Buying fuel with credit card

FJ allowed me a $100 purchase, but charged what the pump read. Once at another stop, the pump shut off at $99.99 I was required to talk to the cleric , to reset the pump so I could swipe again to top off. but it quit again at $99.99 I talked to the cleric again, swiped again and it quit at $6.50.

I checked our CC balance each night that we had wifi at our local credit union on line, no problems from any of the fuel stops we made.

Most likely a debit card issue. I frequently use a credit card at Pilot and never have had this issue

I use the truck lanes at Flying J and Pilot. Everytime I go in, they ASK me how much I want to put/pay on the card. If I estimate high, it is resolved by the end of the day. No big deal.

Mike

I don't care what "hold" they put on my card, so long as the amount they actually bill is what they dispensed.

I'm more concerned with why Pilot/FJ seems to have decided that the dirtier and greasier they can maintain their pump areas, the more I'll think I'm getting some sort of "pro" service!

Common practice at many places when using a debit card

In order for this to bother you you must be living close to your credit limit.
Try paying off some of the card OR ask the credit card company for a credit line increase.
I am betting you are close to your credit limit.

Once in awhile, I see the $100 on my card alert. Never have been actually charged the $100 for a lesser purchase however.

I used to be in charge of credit card processing for a very large institution. EVERY place puts a hold on your card (and on any kind of card). That happens as soon as the card is swiped. If the amount due is known, then that is the hold. If not, then it is based on either the retailer policy or their credit card processor policy. The hold reserves the money until the merchant "settles", usually overnight - they send all their transactions in a batch to the bank (done usually automatically by the system). That batch gets processed, and any holds are replaced with actual charges. BUT - if there is an issue, and the retailer doesn't settle (or has device issues), then no real charges take place. Eventually, as determined by the processor, any holds that did not have charges are then released, and you have your money back. May not mean you get away free, as they can come back later and hit your account again, after the hold expired. But sometimes.....
So, if you notice "holds" larger than your purchase, especially the next day (or longer), the usual issue is that the merchant didn't send their charges through in a timely manner, and things are waiting to be cleared up. Or, like a hotel, they put the hold on, and don't actually charge until the full amount is known many days later.

Beware the truck pumps - those guys can see holds of up to $500 at some stations!

I carry both a MC and a Visa. When I'm planning on a long trip in the MH, I call the number on the cards and tell them where I'm going (in general) and when I'll be home. The CC companies' computers spot unusually large purchases or locations far from home. That causes the "lost or stolen" warning light to come on.
I have more trouble finding a gas station with the pump islands parallel to the store front so I can pull through without backing up. I drive a 'C' and pull a Jeep toad four down. I can't back up more than a foot or two before the Jeep's front wheels lock up left or right. I start looking at about a half tank of gas. And that's usually a FJ.

Watch for Loves also....they put a $1.00 (one dollar) hold on your card and it is not cleared for up to 24 hrs.... lol
jesseannie