France resident hit with €1,195 bill for charging car in Spain

A British motorist has been hit with a €1,195 bill for charging his electric car at a Shell Recharge station while holidaying in Spain.

John Stephen, who comes from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, but now runs a gîte in Charente-Maritime, drove to Madrid with his wife over Christmas in their MG4, a 100% electric vehicle which he normally charges at home via solar panels.

However, during their Spanish break in late December the couple used a Shell Recharge station for a top-up before h eading home. 

“I used my Shell Recharge card on Christmas morning and was charged €71.77 for 18.88kWh – expensive, but within expectations,” Mr Stephen told The Connexion.

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Second charge

“The real shock came a couple of weeks later when a second charge appeared on my account: €1,124. It was for the same location, the same date, and supposedly a 10kWh session – but with a baffling €925.40 in ‘connection fees’.” 

Even more confusing, this second charge claimed the session began at 12:34 on December 25 – when in fact the couple were in an Uber taxi going to a restaurant at that exact time.

Despite various attempts to contact Shell Recharge for an explanation, the couple have received no response.

“I emailed Shell Recharge support. No reply. I sent a registered letter in both English and French to their European headquarters in Amsterdam. Still nothing. 

“Eventually, I called their ‘emergency’ helpline – and reached someone helpful in Ireland, who admitted the second invoice looked wrong but said there was no way to escalate it by phone. 

“I was told to write again to the finance department. I did. Again, nothing. For many weeks, there has been total radio silence. No response, no apology, no refund.”

Mr Stephen has subsequently filed a legal claim at his local tribunal de proximité, using France’s small claims procedure. 

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European Consumer Centre

He said: “The documentation is straightforward, but the process is slow.”

He also plans to contact the European Consumer Centre (ECC France), which offers assistance for cross-border complaints. 

“I hope these steps will help, not only in recovering the funds but in raising awareness,” Mr Stephen said.

“This experience raises broader questions. EV charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly across Europe, but accountability, at least by this provider, has not kept pace. 

“Overbilling on this scale – and the refusal to engage with a clearly documented dispute – suggests a systemic problem. If a customer in rural France with a paper trail and legal support cannot get a reply, what hope is there for others?”

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When contacted by The Connexion about the best course of action for customers in a similar situation, a Shell spokesperson: “It would depend on the product or service in question and what type of customer, but I would always encourage them to reach out.”

What is Shell Recharge?

Shell Recharge has a rapid, subscription-free charging network in the UK and Europe of 850,000-plus public charge points, which can be accessed via an app. 

Mr Stephen said he has since disabled his Shell account and will use alternative operators in future.

“I am sharing my story not just out of personal frustration, but because I suspect I am not alone,” he said.

“Others may have faced similar overcharging but been discouraged from fighting back. If this article reaches even one such person, it will have served its purpose.”