Ethical debt resolution specialist DCBL has extended its partnership with forecourt protection expert VARS Technology for a further three years in order to tackle fuel theft.
The partnership combines VARS’ advanced prevention systems with DCBL’s people-first recovery services to help retailers combat fuel crime, which has surged in recent years. In fact, research from the British Oil Security Syndicate showing that drive-offs rose from 7.6% of crimes per site in 2020 to 28.4% in 2024, with the highest levels reported in London.
VARS Technology provides advanced technology designed to detect and prevent fuel drive-offs through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, which instantly alert forecourt staff when a vehicle linked to previous drive-offs or no-means-of-payment incidents enters the site. The company maintains a national blacklist of more than 72,000 vehicles, shared across a growing network of over 1,300 forecourts, helping retailers take proactive steps to reduce theft.
The company also provides facial recognition technology to identify repeat offenders, manages parking and EV charging bay misuse, and recovers losses quickly with proven debt recovery processes.
In 2024 alone, VARS Technology handled more than 85,000 incidents of fuel theft or non-payment, recovering over £2.8m for operators.
The renewal of its partnership with DCBL will ensure that VARS Technology’s clients receive responsible, transparent, and effective debt resolution when incidents occur.
John Garnett, Director at VARS Technology Ltd, said:
“Renewing our contract with DCBL as our exclusive provider was a strategic decision, underpinned not only by performance but by shared values.
“Their people are an extension of our team – professional, compassionate, and aligned with our standards. DCBL’s ability to innovate while remaining customer-focused means they’re raising the bar for responsible debt resolution. They’re not just a supplier; they’re a partner that protects our brand and supports our values.”
Lee Samuels-Camozzi, Group Strategy Director at DCBL, added:
“We are thrilled to renew our partnership with VARS Technology as their exclusive provider. This partnership demonstrates that DCBL is about more than parking debt resolution. Fuel theft is a growing challenge, and VARS Technology’s innovations are giving forecourts the ability to prevent incidents before they happen. We’re proud to complement that with our ethical and effective recovery services.”
