Credit cards cut off gas purchases

[homesick_american 1]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070616/ap_on_...xQ89qan8JTMWM0F

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - So you're at the gas station filling up your vehicle, and without warning the gas pump shuts off. What? The tank isn't full, and you know your credit card isn't over its limit.

"Using my Visa card, I commonly hit a limit and I would be standing there scratching my head," Shawn Bloomfield, who pumps premium gas into his SUV, said from his home in Allentown, Pa. "I would always assume it is the gas station setting a limit on how much gas I could purchase. It felt like a ration scenario."

As the price of gasoline continues to rise, rules to prevent credit card fraud at the nation's pumps are confusing consumers who just want a full tank of gas.

Caps on transaction amounts — or the total dollar amount of gas a customer can pump into their car — are limiting some drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles.

"When I go to the gas station I now have to use two credit cards just for one tank of gas," said Paul Brisgone of Oxford, Pa. "Kind of defeats the convenience of pay-at-the-pump."

Brisgone, a field operations manager for a telecommunications company, said he alternates between three different credit cards — two Visa and one MasterCard — when filling up the 32-gallon tank in his Ford F-150 pickup.

"When I can go 400 miles a day, it inconveniences me if I need a full tank of gas and can't get one," Brisgone said.

Credit card companies say the policies, which aren't new, are designed to ensure that merchants and consumers are protected from fraudulent transactions that could occur at a gas pump.

When a customer uses their credit card at a cardholder-activated terminal, such as a gas pump, the transaction is authorized without knowing the final bill of sale.

Typically, consumers who use their credit card are not liable for any fraudulent purchases, and gas merchants are not liable either.

But credit card companies have established a protective layer by setting caps on how much gas a consumer can pump at any one given time.

That means in the event of any fraud, "the merchant is protected from bearing the cost of the fraudulent transaction," said MasterCard spokeswoman Joanne Trout.

But only up to a certain amount.

For MasterCard customers, it's $75. Visa and Discover users have a $50 pay-at-the-pump limit. Transaction limits vary for corporate card holders and American Express users.

Not all gas stations have to abide by the cap. And there are no limits if a customer goes inside and pays with their credit card at the counter.

The caps went unnoticed when gasoline prices were low.

"We get more calls, questions, when gas prices increase," said Visa spokeswoman Rhonda Bentz.

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline increased from $1.50 a gallon at the start of the decade to $2.28 a gallon in 2005, according to the American Automobile Association.

Today, gasoline prices are topping $3 a gallon.

"Yes, it's an inconvenience," said Bloomfield, who often reaches his $50 limit when filling up his Nissan Pathfinder. "I guess you could say it's a necessary inconvenience for more secure transactions."

[Reba 2]

another good argument to buy a more efficient vehicle

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't know about the other states, but here in California most gas pumps require that you enter in the billing zip code of the credit card as an added protection. Another alternative would be for credit cards to start requiring a PIN.

[Fandango 1,440]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

Sure, it's a hassle to deal with the fraud protection mechanisms that banks put in place. Let me try and play the devils advocate here for a second: The question at the end of the day ought to be are you willing to either pay for or waive altogether the zero liability fraud protection features your credit card currently offers to you free of charge? The bank is taking the risk as it is without charging you for it and that entitles the bank to put in place the fraud protection features it sees fit. You're always free to do business with an institution whose programs are more to your liking. There's tons of competition out there and a product for just about every taste and wallet.

[GaryC 7]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

Whenever I travel I do call my CC company and my bank and tell them where I am going and how long I will be there. Never had a problem and it only takes a few minutes.

[Robor007 0]

I don't know about the other states, but here in California most gas pumps require that you enter in the billing zip code of the credit card as an added protection. Another alternative would be for credit cards to start requiring a PIN.

They do that here in FL as well.

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

I spent over an hour at a jewelery store in the Philippines trying to get my wife's ring purchase approved. It was a combo of my bank (Bank of America) and the jeweler though. In the end it worked out but it took about a hour longer than necessary with the copies of this and that and phone calls and examination of my CC under a jewelers ring (not kiddding). I've had my CC company call me and ask me about orders I've placed online before too. I don't mind as I know it's just fraud prevention.

[Ladylethal 12]

In Brazil they usually call you before they start blocking the card. If I suddenly start buying a lot or in a foreign location they call our houses to ask if those are normal transactions. I like this 'cus then if something went wrong they haven't billed you yet and appropriate measures can be taken.

[Fandango 1,440]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

Sure, it's a hassle to deal with the fraud protection mechanisms that banks put in place. Let me try and play the devils advocate here for a second: The question at the end of the day ought to be are you willing to either pay for or waive altogether the zero liability fraud protection features your credit card currently offers to you free of charge? The bank is taking the risk as it is without charging you for it and that entitles the bank to put in place the fraud protection features it sees fit. You're always free to do business with an institution whose programs are more to your liking. There's tons of competition out there and a product for just about every taste and wallet.

I get what you're saying, but I don't think they're giving it 'free of charge'

Gary...

I forgot to mention, they did know I was in England. I was in contact with them sporadically. I was traveling quite a bit, and one day would be in the NE England, next in Germany, Ireland, etc...and all was fine. If they were going to stop my card, then the least they could have done was call my US number (I had my mom listed as POA and they also spoke to her from time to time). Verify that the card is not stolen before you cut it off. I had used it earlier in the day in France, and all was ok and then later it wasn't. If there'sa question, require me to produce id or something, but to be stood in a line only to be told that your card is declined is completely unacceptable to me.

