Credit card shows invalid at truck stop pumps

[behengold]

What's the secret to getting the pump to take my credit card. Keeps coming up invalid and I need to pay at the cashier. Thanks

[behengold]

I think it has something to do with consumer cards and taxes. I have no problem when I go inside and guess what it will take to fill the tank. Might be worth getting a flying J card. Thanks for the responses.

[Billinwoodland]

soren wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
Typical consumer cards are not used at truck stops and diesel fuel pumps.

And if your history does not reflect consistent use of such pumps, they are blocked for your own protection because of the high tabs typically seen at them.

All you do is call your CC company and tell them. Its literally a couple mouse clicks to allow these charges to go thru in the future.

Although this is logical, don't bother trying to use logical intelligent reasoning IF you have a Wells-Fargo account. If I stick my WF card in a Flying J, or Pilot truck island pump, my card locks up instantly. I have to call the idiots to get their "fraud prevention specialist" to unfreeze the account. I actually had a conversation that went like this, on one such call:

Me: How can I resolve this issue, to prevent you from freezing my account every time I attempt to fuel my motorhome.
WFI: (Wells-Fargo Idiot) Well sir, if we saw a pattern of such purchases we would allow the transaction to go through.
Me: How would one develop a pattern of such purchases when you will not allow a single one to take place?
WFI: Silence.............
Me: Did the profound stupidity of your last statement leave you speechless?

Now this is the same company that just froze my card at the first place I tried to buy fuel at in the Yukon, while returning to the lower 48, from Alaska.

Me: Any clue as to why you froze my card again?
WFI: Well sir, you did not notify us that you were traveling internationally.
Me: Please read the Email you sent confirming my travel itinerary.
The one where you list the areas we agreed that I would be traveling in.
WFI: CA.OR.WA.Canada,AK.......
Me: Ok, now tell me, when exactly did CANADA become the 51st state.
WFI: More stupidity induced silence, followed by, "Well sir, your card will be usable in the next 90 seconds"

I have WF as well as others. I've had the same problem. Now, when I hit the road, or when traveling in a foreign country, I call them and let them know I will be traveling and never have an issue.

For the OP, I have had problems with cc readers at pumps if they are in direct sunlight and the reader is hot. I have no explanation for it, but know that I have used a moist rag to cool off the machine and it takes my card.

[luvlabs]

Pilot/Flying J has had an RVPlus Charge Card available for almost 2 years. You can charge your purchase right at the pump. They do not charge interest but you do have to pay the balance each month in full. And you get all the Good Sam discounts. Especially convenient when use the truck lanes for diesel.

[retiredtraveler]

On a somewhat related subject.
We only use debit card and cash when traveling. Last fall we pulled into a CG in SC on a Saturday. My debit card was rejected, twice. I paid cash for the 2 nights and called my bank Monday. Turns out they have 5 states where we can not use debit card. You have to call in advance to get the card unlocked for 3 months. I was aware of this for overseas travel but not for US. Live and learn.

[YC_1]

Sometimes you just need a new card. I always call my card company now before going on a trip. I let them know I will be buying diesel and spending up to $200 for a fill up. I also let them know the area I will be traveling. I have only needed to go inside once in four months of traveling. I also set my CC to e-mail me for purchases over $20. I immediately know what is going on.

[Vulcan_Rider]

behengold wrote:
What's the secret to getting the pump to take my credit card. Keeps coming up invalid and I need to pay at the cashier. Thanks

Don't go to a "truck" lane.
Use one of the "car" lanes.
Assuming that your rig will fit there of course.

Almost ALL of the major stations have at least 2 diesel pumps on the "car" side these days.....if that's what you need.

[sch911]

We simply signed up for the Flying J Pilot RV Plus charge card. Works fine at the truck pumps, and no it's not a credit card, the bill must be paid in full every month. You get 1K allowance, or 2.5K if you tie it to your bank account for monthly automatic payments. Put about 1.5K on it on our trip to Yellowstone two weeks ago. No issues...

[Passin_Thru]

Watch yourself in Pa as they wont refund tax money paid at the pump, which charges commercial truck fuel tax. Got into it with Fly J after doing business with them over 40 years at Harrisburg Pa.

[Trackrig]

soren wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
Typical consumer cards are not used at truck stops and diesel fuel pumps.

And if your history does not reflect consistent use of such pumps, they are blocked for your own protection because of the high tabs typically seen at them.

All you do is call your CC company and tell them. Its literally a couple mouse clicks to allow these charges to go thru in the future.

