedly did not receive the price as advertised,” Ms Callinan says.
“This instance is concerning, not only because it raises questions about the effectiveness of the company’s changes, but also as it was within the current period of higher fuel prices,” Ms Callinan says.
Most of the alleged conduct occurred before the current period of higher fuel prices.
The Commission has increased its monitoring of fuel costs and prices in response to the conflict in the Middle East and will continue to scrutinise and hold fuel companies to account.
Charges will soon be filed in the Auckland District Court.
Background
The alleged conduct relates only to BP Connect Service Stations which are owned and operated by BP, not BP 2Go sites which are independently owned and operated.
The Commission does not set fuel prices and does not have powers to control them. Its role is to monitor, report and hold companies to account through transparency and scrutiny. It is also the Commission’s job to ensure the sector remains competitive and that representations around pricing (including reasons behind any changes) are fair and accurate.
The Commission has increased its monitoring of fuel costs and prices in response to the conflict in the Middle East. Read the latest weekly report.