Pay at Pump / Santander

jonnygee2

Mentioned the machine not working in the kiosk, and was told that it was becoming very common, "some banks don't like dealing with the paperwork".

Anyone heard of this or aware of it being a bank policy?

Yes it's increasingly a policy. There is a lot of fraud associated with pay at pump.

Basically, people use a card to authorise, take out petrol, then empty the account and go AWOL. Then the amount for the fuel gets debited, but the person has already ditched the card by then.

In some extreme examples, people have been using specially modified vans to fill up with tens of thousands of pounds worth of fuel. So, banks have just taken the approach of banning them until Mastercard / Visa finds a better way to handle the transactions.

re online/offline debit cards - offline debit cards were phased out years ago in the UK and most other countries. Online authorisation is now a standard process worldwide and a large number of terminals would not accept an offline debit card, so they would be next to useless in the modern world.

Ben8282

Has it ever occurred to you that the pay at pump may simply not have been working or there was some sort of fault at the time as this appears to be a one off incident and not a regular occurrence? The fact that you state that you have previously used the same card in the same machines would tend to support this theory.

jonnygee2 wrote: »

In some extreme examples, people have been using specially modified vans to fill up with tens of thousands of pounds worth of fuel.

When I have used pay at pump the maximum transaction value is normally limited to £99

System

jonnygee2 wrote: »

re online/offline debit cards - offline debit cards were phased out years ago in the UK and most other countries. Online authorisation is now a standard process worldwide and a large number of terminals would not accept an offline debit card, so they would be next to useless in the modern world.

Most of my debit cards are offline - my savings account and monzo card are the only online card debit cards that I own.

I must be a relic from a bygone era based on your 'information' :cool:

jonnygee2

Most of my debit cards are offline - my savings account and monzo card are the only online card debit cards that I own.

I find this extremely unlikely. What makes you think they are offline debit cards?

Ben8282

jonnygee2 wrote: »

re online/offline debit cards - offline debit cards were phased out years ago in the UK and most other countries. Online authorisation is now a standard process worldwide and a large number of terminals would not accept an offline debit card, so they would be next to useless in the modern world.

This is not correct

jonnygee2

This is not correct

I disagree.

colsten

Wait please, I need to get more popcorn

jonesMUFCforever

What I think is happening is that pay at the pump transaction authorisation is going 'live' ie like using a chip and pin they check that you have available funds.
This is dependant on the petrol station having upgraded its software at the pumps. Some have - others have not (yet).
In time it will be better for everyone as some people were going into unauthorised overdrafts because only £1 was earmarked - with the new system; however much you put in the tank, will be earmarked.

robatwork

Interesting answers - please update this thread if you have a Santa card and use pay at pump in the near future with a yea or nay.

Ben8282 wrote: »

Has it ever occurred to you that the pay at pump may simply not have been working or there was some sort of fault at the time as this appears to be a one off incident and not a regular occurrence? The fact that you state that you have previously used the same card in the same machines would tend to support this theory.

Well yes, of course. That's why I

robatwork wrote: »

Mentioned the machine not working in the kiosk, and was told that it was becoming very common, "some banks don't like dealing with the paperwork".

If they'd responded "don't know" or "must be a fault with pump 11" then I wouldn't have started a thread on it. :doh:

Obviously isn't as straightforward as this from the variety of responses on this thread and the Tesco assistant.

I won't be filling up again for a couple of weeks so interested in others' experiences.

Also wondering what the "paperwork" she referred to is - unless it's regarding the increasing fraud. Any bank employees know?

PS I also have never been in that Use Card Abroad section - shows mine as GOLD DEBIT MFC

[Deleted User]

paragon909 wrote: »

You go to Account Services on the Santander online banking, Then look for use card abroad and it will show you the cards you have. Mine shows "DEBIT MFC ONLINE" If you have a card that says Offline then you can use it on such places like pay at pumps.

I'm not sure how one would qualify for an offline, I guess maybe when you open the account they do a credit search and base the decision to what card you get wit them, Even though you can still have account. But am not sure the bank will tell you how to qualify.

If you have an offline debit card with santander this will display as "DEBIT MFC" within online banking. It will not have the word "offline" included, so if your card is a "DEBIT MFC" as opposed to a "DEBIT MFC ONLINE" then it is an offline card.


"DEBIT MFC" and "GOLD DEBIT MFC" are the exact same type of card, both start 4547 and are offline, the difference is literally the colour scheme and nothing else. The gold colour is just the card issued to santander select customers with the exact same functionality as "DEBIT MFC."


"DEBIT MFC ONLINE" is the card issued on all under 18s accounts. They are issued on adult current accounts only when santander have not deemed the applicants credit score high enough for the offline card and there has been a history of current account mismanagement such as bounced payments ect. I personally have always been offered the "DEBIT MFC" but my credit history is sqeaky clean apart from a few recent credit searches,so I guess that is probabley why.


It is possible to upgrade from "DEBIT MFC ONLINE" to the offline "DEBIT MFC." You will need to go into a branch and ask them to check your Behavioral score, that will tell them the highest grade of visa debit card you are eligible for. The Behaviour score updates on a monthly basis and is calculated on account conduct, so if your not in fact eligible keep on checking in with them now and again just when your passing by a branch. If the account is being managed properly for a good period of time with no unarranged overdraft,bounced direct debits and a resonable regular credit turnover is hitting the account,it is more than likely the behavioral score will allow you to upgrade to "DEBIT MFC."


I believe santander at some stage this year will be killing off visa debit cards and replacing them with debit mastercards, they will be more than likely have an online and offline version as it stands currently, but weather they still name them internally as MFC cards remains to be seen.


Hope this helps :beer: