Kroger Fuel - hold amount

[tripletots]

On Monday I went to Kroger to fill up since I had 30 cents off that had to be used by the end of the month. I only put in $43.?? because I wasn't on empty. On Tuesday I was checking my Amex account and noticed that I had a pending for Kroger Fuel for $150.00! I freaked out since I couldn't find my receipt. I am so use to only having a $1.00 hold.

I googled my problem and come to find out that's what Kroger has been doing. If I had used my debit card, which I sometimes do, I could have gotten us in big trouble. The hold fell off on Wednesday and the $43 appeared but there was $150 held for 2 days.

Has anyone else experienced this with Kroger? Any other stations doing this amount besides $1.00? What happens if you use your debit card as a debit instead of a credit. Is there a hold or does it automatically deduct the amount charged right away? I need to avoid this happening in the future.

 

[pocomom]

I don't know, but that is scary. An extra 100+ on someone's debit could really mess them up! There should at least be a sign on their pumps!

 

[stacy347]

There are signs on the pumps around here that they may put a large hold on your card. I've never had them actually do it though.

 

[ilovemk76]

On Monday I went to Kroger to fill up since I had 30 cents off that had to be used by the end of the month. I only put in $43.?? because I wasn't on empty. On Tuesday I was checking my Amex account and noticed that I had a pending for Kroger Fuel for $150.00! I freaked out since I couldn't find my receipt. I am so use to only having a $1.00 hold.

I googled my problem and come to find out that's what Kroger has been doing. If I had used my debit card, which I sometimes do, I could have gotten us in big trouble. The hold fell off on Wednesday and the $43 appeared but there was $150 held for 2 days.

Has anyone else experienced this with Kroger? Any other stations doing this amount besides $1.00? What happens if you use your debit card as a debit instead of a credit. Is there a hold or does it automatically deduct the amount charged right away? I need to avoid this happening in the future.

Gas stations did this for a decade or more. Back then it was $75.

 

[Swimalie]

The stations here do that as well, but it's $125. Another reason not to use a debit card and stick with credit cards instead.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Yes, Yes and Yes! I notice it happening with Mobile & Kroger. My husband said that he does not encounter this when he bypasses pay at the pump and pays inside!

 

[quentina]

On Monday I went to Kroger to fill up since I had 30 cents off that had to be used by the end of the month. I only put in $43.?? because I wasn't on empty. On Tuesday I was checking my Amex account and noticed that I had a pending for Kroger Fuel for $150.00! I freaked out since I couldn't find my receipt. I am so use to only having a $1.00 hold.

I googled my problem and come to find out that's what Kroger has been doing. If I had used my debit card, which I sometimes do, I could have gotten us in big trouble. The hold fell off on Wednesday and the $43 appeared but there was $150 held for 2 days.

Has anyone else experienced this with Kroger? Any other stations doing this amount besides $1.00? What happens if you use your debit card as a debit instead of a credit. Is there a hold or does it automatically deduct the amount charged right away? I need to avoid this happening in the future.

I have tons of experience in this....it is not Kroger that does the hold, it is the issuing bank. Normally, they disappear within 24 hours or so. Many gas stations have an explanation listed on the Visa/MC logo sticker that is attached to the pumps (explaining the hold).

 

[angierae]

I would agree that it has been my experience that it's the issuing bank, not the gas station - as a matter of fact several of the stations around here have signs saying that it isn't them doing it, it's your bank/credit card issuer.

For instance, one of my debit cards has recently begun putting a $75 hold if you do pay at the pump. Since I never need more than $40 in gas (small car), I do not use that card at pay at the pump, or if I need to use that card, I go in.

 

[ICF]

The stations here do that as well, but it's $125. Another reason not to use a debit card and stick with credit cards instead.

yep

 

[Leajess99]

I have used krogers fuel station here many times and not had anything more than a $1 hold put on my account. That would be scary to have $150 hold show up on my acocunt.

 

[wiigirl]

The stations here do that as well, but it's $125. Another reason not to use a debit card and stick with credit cards instead.

Never has had that to ever happen for me, its always been a $1 hold. Is it different for different banks?

 

[POOHsie]

I don't like the idea of the hold at the pump but I understand what's going on with it. One thing I have changed is to never pay gas purchases with debit card. I'm reading too much about fraud, and a debit card has limited protections. My CC has a good amount of credit available, so a $ hold for a few days won't affect me. If a person is close to their credit limit, or needs their available credit for other important purchases, perhaps gas should be a budget item paid in cash. That's how we did it in the "old days."

 

[aaarcher86]

I haven't had it happen, but I have heard of it (not Kroger - never happened to me). But I did have a card from a small bank at one point for work that would decline any pump transactions. I had to walk into the gas station and pay a particular amount. They said it was because of that issue and all the overdrafts and issues they'd had because of it.

 

[havaneselover]

I always use a Kroger gift card (which I load in the store) to buy gas. This would get around that. I do it because 5% of everything goes to a fundraising obligation and I use my blue Amex to load it for another 6%.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

It's been my experience that if you pay with your debit - and enter your pin - that they do not place a hold - only the actual amount. That might be an option to avoid this situation.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Just got gas Friday and fortunately only had $1.00 hold at Kroger Fuel. I would have died if it was $150. Think I will do a debit pin from now on!

 

[teedisney]

I used to live in a Kroger area and my card would never work at the pump. I always had to go pay the cashier. Didn't think about it being the card!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We also use a cc to pay for gas and all the stations place a 100- 150 hold on the account for about 1-3 days until the actual amount clears. In the old days it was hard to "see" the hold, but with the advent of web access, we can all see the transactions and holds within seconds of the purchase.

BTW..... we pay our card off each month and get a 2% rebate on everything we buy.

 

[christygobar]

It's been my experience that if you pay with your debit - and enter your pin - that they do not place a hold - only the actual amount. That might be an option to avoid this situation.

This is typically the case, but it took me multiple times of filling up at a QT station in town to realize that they not only let the debit transaction go through (immediately), they still pin a $100 authorization on top of that. Their bank holds it longer than I'm used to for a gas station - 5 days probably? I am more annoyed by it than anything - so I found a different station that's also on the way to work and try to stop by there. We can afford it, but it is a direct debit, so I try to avoid it when possible.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

The stations here do that as well, but it's $125. Another reason not to use a debit card and stick with credit cards instead.

That is true but that might not be a great option with the surcharge on credit card purchases being enacted in many places.


Gas city and pilot gas stations both did 75.00 holds last time I used their services. I avoid them because of the holds.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards