Card providers to 'reserve' up to £100 for pay at pump - here's what's happening

molerat

I see no problem providing the £100 hold is dropped and the correct amount reserved immediately.  I currently use my Tesco debit card for fuel and shopping for the 2 points per £ and a £100 balance is enough for the weekly shop and a fill up if necessary so holding on to a large amount could cause problems - will likely have to fill up on the way out.

uvarvu

On the BP app you can specify in advance how much to spend before the pump is unlocked.   Wonder whether you can use that to get round the whole reservation thing?

Money_Grabber13579

uvarvu said:

On the BP app you can specify in advance how much to spend before the pump is unlocked.   Wonder whether you can use that to get round the whole reservation thing?

This is just what I was about to say. If pumps can be configured so that they ask how much you want in advance, then only that amount needs to be reserved and it becomes a complete non-issue. For anyone that wants a full tank and has no issue with the reserved amount being £100, then just select an amount that is greater than your tank can hold.

rennatk

I can appreciate the issues for fuel providers but unless a credit card is used then withholding money without consent amounts to theft, pure and simple.
Get the system working correctly before rolling it out.

Tokmon

rennatk said:

I can appreciate the issues for fuel providers but unless a credit card is used then withholding money without consent amounts to theft, pure and simple.
Get the system working correctly before rolling it out.

You consent to authorisation when you put your card in and it is no way theft. You need to look up what theft actually is 

LEJOGX2O

Regardless of how much money you may have. Ref 'Mastercard and Visa told us the move should prevent shoppers from falling into unarranged overdrafts because they won't be attempting to buy more fuel than they can afford'. They should not take extra Money its not theirs! I'm an adult I know what I can afford. Its like Insurance Co.s Automatically renewing and taking your money without your consent. Legalised Theft, covered by small print. Next thing you know is you have 2 policies running! I'm an adult! If I want to fall into a unarranged overdraft That's my lookout?. The common thing in both these cases is they have GOT your MONEY!

Tokmon

LEJOGX2O said:

Regardless of how much money you may have. Ref 'Mastercard and Visa told us the move should prevent shoppers from falling into unarranged overdrafts because they won't be attempting to buy more fuel than they can afford'. They should not take extra Money its not theirs! I'm an adult I know what I can afford. Its like Insurance Co.s Automatically renewing and taking your money without your consent. Legalised Theft, covered by small print. Next thing you know is you have 2 policies running! I'm an adult! If I want to fall into a unarranged overdraft That's my lookout?. The common thing in both these cases is they have GOT your MONEY!

If your an adult then you should be responsible enough to check whether or not the particular policy your buying has auto renewal and then keep an eye out for renewal letters/email and take the appropriate action so you don't end up with two policies!. Again no theft happening there!.

Also they aren't taking any money at all they are simply authorising money which put's it on hold and none has been taken from the account. This is a measure to make sure people have the money before they take the fuel.
Just like if your selling someone something you would make sure they had the money before you let them take the item away and this is no different.

onlyfoolsandparking

Aren't the petrol retailers just doing what Hotels have been doing for years with pre-authorization? and usually the amount 'reserved' is quite a lot more than £100 or have I got that wrong? either way it will have no effect on me personally. 

Tyler_Durden_UK

I wonder how it'll affect people like me, I use a Monza card and typically load the card up with my spending for the week (helps with budgeting). If I have £100 on the card and put £20 petrol in (my local Asda is pay at pump only) and it 'takes' £100, I'll be unable to make further purchases on that card until the correct amount clears. 

Ectophile

rennatk said:

I can appreciate the issues for fuel providers but unless a credit card is used then withholding money without consent amounts to theft, pure and simple.
Get the system working correctly before rolling it out.

It's not theft, because they never even get that £100.  The bank still has it.