Digital bureaucracy in Greece: The fiasco with the Fuel-Pass

The online platform for registration of beneficiaries for the so-called “Fuel Pass” quickly ended into a fiasco on Monday afternoon when the platform collapsed 30 minute after it was launched.

It was just a few dozens of citizens who managed to register the required data and get paid before the Easter.

The rest has to switch to old-fashioned system, where citizens register for A, B or X according to the end digit of their tax number. The payment will take place after Easter.

The “Fuel-Pass” is a form of government subsidy financed by taxpayers money for the months of April and May due to the global energy crisis.

The average subsidy is 25 euros per month, that does not even cover a full tank due to 24% taxes in total.

But whatever… Many saw an opportunity to decrease their expenses over the holidays as Greeks tend to visit their villages and generally the countryside over the Easter days.

They will now have to saw patience as again they fell victims of the digital bureaucracy.

In addition to the platform collapse, several people complained on social media that they could not proceed with their application as wrong data were registered on their files, thus showing they did not own a vehicle.

The main question is: if state and tax authorities have all data about a citizen’s income, address, phone, vehicle and IBAN why should they have to make an additional application?

By the way: the subsidy Fuel-Pass is for car- and motorcycle-owners only and according to some income criteria. They can use the money also at public transport means and taxis.

The rest of the citizens can keep walking…