Use Co-Op Cashminder at Asda Petrol Pumps

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My partner has one of these cards, and being a discharged bankrupt cannot get the normal bank accounts that would usually give a Visa Debit card. As you will know from the other threads about this, the Cashminder card has been reclassified as a Visa Debit card by Co-Op but still treated as an Electron card by some retailers.

On the bright side I hear Tesco now accept these cards at the pump but then every Tesco I have used has had the facility to pay in the shop as well, so not as vital as Asda. Every Asda I have used requires automatic payment to be made at the pump, so if you have a card that it thinks is Electron you will not get petrol. Asda is also one of the cheapest petrol retailers historically.

I would like to start a little campaign to your benefit if you would indulge me. It takes about two minutes to do and could end up in everyone with one of the Cashminder cards finally being able to get cheaper petrol.

Write to Asda, I've put a sample template for you below. The link to use is:

http://your.asda.com/section-contact-asda

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Your Asda self service petrol pumps require use of a card that does not require a 'live' authorisation, service is restricted to Visa Debit/credit, Mastercard etc. but use of live authorisation cards such as Electron are not permitted.

The Co-Operative Bank 'Cashminder' card was issued originally as an Electron card. Co-Op changed this card to a Visa Debit card which should work in your automated pumps, however this does not happen meaning I cannot buy petrol from you.

Co-Op advises me although they have changed the cards, it is up to retailers to update their 'BIN' numbers to allow terminals to recognise the card number relates to a Visa Debit rather than an Electron card, as Co-Op has reused the original Electron numbers but under the new classification.

Tesco is a retailer which originally declined the Cashminder card recognising it as an Electron BIN, but have since reprogrammed all their pay-at-pump terminals to recognise the card as a Visa Debit.

Co-Op changed their cards back in 2009, would you please tell me when you plan to update your terminals to accept these cards? There is much talk about this on internet forums, particularly the high profile MoneySavingExpert.com forum and I am certain this will increase business for you.

jetr77

Hi thanks for this. I totally agree and find it very frustrating not being able to buy petrol at asda pumps. Ive emailed them your template. Will let you know if they reply.

debutyou

Sounds to me it has more to do with Asda not updating its bin type info.

The pump (internally) is probably recognising the card as 'Electron' via its chip, and the card processing is recognising it as 'Visa Debit', transactions are all authorised 'online', as it goes through a 'checking authorisation' stage, and this is causing it to fail. So its probably the pump that hasn't been updated.

I thought Asda pumps did accept 'Electron', because there is a sign on them which says it is recommended you fill up with at least £20, if you use an Electron Card. Pretty certain I've used it there in the past.

Why didn't Cooperative Bank use the 4988 Cooperative Visa Debit number and issue new cards? To save money probably.
Cooperative have made a complete f*** up reassigning the 4508 card type as Visa Debit, because in the process they converted all existing valid Electron Cards with Electron logos to Visa Debit. Not everyone is happy. + the fact there was no change to t&c!

A lot of customers are p*ssed off because they are now charged £18 booking two flights on flybe.com, even though the site says the Electron Card fee is zero, and their card is marked 'Electron'.

This also effects Aer Lingus (+£10), bmibaby.com (+£6), Easyjet (+£5), basically anywhere retailers differentiate the card fee of Visa Electron / Visa Debit.

There's so little between the petrol companies, (there is a Esso next door to Asda here, which matches the price), so I rather save on my flights - never had a problem using my Electron Card before all this - now its a complete hit and miss whether its rejected (Aer Lingus reject it). Regarding Asda, I suppose you can always just pay at the kiosk.

Bottom Line:
Customer's should just expect the card to work as marked, and certainly not be ripped off in the process, which is happening at the moment. There must have been thousands collected 'incorrectly' by flybe.com, I can 'incorrectly', flybe.com actually haven't done anything wrong, its Cooperative that made the f*** up. Still flybe.com know about the issue and basically telling Cooperative customers 'up yours' - its our money, not our mistake, we get the info from the Cooperative.

At least Easyjet state you can phone their customer services for a refund if a card fee is incorrectly charged, still that would probably cost you the card fee.

confused76

thanks Cityslicker...i have sent an email to Asda, it only took two ticks. I'll let you know if and when i get a reply

you have inspired me to email my local Tesco, sometimes my card is accepted instore, and sometimes it is declined....

mrcurious_2

I will also send one as i never knew about Asda

dojoman

Thanks, email sent:)

alastairq

who are Asda?

sizzler

mine works there:)

andyf1980

Personally I just wouldn't buy petrol from Asda. Their loss. Mind you it's easy for me to say that as there isn't one near me :eek:

philnicandamy

Hmm agree...their diesel caused untold grief when we filled a while ago...told by both garage/AA/RAC & car manufacturer avoid supermarket fuel as the quality is VERY questionable

I really would be suprised if they can be bothered to do anything about this..tesco were exactly the same going round in circles one blaming another, and afterall asda aint well known for their superb cust service

alastairq

told by both garage/AA/RAC & car manufacturer avoid supermarket fuel as the quality is VERY questionable

sadly, that advice ranks with that of Lloyds, Natwest, NR and Santander....fill in suitable description here...

The supermarkets buy their fuel at the same refineries as the big names...all that differs is likely to be the quantity and type of additives.

In fact, in press tests, Tesco Super unleaded [ie 98 octane] petrol was found to be superior to the brand names, except Shell....

They all have to comply with exacting standards of quality.

of course, there's no accounting for confusing the black nozzle for a green one...

Occasionally, a fuel retailer suffers from problems of quality...most likely due to things like storage issues, mix-ups, etc.

I once suffered issues with diesel being mixed with petrol....for a petrol car not entirely a bad thing....turned out to be a mix up during deliveries....to an ESSO garage I used.

all sorted amicably in the end.....although I fixed the issue myself...as I don't actually trust people 'in the trade'...


Supermarket fuel is fine.....the problem lies with urban myth and misleading advice from those with a 'vested interest'...which applies to both motoring organisations....who..if they proffered debt advice, would find themselves slated on this forum...

Beware professional elitism.

cheap tyres are fine!