Hess and Chevron Gas stations putting large hold on debit cards

[Brian Noble]

Sorry the "doing that" I meant was asking for your pin even if you are trying to process it as a credit transaction. Fees for the merchant are lower for pin-authorized transactions but many banks (including mine) charge customers for pin-authorized debit card transactions.

 

[manning]

This has been true for years. NEVER pay at the pump with a debit card. They only read the card for a few seconds to make sure it is valid and put a hold on it. That saves bandwidth charges on the computer network. Of course in years past it may have only been $30 or $40, and with the rising price of gas, they have to increase the hold.

Another thing I have noticed some gas stations doing is when you pay with a CC at the pump, the most they will let you pump is $50. That is a bit aggravating when I want to fill up and it takes about $68 to fill my tank. I wait till my tank is empty, then fill it. Then, when I try to continue to fill the tank on a new transaction, my CC asks me to come inside because it is two consecutive transactions at the same location. It is really a PITA.

Carol

Here's a little maintenance tip. Don't let the tank get below a quarter tank. The fuel pump is located in the tank and uses the gas to keep it cool. The pump will last longer.

 

[disney1990]

I have been paying at the pump for years with my debit card as a credit card and never had a problem like this.

For now I will be buying gas at other stations that don't do this.

Thankfully my tank doesn't hold $50 worth of gas.

My tank is only 13 gallons. It's never held $50 worth of gasoline before, but after Hurricane Rita comes and goes that may not be the case anymore.

 

[tiki23]

I almost exclusively use my debit card for gas up here in WA state. The biggest hold on my card so far has been $1, so I've got my fingers crossed!

 

[wfloyd]

I think they do this with credit cards as well but it doesn't usually impact the user. I have noticed at times there are large pending payments after filling up my car but then after a day it goes away. Usually with credit cards, the available credit is high enough it doesn't cause people to notice it.

 

[dcfromva]

I think they do this with credit cards as well but it doesn't usually impact the user. I have noticed at times there are large pending payments after filling up my car but then after a day it goes away. Usually with credit cards, the available credit is high enough it doesn't cause people to notice it.

wfloyd,
Yes--I've noticed it, too. I try to look at my CC balance at least once a day to monitor things. I notice it alot after taking a trip. Oddly enough, when we made a trip to DL and stayed at a Disney Hotel, there was a 1,000 hold on the CC for at least a week after we returned home (and at least a week past having the final bill reflected on the CC). It showed up in the "pending charges" list, so I couldn't tell to which company to attribute the charge. It was driving me crazy because the only charges on the card were those made at DL and I thought that all the charges had already been reflected... So, I kept wondering if I had forgotten a large purchase. (Or, was it a fraudulent charge!) Finally, it just disappeared.

-DC