WTF Costco? You pre-authorize $150 at your gas pumps????

[MrChad]

Since you use debit all the time, hasn't this come up before at other gas stations? As others have mentioned, using a debit card at a gas station almost always results in a large pre-authorization charge. Many gas stations have warnings posted at the pump about this. $150 seems pretty high, but my guess is that it's because of higher gas prices.

As far as debit vs. credit goes, credit certainly has better benefits and protections if you use it responsibly, but if managing your money is easier with a debit card, then that's the best option for you.

 

[Virge_]

0% APR? Credit cards charge based on average monthly balance whereas debit cards charge exactly zero for everything. Yes, the money comes out immediately, but you don't have to worry about carrying a balance. And considering how many people in this country carry massive credit card balances, maybe it would be a good thing if more people were using debit cards.

Yes. Not having the life-planning ability to sit down once a month and pay bills before the statement closing date, totaling approximately 2 minutes of your life per month. Very unreasonable expectation. Why should someone be responsible for their finances?!

Typical American.

 

[jlee]

Yes. Not having the life-planning ability to sit down once a month and pay bills before the statement closing date, totaling approximately 2 minutes of your life per month. Very unreasonable expectation. Why should someone be responsible for their finances?!

Typical American.

Autopay: Balance in full, pay on due date

/doneforever!

 

[Squeetard]

My Silverado takes $120+ to fill. I have to do it twice as the pumps here only pre-auth $100. But that allows me to use my life hack.

The truck has the 6.2 and it takes 91 octane. If I put 45 litres of 94 and then 40 litres of 87 I get 91 octane and save 6 cents a litre over 91.

 

[slag]

Simple. Because you save TONS of money. If I have multiple cards (which I do, and I have no fees on any of them), I have 1-5% cash back on everything. If I save 5% on gas, I'm getting gas at a cheaper price than the cash value (Assuming that the prices are different, which is pretty rare in my experiance these days)

I just paid for a 600 dollar flight COMPLETELY through credit card rewards. The flight was 100% free because I got it through my rewards.

Most cards don't have fees. Even the ones that do, the idea is that if you use it mainly, the cash back will pay for it, and even if it doesn, the laudry list of passive benefits you get is more useful than 75 dollars a year.

I have never paid a single cent in interest or fees, everything I buy with my card is something I can afford. Then every once in a while, get a free flight somewhere to my liking.

Needlessly complicating your life in the process.

No thanks. Just one less hassle to deal with.

 

[mmntech]

They started doing the pre-auths because people keep stealing gas. Petro Canada does it with their fleet cards. Which was a bit of a pain. It would only let you do it at the pumps once or twice, then you'd have to keep going into the store and wait in line behind people taking forever to pick out lotto tickets. When you have ten cars fresh off the truck that need gas, you don't want to spend all day dicking around. Though I do see the gas station's reasoning behind it. Especially at the store level. Sometimes those buggers will make employees pay for thefts out of their paycheque, even though that's illegal.

I have Speedpass with Esso. Never need to whip out the credit card.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Needlessly complicating your life in the process.

No thanks. Just one less hassle to deal with.

I mean. I'm actually at a loss for words at how stupfyingly willfully ignorant this is.

 

[slag]

Crutch? For some yes. For those on here supporting the use of credit no. The proper way to do credit:

- No yearly fee
- Rewards
- Pay off card at every billing cycle
- Only spend what you have available (not credit limit but actual funds in bank).
- Profit!

Seriously, I really don't get the "credit is the devil" attitude from some people.

Because it is very very very easy to get "caught up" in the mentality that you have all this money available so use it. Buy a thing here, buy a thing there, float one month because something else came up..

No thanks. Been there when I was younger. Just like alcoholics should never drink again even after they have recovered, some of us who were caught in the trap of credit just choose to not be put in that situation again. Credit cards for many people are there for people who can't otherwise afford things. Not everyone as evidenced in this thread, but for many. I choose not to play this game any more.

 

[slag]

I mean. I'm actually at a loss for words at how stupfyingly willfully ignorant this is.

I'm at a loss for words why you keep posting your crap. The more you get rid of, the less you have to maintain. Its not ignorance, its actually coming from a place I was before and choose not to be again. You're the one who can't see the forest for the trees.

If you think for a minute that credit card companies are there to do you favors, then I feel for you. Some of you like to play this game but for many others, it can easily become a trap.

 

[squarecut1]

Don't understand why some people want to impose their choice on others? Calling people ignorant and what not just because they use cash?!? Does everyone have to be the same?
I can see why some people would prefer to use cash. No, it is not stupid

 

[alkemyst]

I'm at a loss for words why you keep posting your crap. The more you get rid of, the less you have to maintain. Its not ignorance, its actually coming from a place I was before and choose not to be again. You're the one who can't see the forest for the trees.

If you think for a minute that credit card companies are there to do you favors, then I feel for you. Some of you like to play this game but for many others, it can easily become a trap.

The trap is you.

I have been in heavy debt, I love the fact that I could. I had needs at the time my salary could not fulfill. I knew what I'd be expected to pay back.

My biggest fault with credit card companies is even though I'd pay them in full and/or let a balance ride that I made 3-4x the min. payments on; when my mortgage company started misreporting me they jacked my rates up. Think about a freaking huge ass VIG at 8% fixed suddenly going to a 24.99% variable rate right now.

Now those fuckers can stand in line. A couple cards worked it out and realized I was a good paying customer. They have been paid.

 

[pontifex]

nm

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Don't understand why some people want to impose their choice on others? Calling people ignorant and what not just because they use cash?!? Does everyone have to be the same?
I can see why some people would prefer to use cash. No, it is not stupid

This. If you can use credit cards effectively, pay them off in full every month and get rewards that you actually use out of them, GREAT! Knock yourself out, enjoy your free stuff. The VAST majority of people who use credit cards don't have the willpower or intellectual wherewithal to use them effectively. You shouldn't talk shit about them; they're subsidizing all that free stuff you're getting by carrying balances and only paying minimums on the interest accrued. You also shouldn't talk shit about the people who realize that they aren't able to effectively use credit cards and opt for cash/debit. What does it matter to you? "I'm better with fiscal planning than they are." GREAT! Enjoy it. Don't be a douchenozzle about someone who doesn't share your interest in earning rewards on the backs of the large segments of America that are fiscally irresponsible. Live your life.

 

[pontifex]

Don't understand why some people want to impose their choice on others? Calling people ignorant and what not just because they use cash?!? Does everyone have to be the same?
I can see why some people would prefer to use cash. No, it is not stupid

This forum is full of elitist, egotistical, megalomaniacs. its normal here. if you aren't doing it their way, it's wrong.

 

[alkemyst]

WTF????

Please pay attention and go back and read what you quoted.

If I didn't carry PLASTIC, I'd have to tote around $500-1000 most days. Actually some day's I'd need more and those costs are not planned. I may have expense $2000+ for my job.

No company credit card here.

 

[alkemyst]

This forum is full of elitist, egotistical, megalomaniacs. its normal here. if you aren't doing it their way, it's wrong.

and apparently you are blind.

 

[CZroe]

The us is weird when it comes to gas. Here we just pay what we pump. Pump till it stops or you stop then go pay what it says.

It's not a US vs. Canada thing. It's regional even within the US. There are still many places in the US where you can pump first, pay later, though I can't recall seeing one in ages. My region (South Atlanta GMA) made the switch around 2007 and I remember thinking it was weird to pay first on a 2005 trip to SoCal.

A couple years ago I ran my card at the pump, pumped, and began driving off when the station owner came running out and telling me that I needed to come inside to pay. The place was prepay-only like every place in the region, so this totally confused me. If my payment didn't go through, why did the pump authorize me to pump gas?

