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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / May 2006Maximum gas purchase
Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? We've been traveling in the south west, and the first time it happened I was using my Am Ex card, and the pump stopped at $99. So I figured maybe the pumps can't handle more than a two digit dollar amount, but I've been told that's not the case. No one seems to know why the limit though. TIA, Bob > Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the > per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > TIA, > Bob I inquired about this at a local gas station (Hess) and they reponded to me that it is to reduce theft to either $50 -$75.00. I thought if I really wanted to steal gas why would I put my credit card into the thing in the first place. Ed >Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the >per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >No one seems to know why the limit though. Hey, Bob -- Just a week or so ago there was an extended thread on this exact topic over on rec.outdoors.rv-travel called "Gassing Up & Pump Limits" (spelled exactly that way). If you can't get that newsgroup you may want to Google for the topic. GB in NC >>Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the >>per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > GB in NC Thanks, GB. I did do a search, but didn't come up with that. I'll check it out. Sure is a PITA. Bob >> If you can't get that newsgroup you may want to Google for the topic. >> >> GB in NC >Thanks, GB. I did do a search, but didn't come up with that. I'll check it >out. Sure is a PITA. I would have tried to sum up the thread for you, but I don't think I could've done it justice <g>.... GB in NC > Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the > per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > TIA, > Bob From the gist I of the little I read on ROTR regarding this topic, the pump limit (when a credit card is used to pay outside "at" the pump) is to protect the vendor from/for issues of liability -- think theft and drive-offs (???). I also read that if one chooses to "pay _inside_," then the "limit" doesn't apply (?). How true any of these are, I don't know. My own personal experience is with $50 & $75 limits. In every instance, I paid outside "at" the pump with my credit/debit card. So, next time I have to fillup with 40-gallons worth of gas, I'll try the "pay inside" option to see if there really is a difference. Sky (milage always matters <g>) P.S. When I encountered that "pump limit," I just started another transaction to get more gasoline. > When I encountered that "pump limit," I just started another > transaction to get more gasoline. Ding! Give that man a cigar! :) I also find the limit, having encountered it twice now, to be annoying. However, if having to make TWO entries in Quicken for a >$75 fill-up is the added "price" I must pay to avoid going inside to pay, I won't kick. It wouldn't do any good to complain, anyway. If "their" point is to truly LIMIT the quantity sold at that pump at that time to the SAME person, "they" will soon discover their error and "lock out" subsequent transactions using that card number for the next [hour?]. Heck, I had a McDonalds decline my check card due to having used it there previously the SAME day. Then again, I'm not sure the SNAFU wasn't local to that particular McDonalds. A real, short answer for the limit would be nice. I don't see the point.  Signature:\ JR >> When I encountered that "pump limit," I just started another >> transaction to get more gasoline. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >A real, short answer for the limit would be nice. I don't see the point. well, i had not run into the pump limit thing until the RORT thread started. we've been away from home since 3/23 and have filled the MH many times since then, many of those fills have been for more than a $100 and none of the stations we've used had limits in place. we've since run into them twice, once at a petro truck stop in north little rock and then at the flying j in effingham, il. there was a sign on the J pump that indicated the PAY AT THE PUMP limits were $75 for all cards EXCEPT visa which was $50 this limit seems to be different for each vendor because the limit for my discover card at the effingham J was $75 but at the petro the limit for my discover card was $50. the way it was explained to me at the J, each vendor (flying J, petro, walgreens, etc.) MAY have a limit set by their credit card providers for sales that do not require a signature. this is a convenience for the customer as well as the business. selecting 'pay inside' at the pump (some pumps default to this option by simply lifting the nozzle and pumping gas) by-passes this limit (at least that's the way it was set-up at the J in effingham). i know nothing about vendor agreements with credit card providers so i have no idea why one vendor would have limits while others don't. it may have to do with vendor liability. maybe they pay a lower transaction fee with limits in place. however, at the petro in north little rock one has to PRE-PAY before ANY pumping. if not paying at the pump with the credit card, and thus encountering the limit, i would have had to hand over my discover card to the clerk at the fuel desk and i don't like doing that. the J in effingham had no such pre-pay requirement so paying inside AFTER pumping would have avoided the limit. but that seems to defeat the convenience of paying at the pump. in both cases i just did a second transactiion at that pump. in fact, that was the advice on the J pump. don't know if one could do 3 or more transactions. bottom line...one is likely to encounter different rules at each station. unless these pump limits JUST started in the last week or so its obvious to us that some stations have limits and some don't. we filled up at a ma and pa station in the middle of nowhere using pay-at-the-pump and encountered no limits. we pumped well over $100. understanding this as an intellectual exercise is one thing. tilting at this windmill is an exercise in fultility. 