Entering zip code when you pay at the pump

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spacejamz

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,981
1,701
126
I was getting some gas today at a Chevron here in Dallas (BTW it was 1.81 / gallon for premium) and was paying at the pump...after swiping my card, it asked for my zip code...

I then realized there was a sign underneath the swipe piece that said this was for security purposes only and that IT WOULD NOT BE SOLD FOR MARKETING PURPOSES...(thinking to myself, "YEAH RIGHT")...

Keyed in the zip any way and got my gas (since I was nearly empty)...

Is this pretty new? Has anyone else notice this before? I always get my gas at the 'brand' name stations (Cheveron, Shell, Mobil ,etc) and have never had to do this until today...

Or is this another form of Big Brother is watching????

 
T

T3C

Diamond Member
Jun 3, 2003
5,324
0
0
have not ever had that happen..

"they are watching you!!!!!!!" ;)
 
E

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
5,481
0
0
Walmart had me do it when I swiped my AMEX card there the other day..I was thinking, which address is it going to be on, cause I just switched the billing address of the card..I put in my new one and it worked
 
anxi80

anxi80

Lifer
Jul 7, 2002
12,294
2
0
in cali, its been like this for years. chevron is most notorious for it, but 76 asks me also. good security feature IMO. hope more stations implement it.
 
N

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
It's to prevent people from buying gas with stolen credit cards. It's the same reason that most online retailers will only ship to the billing address on the card.
 
C

CaptainHefe

Member
Jul 12, 2003
165
0
0
i've had to do that once before and thought maybe it had something to do with making sure its your card. maybe if you don't enter the same zip as the address that the statement comes to it will decline the card. but who knows.
 
B

boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
18,569
0
0
Originally posted by: anxi80
in cali, its been like this for years. chevron is most notorious for it, but 76 asks me also. good security feature IMO. hope more stations implement it.
Click to expand...

yep. its for protection really... be it gas card or credit card... just to make sure no a**hold tries to get gas with a stolen card.
 
C

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
1
0
I have heard that it's to reduce/prevent purchase on stolen CCs.
The computer supposedly matches the zip code with your address of record/
 
anxi80

anxi80

Lifer
Jul 7, 2002
12,294
2
0
yep. a couple years ago, my friend got her credit card stolen and they bought chevron gas with it, filled up a pretty good amount (about $50, prolly used gas canisters also). if this feature was in place back then, it most likely wouldnt have been an issue.
 
D

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
Chevron by my house asks for it. I don't expect it helps all that much, if you lost your wallet w/ the DL in there, they could just get the zipcode off that. But, I suppose most theives are too dumb/lazy to figure that out.



 
B

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
0
0
ummm but if someone steals you CC.... wouldnt they, more than likely, have taken your wallet or purse thereby having ur license as well...which in turn has ur zipcode on it?

i prefer them asking for my PIN better
 
anxi80

anxi80

Lifer
Jul 7, 2002
12,294
2
0
Originally posted by: dman
Chevron by my house asks for it. I don't expect it helps all that much, if you lost your wallet w/ the DL in there, they could just get the zipcode off that. But, I suppose most theives are too dumb/lazy to figure that out.
Click to expand...
some thieves will just take the credit card and run. also, in case a person has the incorrect or a different zip code on there, its at most a prevention technique
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
It's a legitimate security procedure. Several states have been going after the oil companies because of how easy stolen cards can be used to purchase gas.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Originally posted by: spacejamz
I was getting some gas today at a Chevron here in Dallas (BTW it was 1.81 / gallon for premium) and was paying at the pump...after swiping my card, it asked for my zip code...

I then realized there was a sign underneath the swipe piece that said this was for security purposes only and that IT WOULD NOT BE SOLD FOR MARKETING PURPOSES...(thinking to myself, "YEAH RIGHT")...

Keyed in the zip any way and got my gas (since I was nearly empty)...

Is this pretty new? Has anyone else notice this before? I always get my gas at the 'brand' name stations (Cheveron, Shell, Mobil ,etc) and have never had to do this until today...

Or is this another form of Big Brother is watching????
Click to expand...

Wow, talk about being too smart, but totally wrong. How would they market your zipcode? This is purely for security purposes. Alot of websites as for your cardnumber, expiration and zipcode.
 
Freejack2

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
91
I had that happen in either Mass or Connecticut. Didn't think much of it. Spose it's a good idea.
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: tweakmm
Originally posted by: spacejamz
Or is this another form of Big Brother is watching????
Click to expand...
You are using a credit card.
Click to expand...
LOL! No sh!t eh? You think they don't already know your ZIP code? How do they send you the bill? :p
 
D

DDCSpeed

Golden Member
Nov 30, 2000
1,494
0
0
i suppose it provides a layer of security even though it is kind of useless at some points. well i suppose they get to keep track of who their real customers are. its not a big deal, its been like that for the gas stations around my house
 
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