Stupid new Halifax rule

renegadefm

Halifax have introduced a new rule on their basic accounts from December 18th where they won't let customers use the card at petrol pumps.

This left me stranded without fuel and had to ring a family member to come out to rescue me and pay for the fuel.

My question is why have Halifax introduced such a stupid rule when it could leave people at risk if they cant pay for their fuel.

I found all this out after ringing Halifax today after finding out my debt card seemed faulty.

Any ideas?

agrinnall

It sounds like your card is now an online one rather than offline. That means it can only be used where there is a connection to the bank (for instance in an ATM) but not where there is no connection. Many petrol pumps are offline so cards such as yours can't be used in them. It's quite common for this to be the case with basic accounts, and perhaps Halifax are simply falling into line with the competition.

[Deleted User]

Change bank?

Upgrade to a non-basic account?

18cc

You can of course use the card at petrol pumps where there is a cashier to pay - it is only when there is no cashier and you are doing a pay at pump that it will not be allowed

AirlieBird

Pay @ pump tend to reserve a nominal £1 to check the card is active and charge the full amount to the card a few days later rather than reserving the full transaction amount at the time of purchase. As the transaction amount hasn't been reserved when it is charged it can cause you to exceed your available balance which is not permitted on basic accounts. This is probably why Halifax have disallowed its use at pay@pump.

renegadefm

Well the thing is its a very dangerous rule because it can leave people vunerable and if they are nearly out of fuel at risk of breaking down looking for an alternative garage.

The thing is my local branch said its a new rule just started December 18th. She said it won't work now at any fuel pumps. I asked her whats the reason behind the new rule, she just replied its to prevent customers getting overdrawn. But fuel is the one thing we need. Otherwise we could be left stranded somewhere.

Dobbibill

Do you have a credit card you can use for a pay@pump transaction?

Otherwise it will mean making sure it's a manned service station.

ceredigion

renegadefm wrote: »

Well the thing is its a very dangerous rule because it can leave people vunerable and if they are nearly out of fuel at risk of breaking down looking for an alternative garage.

The thing is my local branch said its a new rule just started December 18th. She said it won't work now at any fuel pumps. I asked her whats the reason behind the new rule, she just replied its to prevent customers getting overdrawn. But fuel is the one thing we need. Otherwise we could be left stranded somewhere.

How ever said life was fair

renegadefm

No I was only allowed a basic account as I was bankrupt. But now I'm distressed to be honest because if this applies to all fuel stations I'm screwed if I dont have cash. But what confuses me society are trying to put people off using cash. So how arw we supposed to cope if we cant use the cards in some places.

renegadefm

ceredigion wrote: »

How ever said life was fair

The thing is it could leave people vunerable without or low on fuel. Especially women who could have children in the car. Its not just unfair its discusting.

renegadefm

Ok I have an update which might affect more people than I first thought.

I just got off the phone to Halifax, and this new rule has come from Visa and will affect all basic bank accounts eventually.

So anyone with a basic bank account won't be able to use a card only reader at fuel pumps.

We would have to only use fuel pumps that have a manned kiosk or use cash.

I personally find this ridiculous. They are making cash obsolete or trying to, yet now we cant use card payments for fuel.