Is it me or Esso?

[RizzoTheRat]

Twice recently I've used pay at pump at different Esso garages and been limited to £59 quid. Is that standard at all Esso garages or is it something about my credit card? Surely a large percentage of cars on the road have a tank bigger than 42 litres!

[TommyBuoy]

Hmmm, I've noticed this with other distributors as well.

I would guess they are limiting the amount each user can use to preserve stock - when there were fuel shortages a couple of years ago I notices it was limiting supply.

I'm am 99% sure that your credit rating will not affect the amoutn of fuel you can buy.

ETA: Thinking about it, this was plastered over the machines and shop so probably a fuel saving measure; not sure why they limit the pay at pump and no the shop?

Edited by TommyBuoy on Friday 21st October 08:39

[cobra kid]

I think Tesco are limited to £99 aren't they? Is there a sign on the machine?

[Steve H]

Most fuel stations seem to be set at £100 max for pay at pump. With chip and pin I'm not really sure why it would be limited when paying in the shop isn't??

[ludicrous speed]

I could be wrong but i think they 'reserve' that amount from you. You pay the full amount and then if you just use a tenner it sort of gets refunded, so maybe they just want to set it at a fair amount instead of taking something like 150 quid off you?

[twazzock]

cobra kid said:

I think Tesco are limited to £99 aren't they? Is there a sign on the machine?

Some of them are £59 too I think.

[TazR6]

My two local P@P Tesco are limited to £60.
It makes no sense, as you are paying for it there and then. As the card is authorized prior to taking the fuel, there is no risk of driving off without paying. If you pay in store, you can have any amount you want, but there is that risk that people could fill up and drive off without making payment.
There must be some logic behind it, but I cant see it.

[ludicrous speed]

TazR6 said:

It makes no sense, as you are paying for it there and then. As the card is authorized prior to taking the fuel, there is no risk of driving off without paying.

You are authorising the limit there and then, not the actual amount. You pay before you fill so they take the maximum, if you filled then paid afterwards you could drive off.

[JapFreak786]

No limit if i'm paying in the shop at my local Shell,and it's £100 limit if I use the pay at pump service

[DrTre]

Might be at the request of cc companies to limit their exposure from stolen cards?

[Steve H]

Still struggling to see how it is less secure to put your card in first rather than going into the shop after you have filled up

If a card is stolen and you don't have the pin code you won't get any fuel, if you do have the pin code then you could still pay in the shop.

[D1ngd0ng]

DrTre said:

Might be at the request of cc companies to limit their exposure from stolen cards?

It is to limit the Garages exposure; If I pay by Visa then its £59, if I pay by Visa debit then its £99 at my local shell. Bear in mind your card is pre auth'd for a negligible amount (between 1-10p I believe) so they know you have provided a working payment method and then after your fueling is finished they will try for the actual amount.

[JungleJim]

DrTre said:

Might be at the request of cc companies to limit their exposure from stolen cards?

don't be daft, its definitely in order to preserve the station's stocks.

[DrTre]

JungleJim said:

don't be daft, its definitely in order to preserve the station's stocks.

Huh? How? Can still fill up as much as you want if you go inside to pay.
My comment re cc companies is cos I thought they took the hit on stolen cards, not the vendor?

Edited by DrTre on Friday 21st October 10:17

[VR6 Turbo]

I always thought it was older systems. that are £59

are local esso used to be £59 now its £99, i guess £59 used to fill most cars not any more though.

VR