73, rich, n9dko >understanding this as an intellectual exercise is one thing. tilting >at this windmill is an exercise in fultility. I have a platinum Visa that I use exclusively for RV gas (makes it easier to keep records). I just now called them and asked about this. The customer service person assured me that they place no such limits on their cards. GB in NC > I just now called them and asked about this. The customer service > person assured me that they place no such limits on their cards. I already had a Visa from Citibank and just got a 5% MasterCard from them and they told me the same thing - no limit from them. So far I haven't had a pump to cut off before I was full. Tom J >I just now called them and asked about this. The customer service person >assured me that they place no such limits on their cards. I believe that is true. I also believe that, if you were to fuel at a Flying J in the west (haven't been east since this started) you would find the $75 limit in place, with two fillups maximum at the same pump. As noted in the other thread, it is almost certain that the card issuer has nothing to do with this. It is between the fuel station and their processor, by contract. Someone said "I thought if I really wanted to steal gas why would I put my credit card into the thing in the first place" and the answer is that you would put a stolen credit card into the thing. Not at all like a drive-off, since they won't know you ripped them off for days or weeks when it finally gets charged back. I took $206+ plus worth of Diesel at the Tacoma, WA Flying J yesterday. Stuck my FJ card in, and chose cash. When it was done, I went inside and paid with my credit card. Better than two trips in, before and after. Without the FJ card, you can't do a cash transaction without pre-pay. SignatureDon Bradner donb at arcatapet.com Posting today by Satellite from Brookhollow RV Park, Kelso, WA >>I just now called them and asked about this. The customer service person >>assured me that they place no such limits on their cards. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > before and after. Without the FJ card, you can't do a cash transaction > without pre-pay. That was me who made the statement of theft. I guess I wasn't thinking of it along those lines. Good point. Ed >Someone said "I thought if I really wanted to steal gas why would I >put my credit card into the thing in the first place" and the answer >is that you would put a stolen credit card into the thing. I have had a couple of gas pumps require me to enter my zip code. Wish they all did this as the average thief probably wouldn't know what zip code is in the info strip on the card. Jon Signature==================================================== Jon Griffin SKP 75680 FMCA F257439 Pahrump, NV Sundre, AB apply ROT13 to my address Vnz@enivatvqvbgf.arg ==================================================== >I have had a couple of gas pumps require me to enter my zip code. >Wish they all did this as the average thief probably wouldn't know >what zip code is in the info strip on the card. Why would you wish that? First off entering your zip is a royal PITA. Second it doesn't work at all for us Canucks. And third, if someone steals your card you shouldn't be paying the tab anyway. I get bloody sick and tired of credit card companies and cell phone companies telling me that all this bogus security sh.t is for my protection. BULL sh.t. It's for their protection. Inconvenience the hell out of their customers in order to cover their own a.s. Now there's a marketing plan with legs! SignatureR.J.(Bob) Evans (return address needs alteration to work) > entering your zip is a royal PITA. I would agree. > if someone steals your card you shouldn't be paying the tab anyway. Why? If any of my other property is stolen, I am liable for the loss, at least up to the deductible of any insurance, if applicable. Except for government intrusion into the private sector, loss limit caps would have occurred naturally given the extremely competitive environment that credit has become. > I get bloody sick and tired of credit card companies and cell phone > companies telling me that all this bogus security sh.t is for my > protection. BULL sh.t. It's for their protection. ...and you have NOTHING to gain from THEIR being protected? I would say it is for the protection of BOTH of you. Trust me: No one's GIVING AWAY anything. Shoplifting and credit fraud cost you and me a BUNDLE. I'll gladly "take" any protection they can give themselves. > Inconvenience the hell out of their customers in order to cover > their own a.s. Now there's a marketing plan with legs! I'm not even convinced that the Zip Code thingie is even a SECURITY measure. It may be more of a DEMOGRAPHICS gathering function of the credit card company, gas station