Comments on: Credit and Debit Card Blocks at the Pump http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/ The best Credit Card Debt Blog online Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:22:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: dlm http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-46342 dlm Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:40:17 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-46342 Mastercard Canada yesterday declined our purchase at a gas station twice!! and then put a block on the card because they thought it was an "unusual" purchase even though it's something that's done every month -- the car was filled up Saturday, then Sunday gas cans were tried to be filled up for a small plane but since they thought it was unusual they blocked it -- and this was when my husband would have been travelling from Canada to the U.S. and would have used the card there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mastercard Canada yesterday declined our purchase at a gas station twice!! and then put a block on the card because they thought it was an “unusual” purchase even though it’s something that’s done every month — the car was filled up Saturday, then Sunday gas cans were tried to be filled up for a small plane but since they thought it was unusual they blocked it — and this was when my husband would have been travelling from Canada to the U.S. and would have used the card there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget » Master Your Card: Card blocks at the pump http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2684 Monroe on a Budget » Master Your Card: Card blocks at the pump Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:02:57 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2684 [...] Master Your Card explains that situation - and what it means to your wallet - in this post: Credit and debit card blocks at the pump. [...] [...] Master Your Card explains that situation – and what it means to your wallet – in this post: Credit and debit card blocks at the pump. [...]

]]> By: Finance Fiesta No. 3: The Spanish Proverbs Money Edition | Our Fourpence Worth http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2613 Finance Fiesta No. 3: The Spanish Proverbs Money Edition | Our Fourpence Worth Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:57:40 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2613 [...] Master Your Card presents Credit and Debit Card Blocks at the Pump posted at Master Your [...] [...] Master Your Card presents Credit and Debit Card Blocks at the Pump posted at Master Your [...]

]]> By: Leah S http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Leah S Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:58:03 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2607 Oh my, I've been experiencing this since I got my driver's license back in 2002. My parents had a diesel Chevy Suburban with a 43 gallon tank. I tried to not let it get close to empty, or else it'd be a few card swipes (and a long time!) to fill it up. I'm sure people in line were so happy to get stuck behind me... not! My preferred gas station had a separate diesel pump, between two regular pumps. The gas door was on the VERY end of the suburban, so I'd have to pull up super far and completely block off others from using the regular pump in front of me. It was even more fun when I could pull up to the first regular pump, but not get close enough to the diesel pump because somebody else was using the other regular pump in front of me. Gotta wait till they finished so I could get close enough to the diesel pump. (And as luck would have it, the diesel pump did not have an extended hose.) If somebody behind me also had a gas door in the very back of their car... well, there simply wasn't enough space for them to pull close enough without hitting the Suburban. Then I'd be hogging 3 whole pumps. And they'd be deluded to thinking that I'm done when I put the nozzle up, get the receipt... wait! Why am I swiping again?! :P Oh my, I’ve been experiencing this since I got my driver’s license back in 2002. My parents had a diesel Chevy Suburban with a 43 gallon tank. I tried to not let it get close to empty, or else it’d be a few card swipes (and a long time!) to fill it up.

I’m sure people in line were so happy to get stuck behind me… not! My preferred gas station had a separate diesel pump, between two regular pumps. The gas door was on the VERY end of the suburban, so I’d have to pull up super far and completely block off others from using the regular pump in front of me.

It was even more fun when I could pull up to the first regular pump, but not get close enough to the diesel pump because somebody else was using the other regular pump in front of me. Gotta wait till they finished so I could get close enough to the diesel pump. (And as luck would have it, the diesel pump did not have an extended hose.)

