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Post by rapidfire187 on Jun 8, 2012 13:42:37 GMT -5
I went to Flash Foods to buy $20 in gas yesterday. I used my prepaid Visa card at the pump, as I have in the past. Prepaid cards don't work at most pumps, but it does at Flash Foods. Anyway, the machine froze on the screen where I had put in my PIN, so I pressed cancel and the screen said "transaction cancelled". I slid my card again and the same thing happened again, so I cancelled and went inside.
When the lady swiped my card inside, it was declined. I knew that I had around $100 on the card, so I told her it must have something to do with pump outside malfunctioning. She rudely closed her eyes and shook her head and repeated "no, it's declined." I took it as her insinuating that I'm just broke and too embarassed to say so. I told her I would be back, and went home to check my account.
There were 4 transactions from Flash Foods. A $101 pending charge, a $10 pending charge, a $10 credit and a declined transaction for $21. I only had a $10 balance at this point.
I went back to the store and talked to the manager. She called corporate and found out that their pumps automatically "hold" a certain amount of money when you swipe your card, and that it would be returned to my card at midnight. Keep in mind, this was at 2 PM. I told her that I needed gas because I was empty and that their machine is the reason I can't buy any. She apologized but said there was nothing they could do. Thankfully, a nice customer offered to buy me $10 in gas so I wouldn't be stranded.
So yea, my money was back on the card today, but all of the questionable transactions were mysteriously gone from my transaction history. WTF? This corporation basically reached into my pocket and borrowed $101 dollars from me and then told me that's just how it works. It feels very illegal to me. Fanners with prepaid cards need to be weary, apparently this is pretty common. A similar situation happened to me at another gas station, but they returned it immediately.
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Post by daime on Jun 8, 2012 13:46:58 GMT -5
This is why I pay in cash or use my debit.
At least if you get screwed on the debit, the bank's more reasonable about refunding you then the store.
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Jun 8, 2012 13:47:14 GMT -5
I have seen pending transactions like that before that vanished, but I've never seen it so high. Usually it isn't much more than whatever the purchase price would be.
I never use prepaid cards though, so it might be just for them.
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Post by Zombie Mod is not a ghoul. on Jun 8, 2012 13:47:14 GMT -5
some companys hold the money for up to 24 hours due to dealing with banks/accounts... so could be something to do with that.
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Post by Sponsored by Groose Wipes on Jun 8, 2012 13:51:38 GMT -5
I always pay inside. There's just something about paying at the pump that feels off to me. I can't really describe it.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Jun 8, 2012 13:53:25 GMT -5
some companys hold the money for up to 24 hours due to dealing with banks/accounts... so could be something to do with that. That's what they said but dude...shouldn't they at least warn you first? I only agreed to buy $20 worth of gas. I didn't agree to let them hold $100. And certainly not for 24 hours. When this happened at another gas station it was $200! But at least the money was refunded almost immediately after I finished pumping gas, and I actually had enough money to where the $200 didn't dry me out. And at that station, I had not even paid at the pump, I paid inside. I didn't know why that had happened, I just assumed it was a mistake. I won't be paying at the pump anymore. I know you guys are saying "this is why I don't pay at the pump" but really? This is such a retarded situation that I never considered that it could happen. Much less that it could happen and I'd basically be told "deal with it".
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Cranjis McBasketball
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Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jun 8, 2012 13:54:21 GMT -5
Yup, that's what happens when you pay at the pump.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Jun 8, 2012 14:02:16 GMT -5
Ok, how was I supposed to know? Was it in my card's TOS? I missed it. THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME THE GAS. I forgot to mention that. They allowed a complete stranger to buy me some though.
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THE Baldy Kendrick
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Post by THE Baldy Kendrick on Jun 8, 2012 14:03:15 GMT -5
When you pay at the pump, they ask for approval from the bank once you swipe the card. The pump doesn't know how much you're going to buy, so they ghost-charge an amount that will cover whatever you buy. Sucks, but it's legal.
That's why they say to never use a debit card for prepaying gas or as the card you use to reserve a hotel, since whatever money gets held for the ghost charge would be actual money.
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Post by Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie on Jun 8, 2012 14:18:02 GMT -5
a tiny bit short of CRIMINAL!!!
basically they are stealing some money off you as a LOAN GUARENTEE, when you pay
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ICBM
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Post by ICBM on Jun 8, 2012 15:50:13 GMT -5
Not even close to criminal. It is a nice thing they do for customers that you can pay at the pump.
