Pay At The Pump Charges

[The Old Man]

I just found this whilst browsing.

Petrol stations introduce new £99 charge to pay at the pump.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/petrol-stations-introduce-99-charge-171925706.html

Assuming that it's not April the 1st, thats the end of using those pumps.

Supermarket petrol pumps are starting to charge drivers a £99 fee to pay at the pump under a new European-style rule change by Visa and Mastercard.

The "pre-authorization charge" is being introduced to ensure drivers have enough money to cover the amount of fuel they put in their cars if they choose to pay at the pump instead of at a kiosk.

Last month Asda became the first supermarket to introduce the charge at three stores, but has been met with complaints from customers.

One customer claimed the £99 charge was deducted from her bank balance and not returned for two days. Although the money is deducted from the customer's bank balance or credit card limit it is held in limbo but never actually leaves their account.

Once the payment for the petrol has cleared the charge will reappear on the customer's balance. This can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as two to three days.

It is understood that supermarkets have now put plans to introduce the charge on ice following consumer outrage and confusion.

 

[chaser]

I just found this whilst browsing.

Petrol stations introduce new £99 charge to pay at the pump.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/petrol-stations-introduce-99-charge-171925706.html

Assuming that it's not April the 1st, thats the end of using those pumps.

Supermarket petrol pumps are starting to charge drivers a £99 fee to pay at the pump under a new European-style rule change by Visa and Mastercard.

The "pre-authorization charge" is being introduced to ensure drivers have enough money to cover the amount of fuel they put in their cars if they choose to pay at the pump instead of at a kiosk.

Last month Asda became the first supermarket to introduce the charge at three stores, but has been met with complaints from customers.

One customer claimed the £99 charge was deducted from her bank balance and not returned for two days. Although the money is deducted from the customer's bank balance or credit card limit it is held in limbo but never actually leaves their account.

Once the payment for the petrol has cleared the charge will reappear on the customer's balance. This can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as two to three days.

It is understood that supermarkets have now put plans to introduce the charge on ice following consumer outrage and confusion.

Very common in Europe, in fact just about the norm.

 

[Larby]

I know there is a maximum of £99 on the pump but not aware of charge of £99 until later.
I also know French pumps should be avoided with say Caxton cards for reasons you describe as it can tie up funds.

 

[WynandJean]

Been like that as long as I can remember. The pump advises you of the limit before it starts. The amount is 'ring fenced' in your account until they've received the payment. Never found it a problem.

Wyn

 

[The Old Man]

I know there is a maximum of £99 on the pump but not aware of charge of £99 until later.
I also know French pumps should be avoided with say Caxton cards for reasons you describe as it can tie up funds.

Love the new Avatar.

I use a Debit Card at Asda 'Pay at the Pump' when I want fuel, As far as I know I've never been charged the deposit!

Yes it does say you can fill up to £99.

Mind as I think about it I can recall two incidents when after filling up my Debit Card has been declined at the next point of sale, when I had calculated that I had enough funds. Now I'm wondering if this is what has happened?

It seems that all these convenient way to pay for stuff, may save time but if falls down if you have to keep logging in daily to check what has talen place on your account!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bailey58]

Never use pay at the pump or self service checkouts, if they want me to shop they can work for it.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Car hire companies do it [for a lot more], so do hotels...
It's not a "charge", it's a pre-authorisation to ensure the business will get paid... No money leaves your account, it's just ring fenced.

 

[scotjimland]

French pumps should be avoided with say Caxton cards for reasons you describe as it can tie up funds.

In my experience French pumps won't accept pre loaded cards

Never had an issue with ring fencing £99 .. that's common practice , it's also a practice to limit fuel dispensed to that amount.. won't affect many but it did when I had the RV with a large tank .. had to fill up to £99 then pay cashier, and start again..

 

[maxi77]

Got stuck behind a big motorboat in Brest once whilst sailing, he needed much more than the 99 euro limit and had to amble very slowly back and forwards from the cash office to get all his fuel authorised. I find the 99 euro charge from time to time though not in the UK. Pre authorisation charges have always been around especially in hotels and was one of the reasons I used to use Amex travelling on business because those charges could eat up your credit limit pretty fast. I never understood how they could put them on so fast but take so long to take them off again

 

[tacr2man]

I often fill at Tesco with the RV , and they just reauthorize the pump
each time it hits the limit , when paying by debit card , I usually go in and just advise them of whats going to happen . I have also used pay at pump never seen any hold charge on my a/c when having to multi purchase.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mitzimad]

our weswap card works at most automated pumps in europe one refusal in 6 years that was city center unmaned station one of the big fuel companies possibly gulf

 

[Steve N Tracy]

When ever we use a self service pump in France with our per paid FairFX card they have always pre authorized 120 euros normally the balance is back on the card within 2 days but takes longer over a weekend.

 

[Nasher]

Yep, normal for much of Europe - never found it a problem

 

[gus-lopez]

In France it always debits 120€ then you receive a esceipt with the amount spent. I always use a spanish card to pay as the 120€ is returned almost immediately , whereas with other cards,UK, it isn't .
First time I saw this when I returned I queried it with my bank manager & he stated that it is illegal in Spain & also illegal to do it to a spanish card. If at any time it was not returned the same day to let him know, day ,date ,time, company & the bank would institute proceedings.
It is also to be remembered that in the event of a problem at the pump, after authorisation, & need to start again then that is another 120€/£99. I once had 2 blips on a pump as I used it & was stopped 360€ , albeit returned same day.
If,like me, you can be filling more than once per day,multiple times/week then that is a lot of £99 being ring fenced. Another point to be made is that it will also disenfranchise any who do not even have £99 in there account to start with.

Car hire companies do it [for a lot more], so do hotels...
It's not a "charge", it's a pre-authorisation to ensure the business will get paid... No money leaves your account, it's just ring fenced.

Yes but to credit cards not debit cards.

 

[The Nomad]

Perfectly usual in countries all across mainland Europe.
What's the "problem" with it?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MR. FUSION]

I had a problem with this in Scandinavia (where non attended automated pumps are the norm) with my first direct visa debit card, the card was not having the €99 pre charge under any circumstances. Luckily our back up cards of Visa credit did work. Moral, take plenty of cards abroad with you.

 

[nicholsong]

ASDA have decided to drop the payment because of delays in repaying the money.

Geoff

 

[The Dotties]

I often find s £1 charge on Mr account for fuel. Been told it is to check whether the card is legit or stolen

 

[Lenny HB]

Always known about it ever bothered me. Where pay at pump' is the norm in France only ever come across the odd on in Spain. Used one in Spain on our way back a few weeks ago when we got the card statement it showed a payment of €99, and a refund, the difference being the cost of the fuel, all on the same day. Confused us at first as we never seen that before.

 

[Ivory55]

Must admit we try to always go to the maned station or supermarket for fuel be it here or abroad.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

ASDA have decided to drop the payment because of delays in repaying the money.

Geoff

I can't understand why it takes so long to repay ?
As in my earlier post once I had it the the first time with 3 x 120€ with held & repaid same day I now always check at first opportunity. I said before it is always returned the same day on the spanish cards when used in France even though they do not take the payment for another 7 days.

 

[Pausim]

Supposed to be credited straight back as the transaction is finalised. Surprise surprise, some banks take a few days to do it and presumably have shited it around the planet twice gaining the overnight (libor) rate in 3 time zones per lap on the way.