Purchasing Fuel in the USA with a UK Debit Card

KevMaw

Just checking to see if anyone has any advice on how best to purchase fuel in the USA.
Last visit, our cards would not work in the prepaid fuel pumps and we were left with the choice of either leaving our cards with the cashier, or pre-paying a fixed fuel amount.

When we underspent on fuel, it was very difficult to see whether the balance was repaid until we got back home!

Also, leaving cards unattended isn't exactly comforting!

philip1988

we have this every time we go to the USA. Our solution is to either:
a. prepay an amount which we know won't over fill the car, or
b. when the car has to be filled prior to returning the car my wife will hand over the card in the station and wait there until the car is full.

Always works, never had a problem. Interestingly as they don't have chip and pin they aren't bothered who signs the credit card slip. My wife always signs "wife of philip1988"

KevMaw

philip1988 wrote: »

Interestingly as they don't have chip and pin they aren't bothered who signs the credit card slip. My wife always signs "wife of philip1988"

That is both convenient and very scary!
It makes you wonder what goes on with a payment card when you hand it over in a restaurant and it disappears for 10 minutes!

Thank you though, very helpful.

NFH

KevMaw wrote: »

It makes you wonder what goes on with a payment card when you hand it over in a restaurant and it disappears for 10 minutes!

Indeed. I've noticed that this is normal and accepted in Russian-speaking countries, for example Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. You put your card down on top of the bill, they take it away and they then return with the machine for you to enter your PIN. I don't understand why they need to take your card away. I've never encountered this in EU countries; when they see your card on the table, they bring the machine to the table and it never leaves your sight.

photome

KevMaw wrote: »

That is both convenient and very scary!
It makes you wonder what goes on with a payment card when you hand it over in a restaurant and it disappears for 10 minutes!

Thank you though, very helpful.

The USA is one place where my card has been used fraudulently, I susoect for the very reason you have highlighted.

As for fuel I always prepay in cash