When things first started changing here I recall QuikTrip, a large chain in this region, requiring a card that authorizes you to pump before paying. Without it, you had to pay first. Arco/AM-PM on the other side of the country is cash-only unless you agree to prepay debit with debit fees or use their Arco/AM-PM card. I never signed up but I think it also allowed you to pump first.

 

[squarecut1]

I think it was at the time of increase in gas prices a few years back - when it went to $4 per gallon - that all the gas stations started requiring pre pay. A lot of people were driving off without paying.

That is another illustration of the fact that morality of human beings is dependent on the environment and situation. That is why there is constant rioting in the streets in some parts of the world - it is not because those people are morally inferior inherently.

 

[Exophase]

The only reason I ever got a credit card was to try to build up my credit rating, many years ago (I care less about it now) These days my credit card gets used by my mother and my girlfriend whom I am supported, which gets paid off every month. It generates rewards but they're so meager that I've never even bothered to cash anything in (my debit card also generates pretty meager rewards that I haven't bothered with). I could do a lot better with a nicer credit card, my sister has been doing that for 15+ years and urges me to do the same.. but assuming I'd get approved in the first place I guess I just don't want to go through the trouble, even if it's a minor one time thing. And I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I feel weird about getting rewards that are almost entirely funded by credit card debt slaves. My mother was one of those slaves for a long time, she got stuck with a ton of accumulated interested and I ended up having to pay off some of her cards. Maybe that has made me feel worse about the whole thing.

 

[alkemyst]

I think it was at the time of increase in gas prices a few years back - when it went to $4 per gallon - that all the gas stations started requiring pre pay. A lot of people were driving off without paying.

That is another illustration of the fact that morality of human beings is dependent on the environment and situation. That is why there is constant rioting in the streets in some parts of the world - it is not because those people are morally inferior inherently.

dafuq? Pre-pay was a lot longer than a few years back. Even when gas was cheap asshats thought to just drive away.

It's like leaving a barrel of candy outside your door on Halloween because you can't be there. Some asshat will call their parents and load it up on a pickup.

 

[squarecut1]

dafuq? Pre-pay was a lot longer than a few years back. Even when gas was cheap asshats thought to just drive away.

Yes it was. But it became just about universal at that time. I noticed the change myself. There used to be a lot more gas stations where you could fill up and pay later. It all changed at that time.

 

[alkemyst]

The only reason I ever got a credit card was to try to build up my credit rating, many years ago (I care less about it now) These days my credit card gets used by my mother and my girlfriend whom I am supported, which gets paid off every month. It generates rewards but they're so meager that I've never even bothered to cash anything in (my debit card also generates pretty meager rewards that I haven't bothered with). I could do a lot better with a nicer credit card, my sister has been doing that for 15+ years and urges me to do the same.. but assuming I'd get approved in the first place I guess I just don't want to go through the trouble, even if it's a minor one time thing. And I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I feel weird about getting rewards that are almost entirely funded by credit card debt slaves. My mother was one of those slaves for a long time, she got stuck with a ton of accumulated interested and I ended up having to pay off some of her cards. Maybe that has made me feel worse about the whole thing.

With the right card, you don't cash in. Your cards are for the $200 Walkman worth $2.

There has got to be a common denominator that understands what they are signing up for.

If you drop that to those that didn't know better, everything gets screwed up.

Mistakes are sad, but shouldn't define our existence.

 

[alkemyst]

Yes it was. But it became just about universal at that time. I noticed the change myself. There used to be a lot more gas stations where you could fill up and pay later. It all changed at that time.

Personally based on your posts, were you in the back seat or driving?

 

[squarecut1]

Personally based on your posts, were you in the back seat or driving?

I was in the booster seat at the back. Happy now?

 

[alkemyst]

I was in the booster seat at the back. Happy now?

Yes, you are probably under 30, living at home, and your biggest bill each month is WoW.