Payment Watch upgrade to improve the speed and accuracy of Drive-Off reporting:

New Drive-Off Reporting from 18 August 2025

The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) is launching a major upgrade to its Payment Watch Drive-Off incident reporting system from the 18th August 2025. The upgrade is aimed at simplifying the reporting process for forecourt operators and improving the accuracy of submitted information.The new Drive-Off reporting feature will go live on 18 August after 18 months of development and thorough testing across selected forecourts.

The new Drive-Off reporting feature will go live on 18 August after 18 months of development and thorough testing across selected forecourts.

What’s Changing?

The upgraded Payment Watch Drive-Off reporting system greatly reduces the time needed to submit Drive-Off reports to BOSS, making the process quicker and more efficient for forecourt staff. The enhancements also improve the precision of the data collected, which is vital in helping to classify incidents as civil or criminal offences.

A key addition is the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) Verification tool, offering real-time vehicle make and model data for vehicles involved in Drive-Offs. This feature helps forecourt operators to more easily spot cloned number plates, speeding up investigations and resolving unpaid fuel incidents.

PLEASE NOTE:

There are no changes to the process for recording or reporting No Means of Payment (NMoP) incidents. Only the Drive-Off reporting process is being upgraded.

What is a Drive-Off?

A Drive-Off occurs when a vehicle enters a forecourt, refuels, and the motorist fails to pay. This may happen when the driver:

• Enters the store but leaves without paying for fuel, or
• Immediately drives away from the pump without entering the premises or making payment.

These incidents are different from No Means of Payment (NMoP) cases, where the customer intends to pay but cannot do so at that time.

Why the Upgrade Matters

This improved reporting system is a significant step forward in supporting forecourt operators to combat fuel theft.

The upgraded features ensure:

• Faster submission times for Drive-Off incidents
• Higher accuracy in reporting key data
• Clearer classification of incidents as either civil or criminal offences
• Real-time vehicle verification, enhancing enforcement and reducing fraud

The launch of this upgraded service reaffirms BOSS’s commitment to helping the forecourt retail industry address unpaid fuel incidents with smarter and more effective tools.

For more information or support with the upgraded system, you can contact the BOSS Payment Watch support team.