Oh, and ET, I did stop using that card & promptly closed my acct afterwards.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

Sure, it's a hassle to deal with the fraud protection mechanisms that banks put in place. Let me try and play the devils advocate here for a second: The question at the end of the day ought to be are you willing to either pay for or waive altogether the zero liability fraud protection features your credit card currently offers to you free of charge? The bank is taking the risk as it is without charging you for it and that entitles the bank to put in place the fraud protection features it sees fit. You're always free to do business with an institution whose programs are more to your liking. There's tons of competition out there and a product for just about every taste and wallet.

I get what you're saying, but I don't think they're giving it 'free of charge'

Even if it is not entirely "free of charge", I am not paying extra for the fraud protection either of my CC companies affords me. Whether I make use of it or not, whether I pay CC or cash, I pay the same for goods and services. As such, it is free of charge to me as far as I can tell. And it has helped once thus far when some azzhat was trying to charge some online purchase to my credit card. They called me as they thought this was a rather odd purchase for me to make - not sure what triggered the alarm - and they handled it from there. I never even saw the charge on my statement. So, I am quite content with the protection my credit card affords me and, again, I am not paying anything extra when I pay with either of the cards.

Oh, and ET, I did stop using that card & promptly closed my acct afterwards.

Good for you. Shows that the market works.

Edited June 17, 2007 by ET-US2004

[Fandango 1,440]

This sort of stuff pizzes me off....I understand it's to 'prevent fraud', but at the end of the day, if the charge is authorized, they need to just allow it.

We were in Paris and I went to use my cc...and it was denied. I called them up all '#######?' and they were like 'you were in London yesterday & you racked up a lot of charges so we weren't sure if your card was stolen' I was like 'erm, I'm on vacation and yeah, I was in London yesterday, and today I'm in Paris, so? Should I call with an itinerary next time damnit? Or ask permission to use my card a lot?'

Azzholes.

Sure, it's a hassle to deal with the fraud protection mechanisms that banks put in place. Let me try and play the devils advocate here for a second: The question at the end of the day ought to be are you willing to either pay for or waive altogether the zero liability fraud protection features your credit card currently offers to you free of charge? The bank is taking the risk as it is without charging you for it and that entitles the bank to put in place the fraud protection features it sees fit. You're always free to do business with an institution whose programs are more to your liking. There's tons of competition out there and a product for just about every taste and wallet.

I get what you're saying, but I don't think they're giving it 'free of charge'

Even if it is not entirely "free of charge", I am not paying extra for the fraud protection either of my CC companies affords me. Whether I make use of it or not, whether I pay CC or cash, I pay the same for goods and services. As such, it is free of charge to me as far as I can tell. And it has helped once thus far when some azzhat was trying to charge some online purchase to my credit card. They called me as they thought this was a rather odd purchase for me to make - not sure what triggered the alarm - and they handled it from there. I never even saw the charge on my statement. So, I am quite content with the protection my credit card affords me and, again, I am not paying anything extra when I pay with either of the cards.

Oh, and ET, I did stop using that card & promptly closed my acct afterwards.

Good for you. Shows that the market works.

Thx for your input

[truffles 2]

To be fair - if you have ever had your card used by unauthorised person/s and they didnt try and prevent fraud then maybe you would take a different view? ....seems damned if you do damned if you dont!...when a fraudelant transaction takes place usually the c/c company actually take the brunt in then ( albeit they may have insurances in place). A little like the policy with shoplifting - the shop has a £XXX loss in goods shoplifted £XXX will then be recouped by increasing the costs to genuine customers.

[Fandango 1,440]

To be fair - if you have ever had your card used by unauthorised person/s and they didnt try and prevent fraud then maybe you would take a different view? ....seems damned if you do damned if you dont!...when a fraudelant transaction takes place usually the c/c company actually take the brunt in then ( albeit they may have insurances in place). A little like the policy with shoplifting - the shop has a £XXX loss in goods shoplifted £XXX will then be recouped by increasing the costs to genuine customers.

Don't get me wrong, I see what you're sayin...but to have it the card work fine earlier in the day for a 600 euro charge, then for it to be denied for about 14 euros seems a bit backwards....not to mention, they never called my POA to confirm or deny if I was in Paris.

I can see them saying 'check id' (which I would have been fine with) or having them call my POA as they had done in the past...but nothing, nada...just denied the charge, and I wound up looking like an azz cos my cc denied a 14 euro charge.

[jundp 191]

another good argument to buy a more efficient vehicle

No kidding. If I were him I'd be more worried about the fact that my car is using so much gas that I need two credit cards!

Pollution? Greenhouse gas emissions? Global warming?

I'm just saying

Oh and Lisa, I had that happen to me when I was in Peru. But it was the first time I'd ever used my CC out of the country, so I think that was why. It was still frustrating b/c I was only trying to buy a magazine and some snacks while on an 18 hour layover in an airport. My card worked fine the day before in Bolivia when I paid for the hotel....

[pedroh 21]

another good argument to buy a more efficient vehicle

OWNED..

with my wifey's hybrid.. never more than 30 bucks per full tank lol

on the other hand.. the dodge caravan i drive.. dang.. 45 bucks and up.. i really need anohter car..