:MEach year I travel from the Nw to the South for a long time I stopped at the FlyingJ and Pilot stops.2 years ago it seems that the company have started to make sure you have to go inside by stopping your credit cards. Then just this last week four stops in Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. I have been trying to get fuel. Today was the end of the Pilot fiasco. No longer, I am now going to a place that accepts the cards and I can get in and out of the place. Done for now,

We had a problem this past summer and it was not the fuel stations, ITS the Credit Card Companies! Due to the amount of hacked and stolen CC info most will not let you just stop and go anyplace anymore. Seems if you move more than 4 states in a short period they put a hold on the card thinking it may be stolen if you do not normally move a lot or YOU did not notify them in advance. We went from AZ to tx, to ark and then to ala. In Ala I got a message about the card being frozen, had to call and talk to them. Gave them the itinerary for the rest of the trip with start and stop days. Since we left ala to Ohio and a stop in Ill, they told me to call when leaving Ill with the end date We went to colo, NM and finally home no issues after making the notifications. So check with your CC company it may be that simple? BTW we had no issue with either of the mentioned companies, but we do prefer Flying J for cleanliness issues.

With all the fraud, I’m pleased that Pilot/Flying J and VISA is being very cautious about credit cards. I traveled through 6 western states this summer fueling at Pilot/Flying J stations, and only had one case where, after the purchase, VISA called to check to see if the purchase fuel was legitimate. This happened to be Las Vegas. They explained they have a lot of fraud in Vegas, so consequently they called verifying the purchase on my VISA card. They did not hold up the purchase, just verified the purchase afterwards. I called VISA before I left and told them where I would be travelling, and when I would return home. Absent the advance notice, VISA will almost always stop the 2nd purchase in any 24 hour period, thus requiring a phone call before fueling. The only complaint I had about Flying J, and I so advised them, is that the RV Parking area in Lodi was totally occupied by trucks, leaving no room for RV’s. This in spite of the fact the driveway was clearly marked NO SEMI TRUCKS. They assumed truck drivers can read, which evidently they cannot. The trucks I saw arrive didn’t even check the truck parking area first.

Its almost never the fault of the individual gas station. Its the age of computers. When you're not traveling, all of your charges are coming from the same town and for the amount that a car's tank can hold. If charges start appearing from cities and towns around the country or for large amounts, that isn't normal usage as far as the computer is concerned. It assumes that your card has been lost or stolen and not yet reported. On occasion, the individual station has a limit on the amount of gas you can pump because they aren't paying up on time. You can't fix that. There's a phone number to call on the back of the cards. I've eliminated most of the problems by calling that phone number and telling them where and when I'm going to be traveling, by carrying both a Visa and a MasterCard, and stopping for gas when the tank is still half full. Usually, I need a break, anyway.Also, its a good idea to keep the phone numbers of all your credit card companies in a different place than your wallet in case you really did lose your wallet.

credit card company. I call the credit card company and tell the what states we'll be traveling in and they don't restrict the card.

There is a black market for folks who use stolen credit cards to pump gas. I saw it today on CNN, and was surprised at how organized they are. Black Market Gas and Diesel, When folks do this, the owner east the charge, not Visa/AmEx, or MC.

Sick of Pilot gas | Good Sam Community

PUCampin
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014
There is something to the OPs frustrations, we have had similar issues, and what our bank told us is it has something to do with how the computers try to pre authorize transactions. Our local Pilot has the cheapest gas by a pretty wide margin. I have a couple times had my card declined, while my wife has it happen to her at least once a month if not more. Talking to the bank, it turns out the Pilot computer trys to make a $75 pre-authorization, (the limit at the pump) had the communication fail, and tried a second time. The bank computer then immediately shuts the card down. I think it happens to her more because of the time of day she gets gas vs. me (I usually get it about 5:30am) It is annoying because you have to then call customer service and turn it back on.
djsamuel
Nomad
Nov 17, 2014
dkreuzen wrote:
At Pilot/Flying J the best way is to get a Pilot RV Plus charge card. Works at all pumps including the truck lanes. Limits are either $1000 or 2500 depending on how you set it up. I have used this card for the last few years and will go out of my way to use it.
www.rvpluscard.com

Agree 100% Used the card from FL to AZ and had no issues. Without the discount, Pilot/FJ were among the cheapest, and the 5 cent discount made it even better. Saved a good bit of money.
dkreuzen
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014
At Pilot/Flying J the best way is to get a Pilot RV Plus charge card. Works at all pumps including the truck lanes. Limits are either $1000 or 2500 depending on how you set it up. I have used this card for the last few years and will go out of my way to use it.
www.rvpluscard.com
Paul_Clancy
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014
Don't really understand what the op is on about. Send wife in with mc and they start the pump. Fill pay go. Easy in and out. Yes there are some congested and older pilot fj and some great new travel plaza style. Same as any chain.
john_bet
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2014
Well, after reading all these troubles with credit cards I am very glad I use cash while traveling. That way there is no issues with limits of any kind, I am in no hurry and need to walk anyway.I only fill up once a day on average to boot.
rr2254545
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
ken56 wrote:
Throughout our 9000 mi. trip this summer I found the Flying J/Pilot stations to be no more accessible or cheaper than other stations. A 3 cent discount is not enough to buy my business nor is 10% on camping with Good Sam parks. They need to seriously up their game IMHO. I called our CC company and informed them of our itinerary before we left and had not one single issue with using it. I also kept close watch on the account online as we traveled.

Agree on the .03 cent a gallon - not a deal breaker. But 10% on camping fees really adds up - about $40 a week to us most weeks
JohnG3
Explorer II
Nov 13, 2014
Tom N wrote:
FJs are a zoo with all the inconsiderate and inexperienced RV drivers.

I now go to the station across the highway. Much much quicker, much much less congestion and the same price.

X2 on this reason to not stop at FJ's. Last straw several years ago was at the FJ on 99 north of Bakersfield.
ken56
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
Throughout our 9000 mi. trip this summer I found the Flying J/Pilot stations to be no more accessible or cheaper than other stations. A 3 cent discount is not enough to buy my business nor is 10% on camping with Good Sam parks. They need to seriously up their game IMHO. I called our CC company and informed them of our itinerary before we left and had not one single issue with using it. I also kept close watch on the account online as we traveled.
Poppy___Nana
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
I just noticed that Flying J/Pilot is now only giving 3 cent discount on gas/diesel.....unless you use their credit card!!!

Not really worth the hassle anymore trying to get in and out - there are so many places that offer diesel cheaper then FlyingJ/Pilot - will check out those stations and use my Visa which will give me cash back!

Dumping fee discounts have also DECREASED considerably, I believe you only get a discount of $2.50 per dump now "depending on facility"!
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
janechucknicodemus wrote:
it seems that the company have started to make sure you have to go inside by stopping your credit cards.
I hit a $50 limit in Deming NM. That was fun.

CC pump limits 2014

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