chain or, for all I know, Gallup. <sigh> I mean, they ask my Zip Code at the grocery store and Radio Shack (no brag, just fact), so it CAN'T be a security issue with the purchase of some groceries or an 8-dollar switch. Who knows... Signature:) JR > I'm not even convinced that the Zip Code thingie is even a SECURITY > measure. It may be more of a DEMOGRAPHICS gathering function of the > credit card company, gas station chain or, for all I know, Gallup. Precisely why, whenever possible, I give a ZIP code from another part of the country. Maybe I'll give a Canadian postal code next time. And ask me for a phone number (on a charge slip, for instance, and how stupid is that), give them (xxx) 555-1212. KH >> I'm not even convinced that the Zip Code thingie is even a SECURITY >> measure. It may be more of a DEMOGRAPHICS gathering function of the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >KH The zip code you enter has to match the one that's on the cards magnetic strip. Enter the wrong one and you don't get gas. I assume you have 3 chances. I've entered it wrong once and it gave me a second chance. Entering your zip code is no problem, the numbers are right there on the device already. Unless of course your postal code is a Canadian one. Lot of difference between 89060 and T0M 1X0. Jon (from T0M 1X0) Signature==================================================== Jon Griffin SKP 75680 FMCA F257439 Pahrump, NV Sundre, AB apply ROT13 to my address Vnz@enivatvqvbgf.arg ==================================================== > Entering your zip code is no problem, the numbers are right there on > the device already. Unless of course your postal code is a Canadian > one. Lot of difference between 89060 and T0M 1X0. The zip is not really on the card. I changed my billing address and forgot. I entered my old zip and it failed. Entered the new one and it worked. When I changed back to the old address I had to use that zip so they are able to get it from the CC processor. SignatureJim >> Precisely why, whenever possible, I give a ZIP code from another >> part of the country. > Entering your zip code is no problem, the numbers are right there on > the device already. Now let's see; what does one suppose is meant by "whenever possible?" > I'm not even convinced that the Zip Code thingie is even a SECURITY > measure. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > it CAN'T be a security issue with the purchase of some groceries or an > 8-dollar switch. Who knows... What I always answer NO to is when the clerk asks me if they can have my phone number. At least a zip code is anonymous, unless you live in some desolate part of New Mexico. I'd interpret a request for a zip-code before a sale, when they don't even know your method of payment, as marketing. I don't mind that because maybe they'll locate a store closer to me. I'd interpret a request for a zip-code at an unmanned credit card terminal to be at least a bit of security. We're both guessing. SignatureChris Cowles Gainesville, FL >Why would you wish that? First off entering your zip is a royal PITA. >Second it doesn't work at all for us Canucks. And third, if someone >steals your card you shouldn't be paying the tab anyway. Hmmm. Doesn't inconvenience me a bit. To each his own. >I get bloody sick and tired of credit card companies and cell phone >companies telling me that all this bogus security sh.t is for my >protection. BULL sh.t. It's for their protection. Inconvenience the >hell out of their customers in order to cover their own a.s. Now >there's a marketing plan with legs! I have a home in one zip and a PO box in another. If I enter the wrong one, it refuses the card. Good check, AFAIAC. You truly are a pompous a.s, Bob. > Why would you wish that? First off entering your zip is a royal PITA. > Second it doesn't work at all for us Canucks. And third, if someone [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > hell out of their customers in order to cover their own a.s. Now > there's a marketing plan with legs! No doubt it's for their protection. But, notwithstanding your second complaint, what's so inconvenient about it? I have been experiencing the limits since I purchased my MH last year. Another "reason' stated was that so people who have mega debt on the card wouldn't go over there credit limit and incur a surcharge. Ed >>> When I encountered that "pump limit," I just started another >>> transaction to get more gasoline. [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > 73, > rich, n9dko >I have been experiencing the limits since I purchased my MH last year. > Another "reason' stated was that so people who have mega debt on the card > wouldn't go over there credit limit and incur a surcharge. I don't doubt someone made up that excuse, but do doubt the processor or vendor really cares whether the cardholder has to pay the bank a penalty. SignatureChris Cowles Gainesville, FL > P.S. When I encountered that "pump limit," I just started another > transaction to get more gasoline. I did the same thing when I encountered it, but at 3.48 per gal I maxed out at $75.00 twice. When I tried the third time, even with a different card, it told me to see the attendant. Problem with that at stops like Flying J's is the inside lines are ususally about 10 people deep. I called Am Ex today and they told me to call them prior to my next purchase giving them the name of the station, and they would pre-approve two transactions at the pump up to $100 each. On our way from