Well, this is a new one for me. Lately when I attempt to use my credit card (Visa) at various gas stations here in Hickory, NC the card gets rejected once I enter my zip code. The screen on one pump even said my zip code wasn't legitimate although I've been using it for years.The fact that my zip code is from South Dakota and I'm in NC may have something to do with it. The clerk at one station even mentioned that other out-of-towners were having the same difficulty.It's a real pain to now have to pay inside the station at the register, guesstimating how much fuel I'm going to use. So far I've been pretty good at this. I wonder if this is the same situation in other states? Pay at the pump is now pain at the pump! Are any of you finding the same situation?

Never happened to us, I put in the ZIP code and pump gas, every so often I have to swipe twice to fill up.

Sometimes, you need to tell your CC company you're traveling or it rejects the OK for out of state or sometimes over-high charges.Happened to us in Utah when our ZIP code is Florida. We called and the rest of the trip, no problems.

I've never had a problem, I just enter the zip code and pump gas.It's never been necessary to go inside to pay.

Live in TX. No problem in NM, CO, OK, AR, MO, KY, TN, MS, or LA in the last 2 years.

Problem Using Out of State Credit Card at Pump | Good Sam Community

57 Replies

mr__ed
Explorer
Jun 18, 2014
crabbin cabin wrote:
"It's a real pain to now have to pay inside the station at the register"

BUT - you probably need the exercise that walking back and forth to the office will give you after driving that Ram for any length of time. I know I need that stretch!!

You're right! Too much sitting can cause blood clots. I should appreciate all the exercise I can get. Maybe I'll start using the pumps furthest from the cashier....;)
crabbin_cabin
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2014
"It's a real pain to now have to pay inside the station at the register"

BUT - you probably need the exercise that walking back and forth to the office will give you after driving that Ram for any length of time. I know I need that stretch!!
mr__ed
Explorer
Jun 15, 2014
OP here. It's happening again at the Hess station I've used previously when I started this thread. This time I called VISA while at the pump and they couldn't find a problem with my card. The person inside the station then confided the problem lies with the Hess co. They're just being over scrupulous with out of state cards. Anyhow, they turned the pump on and when finished I paid with my card inside the station, no problem.
mich800
Explorer
May 29, 2014
Allworth wrote:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I have a problem with stations that cut the pump off at $50, or even $75. That is only 12 or 15 gallons of diesel at today's outrageous prices.

They never seem to post an advance warning of this.

When the clerk tells you that it is the Credit Card Company's policy, tell him to stuff the pump where the sun don't shine because that is a lie. The store owner sets the cutoff, if any. The grocery store doesn't cut you off at $50. Nor does the KOA.

Thanks for the rant time!

That is because you are signing. There are different agreements with no sign transactions. chargebacks (customer disputes) impact your merchant discount rate.
JaxDad
Explorer III
May 29, 2014
Allworth wrote:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I have a problem with stations that cut the pump off at $50, or even $75. That is only 12 or 15 gallons of diesel at today's outrageous prices.

They never seem to post an advance warning of this.

When the clerk tells you that it is the Credit Card Company's policy, tell him to stuff the pump where the sun don't shine because that is a lie. The store owner sets the cutoff, if any. The grocery store doesn't cut you off at $50. Nor does the KOA.

Thanks for the rant time!

I didn't like that either, so I called my credit card company. Now it doesn't happen.

I can't even imagine how many store owners they had to call just to keep me happy.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
May 29, 2014
Sounds like the zip code stored on th magnetic strip on the card is different from the one you are entering. It's meant to be a security feature - one of the few for US credit cards.
pnichols
Explorer II
May 29, 2014
Allworth wrote:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I have a problem with stations that cut the pump off at $50, or even $75. That is only 12 or 15 gallons of diesel at today's outrageous prices.

Hmmmm ... whenever that happens to me, I just keep re-running the card for as many "new transactions" as are needed to fill up our 55 gallon RV tank. No problem - even though I don't care for the pump limits either.

What is the reasoning behind gas pump limits, anyway. How does this curtail over-use of a credit card ... any more than over-purchasing any other item that one should with their credit card? :h
Allworth
Explorer II
May 29, 2014
Not trying to hijack the thread, but I have a problem with stations that cut the pump off at $50, or even $75. That is only 12 or 15 gallons of diesel at today's outrageous prices.

They never seem to post an advance warning of this.

When the clerk tells you that it is the Credit Card Company's policy, tell him to stuff the pump where the sun don't shine because that is a lie. The store owner sets the cutoff, if any. The grocery store doesn't cut you off at $50. Nor does the KOA.

Thanks for the rant time!
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
May 29, 2014
sch911 wrote:
WyoTraveler wrote:
#1 Call your credit card co. Let them know where you are traveling
#2 If your bill address is different than your home address use your bill zip.

No problem after those things were worked out.

X2 That's all there is to this...

"X2 that's all there is to this..."

Which should mean....There ain't no more..... but there is/was a lot more pages.

But I'll take your word for it and skip the rest..:W..

~
diesel_man_03
Explorer
May 28, 2014
We travel south for the winter and I let my credit card company know this with no issues.