gas station complaints--

[happywanderer2]

the first one was a couple of months back. I received a shell gift card and went to a shell station to fill up. Well, this station had two prices for regular gas-one for cash and one for credit cards. I assumed that the price would be the cash price-I was wrong. Listen, I understand the station charging more for using credit card (don't like it but I understand), but this was a gift card --their gift card. I complained to the clerk but of course he couldn't do anything. I emailed shell about this and they just tried to get me to sign up for their card that is linked to your checking account. Some customer service.

This second incident was at a marathon. This was also a station that had two prices, one for cash and one for credit. I went into the station with cash and prepaid for my gas. I then went to pump and pumped my gas, which was less than I had prepaid. Before I went back into the station I happened to look at the price paid and it was the credit price-wth! So, I went into the station and the clerk had my change. I told him he charged me the wrong price but he refused to return the excess amount I paid. So, I call the 1-800 number from the state and left a message about what I encountered.

I tell you, right now I think I will be getting my gas from either Speedway, BP or Mobil because so far in my area those stations aren't pulling this two prices crude.

Anyone else have problems like this?

 

[Carly_Roach]

Not me. Anyone else?

 

[MIGrandma]

The only problem I have with gas stations is when they're out of paper for receipts when you charge your gas to your card at the pump. I want my receipt so then I have to go inside to get it. It's just annoying.

 

[bicker]

I received a shell gift card and went to a shell station to fill up. Well, this station had two prices for regular gas-one for cash and one for credit cards. I assumed that the price would be the cash price-I was wrong.

That's a very strange assumption you've made IMHO. More details HERE.

Listen, I understand the station charging more for using credit card (don't like it but I understand), but this was a gift card --their gift card.

I think you're trying to make some kind of point, in saying this, but I must be missing it. Sorry.

Read the linked article. That might clear up some confusion.

I went into the station with cash and prepaid for my gas. I then went to pump and pumped my gas, which was less than I had prepaid. Before I went back into the station I happened to look at the price paid and it was the credit price-wth!

All the self-service pumps I've ever used have the person pumping the gas (in this case, you) specify whether to apply the credit price or cash price. Does your gas station have some way for the attendant to force the credit selection?

I tell you, right now I think I will be getting my gas from either Speedway, BP or Mobil because so far in my area those stations aren't pulling this two prices crude.

Different people have different preferences. I've found that the gas stations with two prices tend to be less costly when I pay cash, and the gas stations with only one price tend to be less costly when I pay credit. YMMV. Regardless, whenever I was at a self-service gas station with two prices, I've always been in control of whether I was charged the cash price or the credit price - it has always been my responsibility to make the correct selection, or at the very least, it is my responsibility to not pump any gas if the pump is showing the wrong price.

 

[lovetoscrap]

That's a very strange assumption you've made IMHO. More details HERE.

I think you're trying to make some kind of point, in saying this, but I must be missing it. Sorry.

Read the linked article. That might clear up some confusion.

.

OP was not using a DEBIT card, they were using a GIFT card--one from the same company, not just a generic VISA gift card. That article is talking about Debit cards. I have to agree, I would have been upset too.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I would call and speak to the manager. Alot of registers do have different ways for ringing things up. Sometimes cashiers can be new and maybe someone did not teach them how to ring it in properly. Also I know for the place I worked at the registers would let you know when it was out of paper. So we knew when to replace it. And then there were times we would go to change it and it would not work. So you had to call and get maint to fix it. And we were not allowed to hang signs up. Company policy. Trust me it is no fun dealing with stations. Did not like the politics. Dont give up on getting a hold of someone to talk to. No I did not work for shell. Much bigger one. Jo

 

[focusondisney]

Wow, what a pain. Luckily none of the stations in my area have started this 2 price thing yet. Now if they do, I'll be aware of the problems. Thanks for posting this.

But I can't blame you for being upset. I would be, too. And if you are supposed to set the price your self, they should have some kind of big sign or something. I would think it would be automatically set by the payment method you select.

If it was me, I'd be complaining to the state Attorney General or a local TV station. Tv consumer reporters love these stories & the NY state attorney general seems to be good about investigating these things, too. No way should a business get away with refusing to refund your money if they charge you too much. Good Luck!

 

[happywanderer2]

ok, I'll try and clear up some things. The problem at Shell was that I used a gift card from Shell. A gift card with their shell emblem pasted right there on front and card was paid for in cash. Unless Shell gets their gift cards made by a third party who renders a fee to Shell for using the gift cards I don't know why it would show as a credit/debit card. And if that is the case with their gift cards then consumers should be made aware of this when purchasing these gift cards.

As to the problem at Marathon, I did lodge a complaint with the State about what happened and I hope they investigate that station.

 

[focusondisney]

ok, I'll try and clear up some things. The problem at Shell was that I used a gift card from Shell. A gift card with their shell emblem pasted right there on front and card was paid for in cash. Unless Shell gets their gift cards made by a third party who renders a fee to Shell for using the gift cards I don't know why it would show as a credit/debit card. And if that is the case with their gift cards then consumers should be made aware of this when purchasing these gift cards.

