Cash or Credit

Just one point that gets missed . When You are a Canadian using a Canadian issued Credit Card in the USA ,there is a Foreign Exchange Fee which is in addition to any other Charges on Your Card!

If You happen to use a Service Staion that Charges Your Card for example $ 200. And the Tank is Full at $ 179. They Refund the difference !

This results in Two Foreign exchange charges being applied!

We have a CC that is issued by an American Bank that does Not Charge the Foreign Exchange Fee!

Take a good look at Your Card holder agreement before using Your Credit Cards South of 49!

Most of the problems have gone away when we alerted the credit card companies in advance that we were going on a trip. Then their alert algorithms are different. When there is a need to go inside it is not a big deal as we usually need to hit the restrooms anyway.

We use cards that provide points for hotels and as a result 90% of the hotels we have stayed at in the USA and overseas over the past 5 years have been at no charge and include an upgrade to the concierge level rooms. The dollar savings is far greater than we would get with the pennies saved at the pumps by paying cash and we also don't want to carry that much cash when we travel.

rockhillmanor wrote:
In my case all the stations that had a cut off it WAS the gas station limiting their losses. The first time it happened I immediately called my bank and it was not my credit card.

During the first time I hit the road full time I quickly learned it is prudent to tell you bank BEFORE you embark on extensive RV traveling! :W

The first time I crossed state lines within a day buying gas, rv supplies, food all that activity sent up red flags to my bank and they shut down my card. And then once again when I encountered the limit on the pumps when gas was so high I needed 3 times running the card to fill the MH!

The second time was 'activating' one of my cards on the road 4 states away from home and on the same day hitting the grocery store, RV supplies, gas, and 2 fast food stores! I called to tell them it was me and the bank said boy you must have been really hungry! :B

It is not the bank that dictates the limit. It is the sellers merchant bank terms. These are two completely different things. Calling your bank will tell you nothing about the business agreements the gas station or seller has entered into.

In my case all the stations that had a cut off it WAS the gas station limiting their losses. The first time it happened I immediately called my bank and it was not my credit card.

During the first time I hit the road full time I quickly learned it is prudent to tell you bank BEFORE you embark on extensive RV traveling! :W

The first time I crossed state lines within a day buying gas, rv supplies, food all that activity sent up red flags to my bank and they shut down my card. And then once again when I encountered the limit on the pumps when gas was so high I needed 3 times running the card to fill the MH!

The second time was 'activating' one of my cards on the road 4 states away from home and on the same day hitting the grocery store, RV supplies, gas, and 2 fast food stores! I called to tell them it was me and the bank said boy you must have been really hungry! :B

koda55 wrote:
I have the PilotFlyingJ card. I get 7 cents off the cash price at the pump for diesel. I just pull in swipe my card put in my code and pump away till it is full. I have a 150 gallon tank. After fueling I go in get the receipt. At end of cycleI get a email from the PiliotFlyingJ telling me how much my bill is. You can send them a check or pay with a cc. With that you get a $1,000 limit. I have them take it out of my checking account and have a $2,500 limit. If they take it out of your checking and you need a higher limit you can call them up and they will work with you. Of course the bill must be paid in full at the end of the cycle.

X2, works great. Just go to the truck islands and swipe your card,.08 and not .07, and when you're done,pull ahead and go in and get your receipt from the kiosk,get your snacks and go on your way.
Oh and they have the best selection of big boy toys there too. All kinds of little things we can't do without.

I have the PilotFlyingJ card. I get 7 cents off the cash price at the pump for diesel. I just pull in swipe my card put in my code and pump away till it is full. I have a 150 gallon tank. After fueling I go in get the receipt. At end of cycleI get a email from the PiliotFlyingJ telling me how much my bill is. You can send them a check or pay with a cc. With that you get a $1,000 limit. I have them take it out of my checking account and have a $2,500 limit. If they take it out of your checking and you need a higher limit you can call them up and they will work with you. Of course the bill must be paid in full at the end of the cycle.

I use a cc for fuel ONLY when we travel. I've run into some pumps that will only allow you $100. max before shutting off. Then you must re-insert cc and do a whole new transaction. Most of the time they let me have all I want though. :B

We just go in and have them put X amount on the card for pump # X. If I pump less the card only gets charged that amount. I have to take a break every 150 miles or so. A gas station is just as good as a rest stop as we use the trailer anyway.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
I'm old school. I lay $120.00 on the counter and pump away. I get up to 5 cents off a gallon by doing this.

By paying at the pump with my PenFed Visa card, I get a 5% cash rebate each month. If gas is $3.00, that's $0.15 per gallon.

I'm old school. I lay $120.00 on the counter and pump away. I get up to 5 cents off a gallon by doing this.