Although this is logical, don't bother trying to use logical intelligent reasoning IF you have a Wells-Fargo account. If I stick my WF card in a Flying J, or Pilot truck island pump, my card locks up instantly. I have to call the idiots to get their "fraud prevention specialist" to unfreeze the account. I actually had a conversation that went like this, on one such call:

Me: How can I resolve this issue, to prevent you from freezing my account every time I attempt to fuel my motorhome.
WFI: (Wells-Fargo Idiot) Well sir, if we saw a pattern of such purchases we would allow the transaction to go through.
Me: How would one develop a pattern of such purchases when you will not allow a single one to take place?
WFI: Silence.............
Me: Did the profound stupidity of your last statement leave you speechless?

Now this is the same company that just froze my card at the first place I tried to buy fuel at in the Yukon, while returning to the lower 48, from Alaska.

Me: Any clue as to why you froze my card again?
WFI: Well sir, you did not notify us that you were traveling internationally.
Me: Please read the Email you sent confirming my travel itinerary.
The one where you list the areas we agreed that I would be traveling in.
WFI: CA.OR.WA.Canada,AK.......
Me: Ok, now tell me, when exactly did CANADA become the 51st state.
WFI: More stupidity induced silence, followed by, "Well sir, your card will be usable in the next 90 seconds"

I had the same type of problems and conversations with another CC company. I started calling them when I got within cell range of a town I was going to get fuel in and I'd make them stay on the line until the pump started running. Then they'd want to hang up, but I'd make them continue to stay on the line while I had to restart the pumps several times with a 100 gal tank and higher priced fuel a couple of years ago.

Bill

[soren]

RinconVTR wrote:
Typical consumer cards are not used at truck stops and diesel fuel pumps.

And if your history does not reflect consistent use of such pumps, they are blocked for your own protection because of the high tabs typically seen at them.

All you do is call your CC company and tell them. Its literally a couple mouse clicks to allow these charges to go thru in the future.

Although this is logical, don't bother trying to use logical intelligent reasoning IF you have a Wells-Fargo account. If I stick my WF card in a Flying J, or Pilot truck island pump, my card locks up instantly. I have to call the idiots to get their "fraud prevention specialist" to unfreeze the account. I actually had a conversation that went like this, on one such call:

Me: How can I resolve this issue, to prevent you from freezing my account every time I attempt to fuel my motorhome.
WFI: (Wells-Fargo Idiot) Well sir, if we saw a pattern of such purchases we would allow the transaction to go through.
Me: How would one develop a pattern of such purchases when you will not allow a single one to take place?
WFI: Silence.............
Me: Did the profound stupidity of your last statement leave you speechless?

Now this is the same company that just froze my card at the first place I tried to buy fuel at in the Yukon, while returning to the lower 48, from Alaska.

Me: Any clue as to why you froze my card again?
WFI: Well sir, you did not notify us that you were traveling internationally.
Me: Please read the Email you sent confirming my travel itinerary.
The one where you list the areas we agreed that I would be traveling in.
WFI: CA.OR.WA.Canada,AK.......
Me: Ok, now tell me, when exactly did CANADA become the 51st state.
WFI: More stupidity induced silence, followed by, "Well sir, your card will be usable in the next 90 seconds"

[RinconVTR]

Typical consumer cards are not used at truck stops and diesel fuel pumps.

And if your history does not reflect consistent use of such pumps, they are blocked for your own protection because of the high tabs typically seen at them.

All you do is call your CC company and tell them. Its literally a couple mouse clicks to allow these charges to go thru in the future.

[Trackrig]

At the truck stops the card readers could be for commercial account cards only. Often on those, the fuel distributor does not charge the highway taxes, it leaves that up to the carriers. I've seen that at a truck stop in Vancouver, WA. Thought I was getting a good price from their billboard until I went inside and had to pay the taxes also. Could have gotten it cheaper anywhere else.

Bill

[Bob___Ann]

There are very few large truck stops where a standard credit card will work at the pump. I always have to go inside first. They may ask you for a pre authorization amount before you pump. You can have more then you need authorized. If you tell them $200 and you can only get $150 fuel into your tank when you go back inside after pumping the receipt will be for the $150. Good luck.

[RCMAN46]

RoyB wrote:
I have run into that as well and always thought it was just the fuel pumps reader wore out from excessive use. When I go pay inside I usually have to tell them the amount in advance and they hold the card which I don't like to do...

Roy Ken

X2

I have had cards that will not work at fuel pumps but work everywhere else.

Then I try my wife's card which is not used as much and it will usually work.