PenFed Fuel Cash Back Credit Card

REWahoo wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
Anyone have any actual experience using the PenFed card for a truck lane where every transaction in completed inside at the fuel desk? And the purchase is for fuel only?

Tried it, paying at the fuel desk does NOT work.

You will not get the 5% discount if you pay for your fuel anywhere other than at the pump .

Thanks that's what I wanted to know. So I'll continue to use my Amex card at the truck lanes where I do get 5%.

To All: One of the main reasons I got the PenFed card was to get the 5% cash back in Canada this summer and the Visa card has no transaction fees in Canada. The Amex card fuel cash back is for the US only and has transaction fees in Canada.

I will also be using my PefFed card in the US.

CA Traveler wrote:
Anyone have any actual experience using the PenFed card for a truck lane where every transaction in completed inside at the fuel desk? And the purchase is for fuel only?

Tried it, paying at the fuel desk does NOT work.

You will not get the 5% discount if you pay for your fuel anywhere other than at the pump .

REWahoo wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

we've used ours for 3 years and have yet to NOT get the 5% on fuel purchases. However, I ALWAYS pay at the pump.

+1

If you do not pay at the pump with the PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa you will NOT get the 5% cash rebate. No exceptions, the retailer (clerk) cannot change the code the system uses to show point of purchase, so if you pay anywhere other than at the pump you'll get only one half of one percent rather than five percent.

Anyone have any actual experience using the PenFed card for a truck lane where every transaction in completed inside at the fuel desk? And the purchase is for fuel only?

jimjr wrote:

Thats_Ok wrote:
IMO one of the best deals going.
We love PenFed!

x2

x3 - been using the card now for 3 plus yrs with no issues when paying at the pump.

ktmrfs wrote:

we've used ours for 3 years and have yet to NOT get the 5% on fuel purchases. However, I ALWAYS pay at the pump.

+1

If you do not pay at the pump with the PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa you will NOT get the 5% cash rebate. No exceptions, the retailer (clerk) cannot change the code the system uses to show point of purchase, so if you pay anywhere other than at the pump you'll get only one half of one percent rather than five percent.

tpi wrote:
I buy less Costco gas now that I have it. Costco is 3% rebate w/ Amex. Regular station is 5% rebate w/ Pen Fed. In my case the prices come out close to a wash.

FYI The Costco Business card is 4% fuel, 2% restaurants and 2% travel including CGs.

Thanks for all of the input. Just got the card and now we know.

I'll try a small purchase at a truck island, pay inside and see how that comes through. I get cash back on my Amex card at the truck islands.

You can switch the card to the rewards card instead and get 5% on gas, 3% on groceries and 1% on all others. Then turn your points into cash cards. This get's you more back than the cash rewards card does.

I've used it at the pump without issue.

I buy less Costco gas now that I have it. Costco is 3% rebate w/ Amex. Regular station is 5% rebate w/ Pen Fed. In my case the prices come out close to a wash.

I like the fact the Pen Fed rebate is automatically credited. Since Pen Fed rebate is only generous on gas, I use other cards for other items.

I highly recommend the Pen Fed card. That said, I have smaller gas RV which I fuel at typical gas stations, not truck stops.

CA Traveler wrote:
Several have posted about getting 5% cash back for fuel using a PenFed Credit Card. We now have that credit card and are beginning to understand the limitations. What we've learned:

1. Generally PenFed says to use it at the pump and not inside to get the cash back. But the transaction must be coded as fuel and not food or merchandise.
2. Works at independent gas stations.
3. PenFed doesn't know if it will be coded correctly when fueling in truck lanes at truck stops like FJ, etc. where you pay inside. Should be fine at the car and RV lanes where you pay at the pump.
4. PenFed doesn't know it the card will work at big box pumps like Safeway.
5. Can't be used at Costco because they don't accept Visa.

What's your experience?

BTW We have 2 Amex cards that cover all of the above but they also have limitations.

we've used ours for 3 years and have yet to NOT get the 5% on fuel purchases. However, I ALWAYS pay at the pump. Ours works at safeway, Kroger, Fred Meyer etc. The KEY is that you the gas station is seperated with it's own pay island etc and away from the store, so then the SIC code comes up as fuel not groceries.

Never had a problem at flying J, pilot etc, but we don't use the truck islands. Pen Fed is pretty specific that the card MUST be swiped at the pump and not inside. Again, inside the SIC code may come up as something other than gas station.

And, yup, the downside is that it doesn't work at Costco.

BTW even at a stand alone station, if you fill propane tanks, it won't give you the discount, since that is not swiped at the pump.

Nice things are:
1) you get the 5% credit applied to your statement BEFORE the bill, so you get the credit every month.
2) No limits on monthly or annual fuel $ or gallons like some cards
3) Gas OR diesel get you the same credit unlike some cards that are gas only, no discount on diesel.

So it's Pen Fed for FUEL, that's ALL we use it for, and our visa flex perks for EVERYTHING else I can charge, including utility bills etc. Outstanding program for airline travel on any airline w/o any of the usual airline miles restrictions.