Pre-paying for gas can leave you broke, says B.C. driver

Highly misleading headline. The thing is, if you want to fill 'er up, you don't know how much it's going to cost ebcause you don't know exactly how much you need, and neither does the pump. So it makes sure you can pay at least $100 by running a pre-authorization. Standard procedure.

If you're in a situation where you don't have $100 of room on your credit card, then your spending practices are a bigger problem than the hold on the card.

This is a non-issue.

It's illegal in California for most firms to put a hold on funds in advance of purchases. That's because credit card companies tend to charge interest and fees against funds put on hold even though the credit card user never actually has used those funds.

The true injustice here is that everyone gets punished because some idiot murdered an equally idiotic gas station attendant who thought that sacrficing his life for the cost of a tank of gas was worth it.

Exactly.

There is also this invention that has been around for a few years. It is often refered to as "cash". It is the ONLY way I pay for gas.

If 17 years as an electronics tech has taught me anything, it is to not trust any electronic system to work correctly when most needed.

Cash rarely breaks.

huh? you can type in at the pump how much gas you want. If you only want $ 10, you push the 1 and the 0, and you won't get more than $ 10...

Just go inside and say what you want or need, the clerk will do it. I agree Hurley, this is a non-issue.

I have a scanner and theres about 5 gas and dash's at the 7/11 every day and at least 3 at the fas/gas down the street.They keep binoculars and a cam handy now,most times their going to BC so its not hard to radio ahead and put a BOLF out on the guy.

You can vote down on stories?

I had no idea this happened so frequently, pump and dash. I've thought about it, I really have, but I don't think I would ever do it. I mean if you aren't paying for your gas someone else is right?

well, I think that if this is a policy or condition of purchase which varies by station, they should post their policy on the pump, as another suggested earlier....plus it's a new law so people may not be aware of it's full implications at this early switchover stage.... let's say you had a card with a 500 limit and you buy gas and have 100 hold and go to buy something worth 450....that 100 hold would prevent your purchase, right?...

I agree with Hurley on this one, the same applies in a hotel. You use your credit card at check-in and unless you pay cash right away they put a hold on your card until you check out. It is insurance for them so they get paid!

But a way to avoid this in the future is Dont hit the "Fill Up" button!

yeah, but with the hotel you are made aware of the hold at the time of reservation....from what the article seemed to say was that many people are unaware of the hold and that some do make a hold, some don't....shouldn't people have the option of informed consent?

Aren't they? It is your own job to get yourself informed, and here, it is on the door of the store. But people should be willing to read it... Just as they should in a hotel...

I absolutely do agree with "informed consent", but this situation is nothing new. 3 years ago I had the same situation happen but is was $75, I didnt like it but I understood it. In fact if you were to do a little research you would find that this policy has been in place since they have had Pay-at-the-pump.

well, as long as people are made aware of the policy i have no problem with it....

I use pay at the pump authorization all the time ....it is the same, there is a temporary hold placed on your card. This has nothing to do with the new BC law.


She bought 10 bucks worth of gas ...in BC