Credit card limits when filling up the tank

[ezgoin]

I've been out of the RV scene for a while but now that we have a new MH I remembered something about credit card limits at the gas pumps. Assuming those restrictions are still in place, are they controlled by the credit card issuer or by the gas station? Is there a way to get around the limits? I hate using a credit card, but I also hate the idea of carrying enough cash to fill the MH multiple times.

[tropical36]

supermod38 wrote:

dbbls wrote:
I think the limits are set by the store. I ask the store one time and was told the credit card company set the limit. I then call the card company and they said the store. If the card company set them it would apply to all stations. I am incline to believe the store set them.

the credit limit IS set by the owner, however the limit comes from the card supplier.! the limit is the amount the card company will reimburse the owner for. if the owner sets a higher limit it is on his dime.

i owned my own gas station and store so you are getting this info from the horses mouth.

OK, but crossing the US a couple of times, we found that we could use the same Discover Card at least two times at the pump before being cut off and having to use another, or having to go inside the store and for whatever difference that made for the owner getting reimbursed. I guess, they just go for it, when they can see that it's something with a huge gas tank.

[supermod38]

dbbls wrote:
I think the limits are set by the store. I ask the store one time and was told the credit card company set the limit. I then call the card company and they said the store. If the card company set them it would apply to all stations. I am incline to believe the store set them.

the credit limit IS set by the owner, however the limit comes from the card supplier.! the limit is the amount the card company will reimburse the owner for. if the owner sets a higher limit it is on his dime.

i owned my own gas station and store so you are getting this info from the horses mouth.

[msmith1199]

BobGed wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
In any event, one of the easiest solutions to this is a commercial fueling account. I have the Pacific Pride Account through the place up in Washington. It lets me pump as much diesel fuel as I need. And they have gas too. The stations are generally unattended and generally not crowded at all so you don't have a line waiting for you to finish pumping 100 gallons. Of course you have to plan your fueling stops for where they are located, but that hasn't been a problem for me with Pacific Pride.

The franchisee is Pioneer Fuel Pacific Pride locations are generally higher priced than anyone in the area including PFJ, but they are very convenient if and when you need them. I used them on a coastal trip from California to Oregon. In many locations all of the regular stations were lined up, and the Pacific Pride location was wide open.

I have noticed they are a little higher price and there is the problem of not knowing the price until you get the bill, but in my area they higher price has never been more then a few pennies. I'm using only getting about 75 gallons when I fill up so the few extra bucks is worth it to me.

[Dutch_12078]

msmith1199 wrote:
When you think about these limits, most of them are kind of dumb because you can swipe the same card multiple times. What's the purpose in a limit if you can just keeping swiping the same card? I have never been asked to use a different card or had the card shut down. Just swipe it three or four times and it just keeps going. If I was using a stolen card what would have been saved by having a limit versus swiping in four times?

There's actually a big difference to the station owner. The card issuer sets a limit on how much they will reimburse the station when a fraudulent transaction takes place at the pump. The station owners typically set the card per swipe limit to that same amount. Since they are reimbursed on a per transaction basis, if a bad card is swiped three times because of a $75 limit on a $225 total sale, they get fully reimbursed the $225 in fraudulent charges at $75 per transaction. If the same card was allowed to only swipe once for that $225 sale, they would only be reimbursed $75 for the one transaction. and the remaining $150 would come out of their pocket.

[LaTriker]

Reason for setting limits on "at the pump" purchases.
If you go to Walmart and make a $200 purchase, Walmart will get a $200 approval from the credit card company, all is well. When you make a fuel purchase at the pump, the credit card company does not know the amount of your purchase until after you have completed the purchase, so they approve you for the largest amount most people buy ($75 or $100). The approved amount results in a conditional hold against your credit card limit. If the conditional hold was $500, and you only purchased $10 in fuel (motorcycle purchase) 3 or 4 times in one day, the $500 conditional approvals would quickly eat up a large credit card limit.

[BobGed]

msmith1199 wrote:
In any event, one of the easiest solutions to this is a commercial fueling account. I have the Pacific Pride Account through the place up in Washington. It lets me pump as much diesel fuel as I need. And they have gas too. The stations are generally unattended and generally not crowded at all so you don't have a line waiting for you to finish pumping 100 gallons. Of course you have to plan your fueling stops for where they are located, but that hasn't been a problem for me with Pacific Pride.

