Opportunistic exploiting of diesel hikes / prices - robbing their customers

I was concerned regarding the diesel pricing at one of Astron's service stations when filling up on Saturday, 28 March 2026 on Rabie Road, near Randparkridge.

I filled up with diesel 10ppm at the station and was charged approximately R24.99 per litre. I wasn't aware the price was R24.99 and was wondering why the total was so high. The attendant did not even bother to notify me that the price of diesel had jumped from R19 odd Rand to R24.99 per litre. That is significant, why don't you tell your customers this? This came as a significant surprise, as the same station (and others in the area) had been pricing diesel at around (approximately) R19.25 per litre just a couple of weeks prior.

Given the magnitude of this increase, I visited four other Astron service stations and a Caltex on the 29th as it forms part of the Astron brand in the surrounding area to compare pricing. I observed the following:

• Two stations were charging approximately R21.64 and R21.68 per litre • The Caltex had not increased their fuel and was R21.96 per litre • Two stations (including the one I visited) were charging R24.99 per litre

I have taken photographs of these prices as well as retained my purchase slip. Yes, diesel is not regulated and yes there is a fuel hike on the cards due to the situation in Iran but come on, please don't be *********, not fair and reasonable and opportunistic! Could you not have waited until first week of April?

While I understand that diesel prices are not strictly regulated at the retail level, the timing and scale of this increase — particularly ahead of the official monthly fuel price adjustment — raises concerns regarding consistency and fairness to customers.

Then emailed Astron Energy with slip and photos, they haven't even bothered to email back, pathetic. If you want to gain market share Astron, this is not how you do it! I see you have many bad reviews so keep going, you are doing well!

I asked them for the following:

• An explanation for the significant price difference between Astron service stations in the same area • Clarification on the pricing policy app**** in this instance • Consideration of a refund or goodwill adjustment, given the materially higher price paid compared to nearby stations

This is not a fuel station you want to visit, people who rob from you.