Gas Station Debit Card caps at $50
By banadux
@banadux (630)
United States
July 10, 2008 9:18am CST
Everyone knows that gas prices are out of hand. I've recently come into a problem where I can't fill my tank at the pump. I haven't run out of money, but for some reason it seems to just stop at $50 at one of the gas stations I go to. I always pay with a debit card and at some other stations this doesn't occur. Does anyone know what is going on? I would imagine any kind of a cap on debit cards can't stay long term. I can't fill my tank on a small car, imagine if it was a truck tank you are trying to fill up of over 20 gallons. Very soon that will be over $100! If you have had this problem or know what is going on please share.
2 responses
@goinliveinfive (561)
• United States
10 Jul 08
Those caps have always been in effect. Having to spend that much on gas in one trip hasn't. For as long as I can remember there has been a cap of $50 or $75 on debit purchases at gas stations. The solution to this is to make the purchase as credit as opposed to debit if your debit card has a Visa/MC logo on it. No cap, no cry.
@goinliveinfive (561)
• United States
10 Jul 08
Nope. It works the same way. I've been doing it for years. I have a debit card with a Visa logo. I hit "Pay here credit" and it just spits out a receipt. That's another thing: as I'm hearing about gas stations charging a 2% surcharge for credit/debit purchases now it's a good idea to get that receipt so you can contest the charge if the amount on your statement doesn't match the amount on the receipt. they can't legally impose that surcharge with or without notice but many get away with it by posting a notice. They absolutely can't get away with posting a notice inside since you're not likely to go inside. It has to be visible at the Point of Sale. No notice, no charge. Period.
@Aussiepup113 (64)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Our gas stations have just begun the limit on how much gas you can buy - a $75 cap on all credit/debit cards. We have seen that for years when we travel but it didn't hit our small town until this week. I think it depends upon each station as to how much or whether or not they want a cap. My thought was that they do this because they authorize the card before you use it and if you run up a $100 amount it might not go through after all. Especially with debit cards. That is just my theory. Also, if you are a business, you have a cap on how much in credit cards you can take each month. (I have a business so I know this to be true.) Maybe they are trying to protect their own cap??