As to the problem at Marathon, I did lodge a complaint with the State about what happened and I hope they investigate that station.

Good for you. Now that I think about it, I'd complain to the state about the gift card, too. I think gift cards are supposed to be considered as cash, not credit.

 

[hambirg]

The problem with the Shell gift card is that it most likely is a third party transaction. Most Shells are franchises. They have to process that transaction through Shell Corp. to get the money. I just know that the accounting is very different than a cash transaction. You might see only corporate stores, like Target, Walmart etc, treating their GC's as cash transactions, but it is not safe to assume that will be the case everywhere. And different states have different laws regarding retail GC's,, but I couldn't find any state codes that require them to accept it as a cash transaction.

As for the incident at Marathon, you were entitled to the cash price. In all likelihood, the cashier probably just made a mistake and didn't know how to rectify it. I would follow up with the manager/owner. They should be able to refund the difference. Like the PPs have said, it's a good idea to check the price on the pump before you start pumping. I'm sure you already know that though. It would have been easy for the cashier to fix that had you noticed before you pumped. HTH

 

[cm8]

the first one was a couple of months back. I received a shell gift card and went to a shell station to fill up. Well, this station had two prices for regular gas-one for cash and one for credit cards. I assumed that the price would be the cash price-I was wrong. Listen, I understand the station charging more for using credit card (don't like it but I understand), but this was a gift card --their gift card. I complained to the clerk but of course he couldn't do anything. I emailed shell about this and they just tried to get me to sign up for their card that is linked to your checking account. Some customer service.

This second incident was at a marathon. This was also a station that had two prices, one for cash and one for credit. I went into the station with cash and prepaid for my gas. I then went to pump and pumped my gas, which was less than I had prepaid. Before I went back into the station I happened to look at the price paid and it was the credit price-wth! So, I went into the station and the clerk had my change. I told him he charged me the wrong price but he refused to return the excess amount I paid. So, I call the 1-800 number from the state and left a message about what I encountered.

I tell you, right now I think I will be getting my gas from either Speedway, BP or Mobil because so far in my area those stations aren't pulling this two prices crude.

Anyone else have problems like this?

We have some gas stations here that are both cash and credit same price and some that are cash rules and you get a discount price for using it. I don't stop there anymore. It was also a shell that offered the two tier pricing

 

[bicker]

OP was not using a DEBIT card, they were using a GIFT card

There's no difference.

 

[sbell111]

There's no difference.

Do you have a legal basis for that conclusion?

 

[bicker]

Indeed. Turn over the gift card and read it.

 

[SandrA9810]

I would be mad too.

Although my one complaint with a station, was resolved really well. I filled up the tank at the Hess station on Disney property. I ALWAYS prepay inside prior to pumping. So I put $45. When I got done, I went back inside to get a receipt for the difference of $7. Since it's preauthorize at the amount you want, but then billed as the final amount pumped. For some reason, the register was acting up, and she couldn't get a receipt to print. So I got a hand written one instead. Sure enough, I finally looked at the bank statement, and was charged the whole amount, not the amount pumped. I pulled up a copy of my bank statement on my phone, showed the guy my receipt, and he said he couldn't do anything about it, but to come back during the week to talk to the store manager.
It took like 3 or 4 times stopping by to finally catch her, but the guy I spoke to before was there too. He told her what I told him, and she processed a refund immediately. No hoops, no questioning. It was really simple and pleasant, even though this was a month later.

I actually prefer Race Trac and Hess over any other stations. No two tier pricing, and they're always reasonably priced in comparison.

 

[mjkacmom]

OP was not using a DEBIT card, they were using a GIFT card--one from the same company, not just a generic VISA gift card. That article is talking about Debit cards. I have to agree, I would have been upset too.

One could easily buy the gc with a credit card, and then ask for the cash price, so I side with the gas station. In order to get the cash price, it has to be linked up with a checking account, so they can assure it's actually paid for in cash.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have some gas stations here that are both cash and credit same price and some that are cash rules and you get a discount price for using it. I don't stop there anymore. It was also a shell that offered the two tier pricing

Two tier pricing here is awesome! NJ law makes it illegal to charge more for credit card transactions, but they can charge less for cash transactions. The two tier stations here charge 9 cents less a gallon for cash than those who charge the same for cash/credit.

 

[tvguy]

Wow, what a pain. Luckily none of the stations in my area have started this 2 price thing yet.

You must be 30 or younger. This was the norm in the 70's and 80s.

 

[tvguy]

Do you have a legal basis for that conclusion?

Merchants have to pay a fee (usually a percentage of the purchase) if customers use credit, debit or gift cards. They're just passing on the cost to you.

We've had a rash of very sophisticated credit card skimming incidents here recently, so many that police have actually put out an advisory to only pay cash for gas.

 

[SandrA9810]

We've had a rash of very sophisticated credit card skimming incidents here recently, so many that police have actually put out an advisory to only pay cash for gas.

Skimming is getting out of hand. But it might take us all back to the days of using just cash. And then the thieves will have to learn to pickpocket again and other ways stealing cash. Once they have that figured out, back to the plastic we go.