Community Forums

StStg1 · 08-02-2010, 05:56 PM

I'm trying to do away with my gas credit cards. I've been using my bank debit card for fuel a long time. I don't require more than $75 worth of fuel at aq time, so I don't have the problem. I think the debit card is better to use than a cc. I know it can work like a cc but I feel better knowing the amount is comming out of my account and there are no extra fees or interest being charged.

RVhauler · 08-02-2010, 07:44 PM

I run into the CC limit quite a bit as my average fill is usually around $350. Most places will allow you to leave your drivers license with the cashier in place of your CC. Having to pay a surcharge for using a CC instead of cash is what turns me off to many of the stations. I quite often fuel at Walmart as they usually have a cheaper price but many do not have diesel. I purchase/recharge a Walmart gift card using my credit card which then gives me 3 cents off the displayed price at the pump.

jzick · 08-03-2010, 07:35 PM

I guess I do not understand all the angst and paranoia regarding walking inside at truck stops and leaving a credit card. I have traveled around the world for the last 40 years and have had 4 instances where credit cards were compromised. In each case the cc company caught it and called within a day. Had a new card the next day, even when I was in the old Soviet Union. Walking to the counter to pay is a good way to stretch my legs, relax a little, and I have met some neat people inside. I prefer to go with the flow.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-03-2010, 08:40 PM

The fuel station has to ask for authorization on the account to protect against fraudulent charges, and to do that an amount has to be given. Your credit card company doesn't require it, but if the merchant does not pre-authorize, they must assume the risk of a fraudulent or stolen card. If the card company approves the authorization, then the CC company assumes the risk. So... when you put the card in they pre-authorize for some amount, e.g. $75, before approval to pump is given. When you use that amount up, the pump stops and you need to get authorized again.

If you use the truck pumps, there is no $75 limit. I don't know if there is any limit at all, but I've pumped well over $300 without a hiccup. My typical fill is around 100 gallons (I have a 150 gallon tank).

SRT · 08-05-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dajudge

Ronk, I sympathise with you. It aggravates me everytime I have to fill up at an idiot station built for cars and the idiot said "how much do you neet"? I tell her about 200 and she runs my card through and gives it back. I go outside and put an additional 80 bucks. When I go back inside, she says she can not credit my card with the difference, that she has to give me cash.

I have asked many time at several stations why they limit the amout to 75 bucks. The first one I asked told me it was my bank. When I got home, I asked my banker and he said it was definitely was not the bank, it was the station.

Yup! Trying to keep the "drive-away" costs down.

JackHammr' · 08-08-2010, 06:25 AM

Some stations around here have the $75 limit on a debit or credit card ..

Some dont ..

One station would not accept my DC at the pump , went inside , the attendant said to enter the CC option , instead of the DC option .. Also said that when you use the DC as a DC , the "middleman" referred to above somewhere holds out as much as $100 over the purchase price of fuel , until the transaction clears your bank ..

So if you purchase say $100 in fuel , may have as much as $200 held out , go down the road , make another purchase and you're overdrawn if ya funds are low in the account ..

Some also have no dollar amount restriction if you use the DC as a CC or use your CC

TXiceman · 08-08-2010, 08:00 AM

As I had note previously, I will not trust a minimum wage clerk with a CC that has over a $20,000.00 credit limit with my card. Never leave the CC in the hands of another person. They can easily skim the information to help out their boy/girl friend or to sell to a crook. Often this skimmed CC data is held for several months before it is used. They will try a few small purchases and then hit you with the big ones.

I am sorry but my CC stays within the site of me or my wife. I'll restart the pump if I have to.

Ken

BluesCruiser · 08-08-2010, 03:07 PM

Why don't you all use cash?

Wayneey · 08-09-2010, 09:39 AM

Even though I always specifically ask about the limit on a pump and am told either no limit or a dollar amount limit, there are occasional surprises. Now, I go the "Pay Inside Credit" route and on my last trip, fill-ups were uneventful. Yes, this does include leaving my credit card with the cashier and this needs some rethinking.

While at a Costco station (generally $100 limit), the attendant told me to leave the nozzle in the fill tank filler, push up the lever where the nozzle is stored in the pump to reset the pump, rerun my credit card, and you're good to go. I don't recall having to do that a third time at a Costco so I don't know if that'd work.

On the other hand, I must be in an amazingly small minority as Flying J's, Pilots, Loves, T/A's, etc., are the gas stations of last resort for me. In the past three years, there have only been several (one or two, maybe three?) in which I have been able to maneuver with my 36' MH towing a CRV, or maybe more accurately, in which I have felt comfortable attempting to maneuver (maybe time for more driving lessons?).

Instead, I find stations along the Interstates or in small towns with pumps parallel to the road. Yes, sometimes this does entail leaving the Interstate only to find the gas station won't work, but this is successful way more than not. On my last trip, Chevron stations were my favorites ... and, of course, Costco's are good ...

Wayne

PS:, I was wondering if a new thread devoted to listing gas stations with easy-in/easy-out would be of interest to the group. On my last trip, I've been recording the state, road, exit, and gas station for my future use (when I remember!). This would work mainly for gas powered rigs but occasionally diesel is available at the same islands.

REWahoo · 08-09-2010, 09:48 AM

I use a CC that gives me 5% off fuel purchases but only if you pay at the pump - only 1% if you pay inside. The $75/$100 at-a-time, only two swipes allowed is a PITA, but to save $0.15 a gallon it is worth it.

Rick Long · 08-09-2010, 09:49 AM

Costco here in Vegas has a $99 limit... always need to do two scans for a tank full.

John H... · 08-09-2010, 09:53 AM

Our solution to some of that prblem is to call our CC company and tell them we are traveling in a MH for a trip and will be getting large quantities of gas. We recently went to Myrtle Beach and back and was able to keep cycling the card every $75. Just had to reenter the card.

SRT · 08-09-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H...

Our solution to some of that prblem is to call our CC company and tell them we are traveling in a MH for a trip and will be getting large quantities of gas. We recently went to Myrtle Beach and back and was able to keep cycling the card every $75. Just had to reenter the card.

Did that on our last long trip. Gave Visa our routes and approximate times. Still had to swipe the card twice, even filling the tank when it was 1/2 full.

Our local Sam's goes to $125.