Vegas to Park City tomorrow, so we'll see. Bob >Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the >per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >No one seems to know why the limit though. I was told that they "pre - authorize" your card to insure validity (much like a hotel does). Once the transaction is completed, the actual charge replaces the pre-authorization. The limit is up to the individual location or chain. > Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies limiting the > per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? I don't believe it is the credit card companies. I find certain gas stations have a limit that the pump stops at. Other stations have no limit. When that happens I have to start another transaction and continue filling. > Does anyone know what the deal is with credit card companies > limiting > the per transaction purchase of gasoline to $75 or $100? > No one seems to know why the limit though. Your last sentence says it all. I am on the go all over North America and have yet to have the pump cut off before my tank is full. I suggest you talk to your credit card company. I have a gut feeling that's where the cutoff is coming from simply because there is no set pattern to the amount of the cutoffs. I just got one of the Citibank 5% cards and they said there would be no cutoff limit on it, but then I've had other Citibank cards for years with credit limits 3 times my largest monthly balance, that gets paid by debit on the due date. Tom J >Your last sentence says it all. I am on the go all over North America >and have yet to have the pump cut off before my tank is full. I >suggest you talk to your credit card company. I have a gut feeling >that's where the cutoff is coming from simply because there is no set >pattern to the amount of the cutoffs. It has nothing to do with the card and everything to do with the individual station. I ran into this problem years ago after I put an oversize tank in my '01 Powersmoke. At that time it was not uncommon to have pumps cut out at $75. It always p'd me off and it still does. With the bus I run into it more often and it still p's me off. Since fuel prices went up most of the stations have raised their limit but it is still there. SignatureR.J.(Bob) Evans (return address needs alteration to work) One of my gas company cards won't allow more than two fill-ups in one day. When I spoke to them they said I could remove the number-of-times restriction, but doing so would alllow anyone who got a hold of the card to fill up everyone else - and would I want that liabilty? B~ > One of my gas company cards won't allow more than two fill-ups in one day. > > When I spoke to them they said I could remove the number-of-times > restriction, but doing so would alllow anyone who got a hold of the card to > fill up everyone else - and would I want that liabilty? A good point but surely a long shot. If they have the technology to restrict to TWO fill-ups in one day, why not bump it up to THREE? You'd get some protection from their Worst Case Scenario and wouldn't run afoul of the daily limitation. Besides, what ever happened to telling them you've LOST your card? I suspect that much of the expense attributable to lost/stolen (then illegally used) cards stem from the original holder being SLOW to report the card missing. Another thing. If it's Mothers-in-law (plural) why isn't it "fills-up", as in "We're limited to two fills-up per day." Inquiring minds... Signature:) JR > Another thing. If it's Mothers-in-law (plural) why isn't > it "fills-up", as in "We're limited to two fills-up per day." > Inquiring minds... That has to do with the difference between adverb or adjective use (modifying a noun or verb, such as "attorneys general") (an odd usage in English because the modifier appears after the noun) as contrasted with combined words. It should probably be "fillup" anyway, although that is from the Department of Redundancy Department. I mean, isn't "fill" enough? That's like "originally born in..." or "refer back" or "where is it at" (which is a plain ugly sound as well as wrong). And if the correct Highway Patrol term is "failures to appear," then why isn't the abbreviation "FsTA?" More inquiring minds. KH > I suspect that much of the expense attributable to lost/stolen (then > illegally > used) cards stem from the original holder being SLOW to report the card > missing. I'll guess that many people don't even know they're missing right away, or think they simply misplaced it on the desk at home. Isn't that why credit card thieves start processing transactions as soon as they can after the theft. (That's my understanding of the MO, anyway.) SignatureChris Cowles Gainesville, FL > One of my gas company cards won't allow more than two fill-ups in one day. > > When I spoke to them they said I could remove the number-of-times > restriction, but doing so would alllow anyone who got a hold of the card to > fill up everyone else - and would I want that liabilty? It is NOT your liability. That is another fiction the credit card companies have foisted off on the average citizen. You are liable for no more than $50 of charges in any event, and often not at all if you promptly report the card as missing. Same goes for the showing of ID. At one time, that violated the merchant's contract with the credit card company. In any event...$50 is the limit. My privacy and comfort is worth more than that. KH |
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