Credit cards at the pump

[homedad]

We just got back from NYC and stopped at a Sunoco on the Penn. Turn Pike. I paid with credit card at the pump and pumped $125. On the second time, because we all buy more than $125, the pump told me to see the cashier. She said I need to buy a specific dollar amount. I told her $100 and she tried to enter that amount and it was rejected. She then told me she didn't know what to do so I just left. I then stopped in Ohio to fill up again and the card wouldn't work at all. The cashier said it looks like it's flagged as stolen. My wife called the CC co. and they said that once the maximum is hit the second time you try the card will shut it down as if it's stolen. To avoid this the company said take the card in to the cashier and tell them to hold on to the card while you fill it up. It was a US Bank Visa (and a PITA). Other than this the trip was great. We stayed at Liberty Harbor.

[MTPockets1]

Most stations allow $100 per card, (occasionally more or less) but only once on that day. I usually pump $100, hang up the nozzle, start over with a second credit card and go for the second $100, then the same if I need another round.. I often pump about 60 gallons deisel, so the third card is convenient.

[homedad]

There were also several great small pizza restaurants in NYC who only took cash and AMEX. Maybe I'll get an AMEX.

[Alfred622]

I use an American Express Blue Cash card - Gets me 5% back on gas purchases (that adds up). Higher limit on the pump than Visa most places. 90% of the stations I've gone to accept it (use Visa for 10%). In addition to cash back, I have it setup so American Express emails me within minutes whenever a charge is made on my account without the card being physically swiped. For example, if I buy something from Amazon on the card I get an immediate email. No fee if I pay total bill within 20 days. No annual fee either. For me, Amex is a great company with which to work. (No relation to them, just a long-time happy customer)

[mustangglp]

Zip code would be easy if they steal your wallet they could look at your driver's license! I would rather have to put a pin number in.

[whistlebritches]

Paying with cash is a pain in the butt. We decided to do that in 2008 on a trip to Niagara Falls. If you remember, that is when oil went to $147/bbl and diesel spiked to $5.25/gal. Anyway, I would go in, give them a $100 (sometimes had to wait because there was a line), then they would turn on the pump, then I had to wait in line again to get my change. I hated it. And I don't why these credit card companies don't seem to realize that when fuel is as high as it is, that it takes a whole lot more to fill up. If your credit is good, they shouldn't have a problem with you spending as much as you need to on fuel. Most are now asking for your zip code at the pump, which a thief wouldn't know if he had stolen your card.

[mowermech]

guidry wrote:
Did you tell your bank/credit card provider that you were traveling? If not, they will flag it as if someone out of state was using it. Thus the non authorization.

That just is not true of ALL card providers!
I have never had a problem with my bankcard, and I have never had to tell my bank when and where I was going.
When we went to Chattanooga, I used three different cards for all the gas purchases for the trip, and one of those cards for the RV park fees. No problems.
I recently made a trip to Nevada and back. No problems buying gas in Montana, Idaho, and Nevada.
If YOUR card provider wants you to tell them about everything you do and everyplace you go, then you certainly should remember to let them know before you start out.
None of my card providers are that snoopy. We get along just fine.

[old_guy]

it is so much easier to make the call to the card provider. and while you are at it increase your daily limit.

[tegu69]

A few weeks ago, I went to a Flying J in NM. The cc didn't work at the rv island, so I went inside and left the card while fueling. After I finished I went back inside, got my cc and receipt for $71 and left. The next day I get a call from the cc company, wanting to know if I made the purchase of $71 and another for $500 The cc company had denied the $500. I'm glad they called and I won't leave the card again.

[coolbreeze01]

My US Bank Visa worked 3 times. On the 4th fill, (same stop) I talked to the attendant and he said he'd turn the pump on for me.

[linnemj]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We notify PenFed online where we will be traveling and using our VISA Card. I see no value in paying more for gas by paying cash whether at the pump or inside.

We have to do the same thing. They monitor pretty tightly and we have had several times when the card quit working when we did not let them know in advance we were traveling. Since we use a program to track expenses and get a Pen Fed discount, it works better for us to use the credit card.

[NYCgrrl]

Some gas stations don't readily accept cash to keep their staff alive/unhurt.

[Dutch_12078]

We notify PenFed online where we will be traveling and using our VISA Card. I see no value in paying more for gas by paying cash whether at the pump or inside.

[crcr]

dan-nickie wrote:

Helimech wrote:
Never had that problem with cash

Never seen Cash at the Pump. Where was that? 🙂

Arco AM-PM's all over the Southwest and West take cash at the pump.

[homedad]

I've never had it happen before except when I had to swipe 3 times due to a $75 maximum. Even that time I had to go in but the cashier ran it and all was good. I have a feeling that it was due to all the charges in NYC. My wife said the person at the VISA company was grilling her on all these charges we made in Manhatten then Brooklyn. I get the protection thing but if I didn't have a debit card I think I would still be waiting at the gas station in Ohio. Maybe a secret password or something to speed this up.

[darsben]

I just go inside and tell them I need about $250.00 of gas, give them CC when done pumping go back in and settle up. I am not in that big a hurry and have only had one problem with a clerk who was not trained right by management.