Nightime service stations

[roundtable]

While making my way to the town of Tours for a late night errand on the thursday before Le Mans ,I came across a problem that I had not come across on two previous trips to Le Mans.
Namely the 'automated un-manned' night time service stations that require a 'local petrol card (?)to pay by.

My car was running on fumes and Myself and three friends all tried credit cards without success.
I suppose if I didn't have a petrol gulping VR6 It would have been less of a problem!
We ended up having beg a local minicab driver to come out to a deserted forecourt with a car full of guys (not easy in the early hours!)and allow us use her petrol card .

I assume there must be a way to use these without being a french citizen?



>>> Edited by roundtable on Tuesday 14th September 14:41

>>> Edited by roundtable on Tuesday 14th September 14:45

>>> Edited by roundtable on Tuesday 14th September 15:34

[GCerbera]

Don't know what the answer is, but my brother had the same problem this year
after failing to take on fuel before leaving Le Mans as I did.

It had never been an issue on previous trips.

[Guy Humpage]

It seems the only way around the problem is to note which services are manned 24/7. On the N138 there is a large TOTAL near Bernay, about 100kms from LM. Which seems to be the only decent fuel stop on that route between LM and Rouen, and they ran out of Unleaded a couple of years ago.

[iains]

Used to get this all the time when I lived in Brussels - you need one of the proper chip and pin cards which of course in 2001 we could only dream of. Since spending a rather worried 20 minutes driving back with my range on '0' miles in my A3, I always made a point of filling up during normal business hours.

>> Edited by iains on Tuesday 14th September 16:09

[Tripps]

I enquired and had all my cards changed for chip and pin variants only to be told they are not compatible with the French system, although they and the rest of Europe will be adapting to ours over the next few years.

From what I could gather the French system involved not storing the PIN on the card, instead on a central database, rather than over here where a £30 scanner and a laptop is enough to extract the PIN!

Last year we slept in my S3 when running on 0 TVR miles (you can never be sure you're empty until you stop!) used my SatNav to locate petrol stattions but they were all closed or credit card ones

If only my co-pilot wasn't quite as hairy our night ourside the petrol station might have been more enjoyable!

[roundtable]

Thanks for info. Glad I wasn't the only one caught out by this 'French foible'! Will make sure to fill up in 'Office hours' on the 2005 LM!

[rsvmilly]

In between LM 2004 and August bank holiday, the petrol station at Cherbourg has changed to one of these automated ones. A hand written sign said 'French bank cards only'

[Tripps]

Don't you just love 'em.

The French pushing for standardisation of driving penalties in the EU so they can fine us and give us points, then they can't be bothered to allow us to spend our hard earned on their petrol

[crimson king 500]

Regular problem, but you will find that there is normally a friendly local who will charge their card for cash, if you have it. Or alternatively wait for me to pull into the station and I will use my French account card!. Helped out 5 cars this year all with the same problem, could actually make money on the deal if I was smart enough and just cruised around stations watching for cars stopped there!
CK

[Tripps]

crimson king 500 said:

Regular problem, but you will find that there is normally a friendly local who will charge their card for cash, if you have it. Or alternatively wait for me to pull into the station and I will use my French account card!. Helped out 5 cars this year all with the same problem, could actually make money on the deal if I was smart enough and just cruised around stations watching for cars stopped there!

Enterprising Brit or greedy - you decide...

[roundtable]

Yep,we did try to find a 'frendly Local' to help out but at 2 am there wasn't that many around!

[goodlife]

We have a French bank account and card. No problem