How do you pay for your fuel?

[not2old]

I always used my credit card for gas for my business. I find that the income tax auditors just glance at credit card receipts and then scrutinize cash receipts and ask all kinds of questions about them. Who needs the hassles? Merchants who accept credit cards aren't allowed to discount for cash as part of their contract with the credit card company, so if they offer discounts, I always insist on getting it with my card. I've never been refused when telling them I'd just complain to the credit card company.

 

[rtimgray]

I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't use a credit card to buy fuel anymore. It has been forever since I've bought fuel with anything but a credit card.

As with many others on this thread, I've got cards that give a cashback bonus for fuel and other purchases. These are things that I'm going to purchase anyway, so why not get something in return. Also, like many others, we cash-out our bonuses at vacation time and essentially have our vacation paid for because we bought gas and diesel all year long.

Plus, I have the convenience of not having to go in the store, wait in line behind the lottery ticket and slurpee buyers (don't get me wrong - I buy lottery tickets and slurpees too, but it's a treat, not a habit) and pay for my fuel. Most of the stations in my area require prepayment, so you have to go in, prepay, then go out and pump, and then go back in if you want your receipt.

But hey, as long as you're happy with what you're doing and you're not breakin' the law, it wouldn't bother me if you could pay for fuel with beaver pelts and chicken eggs.

 

[Ken45101]

We use a credit card for the rebate we get and don't have to carry all the cash nor the hassle of writing a check. We have the BP card with 5% back (that's 17-18 cents per gallon) but BP stations are far and few between here. They are one of the few that included diesel on the rebate.

Otherwise we use the Amex card which gives us 2% back. That's still 6-7 cents per gallon. All cards are paid off every month.

Using a credit card at the pump is a lot faster than waiting in line to pay behind someone who can't make their mind what lottery tickets they want

Ken

 

[JDgreen227]

Well, it seems most people here prefer to use a card, but as for me, cash serves the purpose fine...at most, I have to buy fuel ONCE A MONTH at most, as my annual mileage is less than 2,000. My GMC has a 39 gallon tank so I wait for the price to be down....and BTW, where I shop for fuel (Meijers) I am often the only customer there at the time. Now Speedway...always lines, although the pump prices are usually identical to Meijers.

 

[looknlearn]

I use cash for about everything I buy. I do have a debit card if I run out of cash and need to get something but that rarely happens. I think I have bought gas once with a debit card and one store purchase. Other than that I always carry cash.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I use a card that gives cash back and pay it off each month.

Chris

 

[RDrancher]

I've got 2 Visa debits. One for biz and one for personal. Glad that you mentioned the $100 hold. I never knew that.

I found out the hard way when ordering 80 yds of concrete for an out of town job from a company that charges your card as credit for all of the order BEFORE they load the first truck. I knew that I had enough in the business account to cover the order but had purchased fuel on the card earlier in the day. When I called Visa the lady outlined their policy and said that it happens all of the time. She suggested that I go to the bank and get a cashier's check for the concrete since Visa couldn't stop me from withdrawing my own money even though they had a hold on it for credit card use. I'm sure that she's not supposed to mention that!

That's what I ended up doing, but it made for a very hectic and stressful afternoon to keep the job on schedule. I don't use my debit card as a credit card for fuel anymore!

 

[Grateful11]

Cash for me.I have read recently that a lot credit card numbers are stolen while used for purchasing fuel.coobie

I don't see why gas pumps would be any different than anything else you stick a card in unless someone had put an illegal and almost unnoticeable reader over the card slot that reads your card and transmits it to a scammer. We've been using cards at pumps for over 15 years and knock on wood we've never ha that to happen. I can't remember the last time I paid cash for fuel. Back in the Fall my wife's 500 gal. diesel tank was running low back and the fuel guy couldn't get there right away so I volunteered to drive the 5140 2 miles to a diesel pump and fill it up, it had no card slot so I gave the girl the card and told her I wanted to fill it up, I think it stopped around $90., it wasn't as empty as she thought, it holds like 38 gallons.

I can tell you where they do steal you're numbers though, restaurants. My son had a date, believe it or not, and took her to Olive Garden and you know how you let them have your card to pay for your meal and they bring it back? Well the next day he had $150 worth of bogus charges on his Debit card, we went the bank that day and disputed them.

 

[coobie]

I don't see why gas pumps would be any different than anything else you stick a card in unless someone had put an illegal and almost unnoticeable reader over the card slot that reads your card and transmits it to a scammer. We've been using cards at pumps for over 15 years and knock on wood we've never ha that to happen. I can't remember the last time I paid cash for fuel. Back in the Fall my wife's 500 gal. diesel tank was running low back and the fuel guy couldn't get there right away so I volunteered to drive the 5140 2 miles to a diesel pump and fill it up, it had no card slot so I gave the girl the card and told her I wanted to fill it up, I think it stopped around $90., it wasn't as empty as she thought, it holds like 38 gallons.

I can tell you where they do steal you're numbers though, restaurants. My son had a date, believe it or not, and took her to Olive Garden and you know how you let them have your card to pay for your meal and they bring it back? Well the next day he had $150 worth of bogus charges on his Debit card, we went the bank that day and disputed them.

The wife and I took a trip down south to see one of our daughters and my credit card number was stolen at one of the gas stations we stopped at.The reason I know that?I only used my credit card for fuel only.coobie

 

[Ken45101]

The wife and I took a trip down south to see one of our daughters and my credit card number was stolen at one of the gas stations we stopped at.The reason I know that?I only used my credit card for fuel only.coobie

Was it "pay at the pump" or did you take the card inside?

Ken