British group alleges overcharging on gas

LONDON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Britain's Automobile Association contends oil companies' refusal to trim their prices is causing unfair prices at the pump.

AA Public Affairs head Paul Watters said with oil companies maintaining high costs for their products, the average British motorist is being overcharged nearly $2 each time they refuel their vehicle, the Daily Mail reported Saturday.

The current average cost for a gallon of gasoline in Britain has dropped 61 cents during the last month to nearly $7.84, yet AA officials maintain prices should be dropping even further.

Watters said overcharging on gasoline across Britain also comes with a hidden cost in the lost funds consumers could be spending on other portions of the nation's economy.

"Whichever way you look at it, many drivers are being short-changed by around 1 pound ($1.86) a tank when they fill up with petrol in the UK," Watters told the Mail.

Watters said that's "undermining family budgets," while "denying potential consumer spending at other local businesses suffering from falling sales."