Gas Station and Debit Card

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MrsKS
Thank You St. Gerard.....

Member since 12/09

8306 total posts

Name:
Kerri

Gas Station and Debit Card

Sooo...

what's the deal with gas stations claiming that cards don't work when they do? What is the purpose of this?

Last night DH and I tried to get gas, he gave them his card, which had more than enough money on it. The guy said his card wasn't working. Which I knew was bull. Chat Icon

So then we give him my card.... same song and dance.... my card isn't working. Which I KNOW my card works just fine.

The attendant had an attitude too...

So we leave and go to the gas station down the block... use the SAME card (DH's card)...and guess what??? It magically works just fine!!

So I check my account online just now... and that stupid gas station put a pre-authorization debit on each of our accounts (because he swiped each of our cards) for $1. So obviously our cards were working if the pre auth debit was able to go through...

What's the deal with this???? I've been hearing stories lately where gas stations are claiming cards don't work because they want cash instead. I know companies have to pay a small fee in association with card transactions (like pennies).... but this behavior seems to be on the rise.. is this why? Or is there another reason???

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Message edited 10/28/2010 8:58:07 AM.

Posted 10/28/10 8:56 AM

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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st

Member since 5/05

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Re: Gas Station and Debit Card

It's more then pennies (there's a set transaction fee plus a percentage of the sale) but if their policy is to accept credit/debit cards then they have to realize it's a cost of doing business.

I have seen signs at some gas pumps that state a higher dollar amount may be authorized when the sale is initiated and with debit cards that amount is no longer available in your bank account. Maybe that was causing a problem?

Posted 10/28/10 9:13 AM

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MrsKS
Thank You St. Gerard.....

Member since 12/09

8306 total posts

Name:
Kerri

Re: Gas Station and Debit Card

Posted by Christine

It's more then pennies (there's a set transaction fee plus a percentage of the sale) but if their policy is to accept credit/debit cards then they have to realize it's a cost of doing business.

I have seen signs at some gas pumps that state a higher dollar amount may be authorized when the sale is initiated and with debit cards that amount is no longer available in your bank account. Maybe that was causing a problem?

We had MORE than enough in both accounts... esp my card amounts. Way MORE.... WELL over at least 4 times the amount of gas we were buying....

Message edited 10/28/2010 9:15:16 AM.

Posted 10/28/10 9:15 AM

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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st

Member since 5/05

15287 total posts

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Re: Gas Station and Debit Card

I don't know then - they were doing something wrong/being jerky. I'd stop going there after that.

Posted 10/28/10 9:17 AM

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MrsKS
Thank You St. Gerard.....

Member since 12/09

8306 total posts

Name:
Kerri

Re: Gas Station and Debit Card

Posted by Christine

I don't know then - they were doing something wrong/being jerky. I'd stop going there after that.

I feel like he was cancelling the transactions after having swipped the cards!!

Posted 10/28/10 9:18 AM

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Mrs213
????????

Member since 2/09

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Re: Gas Station and Debit Card

Could be that their debit machine was down and the guy had no idea what he was doing or why it wasn't working. You could always run it through as credit instead though right?

I've never had something like that happen to me Chat Icon