If somebody behind me also had a gas door in the very back of their car… well, there simply wasn’t enough space for them to pull close enough without hitting the Suburban. Then I’d be hogging 3 whole pumps. And they’d be deluded to thinking that I’m done when I put the nozzle up, get the receipt… wait! Why am I swiping again?! :P

]]> By: The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Flying Costs Come Home to Roost Edition http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2601 The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Flying Costs Come Home to Roost Edition Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:57:15 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2601 [...] Credit and Debit Card Blocks at the Pump Whenever you use a debit or credit card to pay at the pump, your credit card company puts a “hold” on a portion of the funds that can stay in place for many days. This can cause over-limit fees and so on. The best tactic? Simply don’t use cards at the pump that are close to the edge in terms of balance. (@ master your card) [...] [...] Credit and Debit Card Blocks at the Pump Whenever you use a debit or credit card to pay at the pump, your credit card company puts a “hold” on a portion of the funds that can stay in place for many days. This can cause over-limit fees and so on. The best tactic? Simply don’t use cards at the pump that are close to the edge in terms of balance. (@ master your card) [...]

]]> By: Megan http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2587 Megan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:48:49 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2587 I don't like these limits at all. I am routinely spending almost $60 per fill-up these days, and it really frustrates me when I get cut off with less than a full tank at the $50 mark. Since I use the same credit card to gas up each time, and don't always get cut-off, I will be paying attention to the merchants who have such limits and therefore won't be returning to those gas stations again. I don’t like these limits at all. I am routinely spending almost $60 per fill-up these days, and it really frustrates me when I get cut off with less than a full tank at the $50 mark.

Since I use the same credit card to gas up each time, and don’t always get cut-off, I will be paying attention to the merchants who have such limits and therefore won’t be returning to those gas stations again.

]]> By: Ulrike http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2584 Ulrike Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:47:20 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2584 We've had this problem for years since we have a 100 gallon extra tank on our truck. But I don't think for a minute that these limits were set up to prevent fraud (if that was the case, then the second swipe with the same card should be declined - we have swiped the same card as many as 4 times and were never prevented from continuing, so how would that help prevent fraud?). In my opinion, these limits were set by the card companies for exactly the reason you are pointing out: an extra fee for them to collect. And, Curt, if those limits were set by congress, they would be the same all over. We have so far experienced 3 different limits: $50.00, $75.00 and $100. It looks like the card companies are setting the cut-off as low as they can get away with. If a merchant complains about a $50.00 limit they raise it to the next level. I expect with rising fuel costs, the limits will also rise as soon as the merchants catch on. We’ve had this problem for years since we have a 100 gallon extra tank on our truck. But I don’t think for a minute that these limits were set up to prevent fraud (if that was the case, then the second swipe with the same card should be declined – we have swiped the same card as many as 4 times and were never prevented from continuing, so how would that help prevent fraud?). In my opinion, these limits were set by the card companies for exactly the reason you are pointing out: an extra fee for them to collect.
And, Curt, if those limits were set by congress, they would be the same all over. We have so far experienced 3 different limits: $50.00, $75.00 and $100. It looks like the card companies are setting the cut-off as low as they can get away with. If a merchant complains about a $50.00 limit they raise it to the next level.
I expect with rising fuel costs, the limits will also rise as soon as the merchants catch on.

]]> By: Hedy http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2583 Hedy Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:31:00 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2583 I, too, drive a small car, but the uhaul example is definitely making me think. I, too, drive a small car, but the uhaul example is definitely making me think.

]]> By: Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:01:50 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2577 I think the limits should be raised and the best way to get them to do that is to do the double transaction thing you mentioned. If the merchants are upset about having to pay higher fees they will complain to the credit card companies, and the limits will get raised. (one would imagine) I think the limits should be raised and the best way to get them to do that is to do the double transaction thing you mentioned. If the merchants are upset about having to pay higher fees they will complain to the credit card companies, and the limits will get raised. (one would imagine)

]]> By: Curt http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/comment-page-1/#comment-2576 Curt Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:28:34 +0000 http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/06/16/credit-and-debit-card-blocks-at-the-pump/#comment-2576 I just talked to my brother about this problem yesterday. He is not very happy about it and wants to get a new card that allows him to fill his tank without this limit. But, I think congress has set the limits on the credit card companies, so I don't think it will change anytime soon. I just talked to my brother about this problem yesterday. He is not very happy about it and wants to get a new card that allows him to fill his tank without this limit. But, I think congress has set the limits on the credit card companies, so I don’t think it will change anytime soon.

]]>