The franchisee is Pioneer Fuel Pacific Pride locations are generally higher priced than anyone in the area including PFJ, but they are very convenient if and when you need them. I used them on a coastal trip from California to Oregon. In many locations all of the regular stations were lined up, and the Pacific Pride location was wide open.

[koda55]

I have the Pilot Rv plus card. We have a 150 gallon tank. I just pull into either a Pilot of FlyinJ and fill up. I get 6 cents off the cash price for diesel. I get an email so many days ahead before they deduct the total amount for that billing cycle. We have the automatic payment which gives us a 2500 dollar limit. If I hit the limit I can also go into the site and pay what I have used so far and it rests so I have the whole amount available again.

[msmith1199]

When you think about these limits, most of them are kind of dumb because you can swipe the same card multiple times. What's the purpose in a limit if you can just keeping swiping the same card? I have never been asked to use a different card or had the card shut down. Just swipe it three or four times and it just keeps going. If I was using a stolen card what would have been saved by having a limit versus swiping in four times?

In any event, one of the easiest solutions to this is a commercial fueling account. I have the Pacific Pride Account through the place up in Washington. It lets me pump as much diesel fuel as I need. And they have gas too. The stations are generally unattended and generally not crowded at all so you don't have a line waiting for you to finish pumping 100 gallons. Of course you have to plan your fueling stops for where they are located, but that hasn't been a problem for me with Pacific Pride.

[eadeal55]

Executive wrote:
Issue with the RVPlus card is they are overwhelmed by the response. I applied for and was approved almost 60 days ago and am still waiting for the card. Phone call confirmed they are back logged on getting the cards out...that said, they've sent me two bills already with zero balances....:S......Dennis

I've had my Pilot/Flying J RV Plus Charge Card for a few months now, but haven't had a chance to use it. It's got a $1000 limit and I'm supposed to get a 6 cent per gallon discount. Headed down to New Bern NC this week-end and plan to use it for the first time on that trip.

[tropical36]

ezgoin wrote:
I've been out of the RV scene for a while but now that we have a new MH I remembered something about credit card limits at the gas pumps. Assuming those restrictions are still in place, are they controlled by the credit card issuer or by the gas station? Is there a way to get around the limits? I hate using a credit card, but I also hate the idea of carrying enough cash to fill the MH multiple times.

It appears to be the stations, as some cut off at $75, some at $100 and some never. All with the same Discover card and with the cash back savings, along with in store lines for waiting, we wouldn't think of using cash for this purpose. Just be sure to carry more than one card and not from the same company, in case you have to cancel one, while on the road or use the other, if the tank cuts you off and you don't want to go inside to deal with the cashier. We were gone for 3.5 months this past summer and had a card hacked in CA. A new one was sent to our home address, but that's not so convenient when you're not there.

[Executive45]

Issue with the RVPlus card is they are overwhelmed by the response. I applied for and was approved almost 60 days ago and am still waiting for the card. Phone call confirmed they are back logged on getting the cards out...that said, they've sent me two bills already with zero balances....:S......Dennis

[TragedyTrousers]

I prefer paying in cash. Don't have to worry about card theft that way.

[mtrumpet]

wny_pat wrote:

kokopelli40 wrote:
@mtrumpet. you need the RV Plus card from Pilot/Flyingj/GoodSam. Never have to swipe more than once.

But we use to be able to start the pump with our Rewards Card. Flying J lost my business when they did away with that! I'll go across the street when I don't have to wait in line thanks. Fuel is the same and price is lower across the street.

Right Pat. That's why I initially referred to my Flying J Rewards. As it stands now, it's almost as if the Flying J Rewards Card is pretty much useless aside from a couple of cents off per gallon.

[2oldman]

ezgoin wrote:
, are they controlled by the credit card issuer or by the gas station?

Station.

[wny_pat1]

kokopelli40 wrote:
@mtrumpet. you need the RV Plus card from Pilot/Flyingj/GoodSam. Never have to swipe more than once.

But we use to be able to start the pump with our Rewards Card. Flying J lost my business when they did away with that! I'll go across the street when I don't have to wait in line thanks. Fuel is the same and price is lower across the street.