Fuelling frustration: Saraburi petrol station owner shuts shop after losing over 1 million baht to deceitful customers

The owner of a petrol station in the central province of Saraburi announced that she will soon close her business after losing over 1 million baht worth of fuel to dishonest customers.

The station owner, 67 year old Sirikarn Rakwitham, shared a picture of a sign at her patrol station yesterday, November 27 broadcasting the news.

“The station will be closed soon because customers have not paid for fuel, causing a loss of over 1 million baht. Please come back and pay your debts. Thank you.

“Some of the customers were business operators and others presented themselves as wealthy people. However, they do not pay the bills and did not accept when I offered them an instalment option. Please feel sorry for the petrol station owner, thank you.”

Sirikarn later granted an interview to ThaiRath, shedding light on her business predicament. Her petrol station, named Surachate Rungrueng Petroleum, is situated on Baan Krua-Na Pralarn Road in the Baan Mor district of Saraburi province.

Expressing frustration, Sirikarn disclosed that the majority of dishonest customers were owners of trucks and logistics companies. Despite possessing concrete evidence and detailed fuel-filling records, her attempts to file complaints against these customers were thwarted by the police, who insisted she hire a lawyer to pursue legal action against each individual.

Revealing the financial strain, Sirikarn mentioned borrowing 3 million baht from a bank to purchase fuel for resale. Now, she finds herself unable to repay both the principal and interest. Disheartened, she has made the decision to put both the petrol station and the associated land up for sale.

In a plea to customers, Sirikarn appealed for payment for the fuel, expressing a willingness to accept instalments and hoping for a resolution to her financial woes.

Fuel theft hit the headlines yesterday when a half-Thai, half-Italian man stole 2,600 baht worth of fuel from a petrol station in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district. Another fuel thief ordered 500 baht worth of fuel from a station in the central province of Ayutthaya and drove off without paying in October.