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Post by Zombie Mod is not a ghoul. on Jun 8, 2012 15:59:02 GMT -5
they didnt let you have the gas incase the card was empty and you were trying to pull a "fast one" and get the petrol/gas without payment, thats no different than buying something from a shop and not getting what you want to buy once your card has been declined due to over use in the last hour.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Jun 8, 2012 16:33:28 GMT -5
they didnt let you have the gas incase the card was empty and you were trying to pull a "fast one" and get the petrol/gas without payment, thats no different than buying something from a shop and not getting what you want to buy once your card has been declined due to over use in the last hour. Yes, it's VERY different. This was not over use, or an error on my part. This was me wrongly assuming that I could buy gas and go home. Using the god damn machine that they use to accept payment. Instead, I ended up broke for 24 hours and had to rely on the kindness of strangers to keep from being stranded. Do you not see the serious ramifications that just blocking my access to my money could have caused? If it's such an issue for them, they should not accept prepaid cards. Or should not force their customers to pre pay for gas. No, this isn't just like your example. This is like going to McDonald's, ordering and paying, and then being charged 5 times more than what you ordered and not even receiving your food. How the hell can you guys even act like it's some kind of mistake I made. Oh, f*** me for thinking I could buy gasoline without getting robbed.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Jun 8, 2012 16:47:15 GMT -5
I get gas from them with that card ALL THE TIME. I have a Flash Foods card. It's the closest store to my house. I've used that card inside the store a hundred times probably. I had used it at the pump several times before. I'm not just some bum off the street. I was treated like one by the shitty staff. I was very polite though, and attracted a lot of comments from other shoppers all on my side...
It was bullshit.
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Post by Zombie Mod is not a ghoul. on Jun 8, 2012 16:50:50 GMT -5
you swiped the card a twice, an automatic payment method will charge both times it's swiped, no business i know would allow you "i'll be back to pay you tomorrow".
now if there is a mandatory temporary charge on useage of the card that should be advertised when you got it.
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Bo Rida
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Post by Bo Rida on Jun 8, 2012 17:48:51 GMT -5
I can't get my head around this as the whole process sounds ridiculous. However the bit I think I understand is that corporate said they were holding the money, once they said that the manager should have at least given you your gas. I'd write a formal complaint and see what you what happens.
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Post by xCompackx on Jun 8, 2012 17:58:01 GMT -5
I get gas from them with that card ALL THE TIME. I have a Flash Foods card. It's the closest store to my house. I've used that card inside the store a hundred times probably. I had used it at the pump several times before. I'm not just some bum off the street. I was treated like one by the s***ty staff. I was very polite though, and attracted a lot of comments from other shoppers all on my side... It was bulls***. Yeah, I remember having a Walmart prepaid debit card and trying to get gas at the Walmart gas station and I had pretty much the same experience you did. I tried pre-paying at the pump and it declined me because it tried holding $100 as an "authorization" charge. It sucks, but it's legal.
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Post by kenwell on Jun 8, 2012 18:13:17 GMT -5
Just my own personal experience, but if my credit card is used twice in quick succession at a gas station, even if one of the purchases doesn't go through, the credit card company calls me. Gas stations are pretty notorious for having credit card scams going on.
Heck, a few weeks ago I purchased a full tank of gas with my card, drove for 3 hours down Highway 7, stopped in Peterborough for a burger and paid with my card as well. As I was exiting the burger joint, my card company called me to let me know that there were two "quick, and expensive purchases in geographic areas where I do not usually use my card" and wanted to verify that I was in possession of my card and could verbally authorize both purchases.
Moral of the story in my opinion, some card companies are better than others, and no business HAS to accept your card. They can have their own policies for credit cards as accepting them as payment is for your convenience.
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Post by Bone Daddy on Jun 8, 2012 18:51:30 GMT -5
I've had charges like this of like, $10, but more than that sounds crazy
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Post by Red Impact on Jun 8, 2012 19:12:24 GMT -5
It's how they protect themselves from people driving off without paying whne they aren't paying cash. They hold an amount that'd be realistic to pay ($100 a tank may seem like a lot, but I know people who drove large vehicles that had that much gas to pump in when it was at it's most expensive), and then refund you back after the charge goes through.
It really is just smart business sense for the most part, it just makes it dicey when using prepaid cards for gas.
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