Gas Stations and credit card limit questions

[Alan_Hepburn]

We get around this issue by using cash - I know, we're probably the only people in the country who still use cash, but it does work! Although we did find a station recently that could not enter more than $199 into the pump - we had to go back and hand them another $50 to get the tank completely full!

[Mike Thomas]

We use Pilot. Go inside prepay what you think you will need or a little more. They will swipe the card for that amount. They then turn on the pump and it displays the amount prepaid. You pump whatever you need. As soon as you turn off the pump, assuming it is less than you prepaid, the pump shuts off and automatically credits your card the difference. No second trip in to get the credit...

[laj]

Well, what i use is Petro/CFN fueling. No line, usually cheaper fuel
easy access, as they are set up to handle large trucks with double, and triple trailers, No card limit, as it is their own card. I get e-mail billing, or hard copy so i get the bill anytime i want to see how much i have spent. I can have them directly debit my cc account with just a phone call. The only down side is i believe there are a couple of states they aren`t in yet, but working on it. Also adding my fueling sites everyday. There are no attendants to mess with, no hassles.

[baraff]

I have a Pen Fed Visa which gives 5% rebate (monthly) on gas IF PAID AT THE PUMP. Does not apply if the transaction is inside. So although its a PITA its worth it on a long trip to save .20/gallon to stand and feed the card a few times to fill the tank.

[mariogeneau]

I also use cash when I'm in traveling in the states. When traveling in Quebec, I try to find a station with service and just tip accordingly. What I hate about paying cash is that I to go inside twice. Once to give a certain amount. Let's say 300$. A second time to get my change back. Let's say "not much with these gas prices".

[John_N_Terry]

Another vote for using the same card twice. Also, we have a Chevron card that gives 10 cents per gallon back if it is paid off monthly.

[thelastplace]

Originally Posted by JimM68

I go inside. bY the time I stop for fuel, I'm needing to stretch out and walk a few feet.

I have to agree with Jim. By the time I stop for gas I need a stretch and maybe some junk food. Know that you 'estimate' what you think you need but it will, in the end, only charge what you use. So don't be afraid to ask for $2-3 hundred limit. That way you know the pump won't stop til it's full.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[Route 66]

With pump limits, for example, "There is no policy that limits transactions at the pump from MasterCard," says MasterCard spokesman Tristan Jordan. "The merchants themselves make the decision."
While that's true, the card processors heavily influence the merchants through their policies. Most credit card companies say that the merchants opt to put the pump limit at exactly the "charge-back" limit -- the highest amount the credit card company will pay a merchant if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent. In other words, they claim merchants cut off customers at the amount the bank will pay if the customer doesn't pay the bill. Visa and MasterCard set their limits at $75 (Visa raised its limit from $50 in April 2008).

More here.

[bdaball]

For what ever it's worth, we fueled up twice yesterday. Both times at a Pilot, two different states, both times maxed out at $75.00 twice and ran a third time all on the same Discover card.

Now having said that, don't try that in New Jersey. Totally different story. I tried that there, no go. AND you can't pump your own.

[RonK]

just drove from Lazy Days (Tampa area) to Gatlinburg Tn. today and filled up at 2 Flying J's. Both accepted the FlyingJ card and gave the cash price. Also, card pumped $150 then stopped, had to rescan and start over, but, at least I didn't have to go into the station. This was on a visa card....

[bucks2]

We just finished a 4 month trip and found out that the only thing you can count on is that each station is different. Some clerks knew how to pre-authorize $300.00 worth and some didn't. Sometimes we could buy $125 before reswiping and sometimes it was $75 or $85. We wound up just reswiping until it wouldn't work anymore and then using the second card. It saves time standing in line.

[pdq_bc]

hi

only use pay at the pump (don;t like having to go into the station)

i have not seen my card stop at $75.00
has stopped at $100.00 or $125.00

when shuts off before filled bacuse the upper liit has been hit; simply stop the pump, get receipt, and then re-start the pump and complete the fill up

pdq

[washbob]

Originally Posted by GaryKD

The purchase limit on a single CC transaction is set by both the CC company and the merchant.
1. The CC company tells the merchant how much they will guarantee payment on (an example is $75.00 in a single transaction).
2. The merchant can stay with this limit and take no risk, or set their computers to allow a higher limit. If the CC transaction goes south, the merchant would be liable for anything over the $75 example.

This is why most merchants do not allow any more $s pumped than the CC company is willing to guarantee payment.

I asked AMEX this question this morning and this is the response that I received.

Response (Surbhi Goel) 05/04/2011 02:43 PM
Dear Mr. Hall,

I'd like to inform you that Gas companies determine the pre-authorization limit, not American Express. A gas company with multiple locations may decide on the same limit for all its stores or they may decide to set different limits depending on the store's location or other factors.

If you wish to buy Gas for higher amount than the pre-authorized amount, I suggest that they you pay inside manually with the attendant.

I hope you find this information helpful and re-assuring. Have a great day ahead!
Sincerely, Surbhi Goel Email Servicing Team American Express Interactive Services

[Lindsay Richards]

I got gas in the Florida panhandle several days ago; 2 draws at $125 each on the same card. Today right off the Natchez Trace at a Kangaroo station, I bought $210.60 all on one draw on my credit card.