Don't use Esso Pay-at-Pump!!!

DemonFish

<grrrrr>

Be warned - whenever you use Esso's Pay-at-Pump service they 'reserve' £60 from your debit/ credit card and do not release thsi for 5 business days. There is NO WARNING about this on the pump at all.

I've used twice recently and as a result I've just been hit with 2 missed direct debits and unauthorised overdraft charges.
:mad::mad::mad:
I'm furious that there is no warning anywhere - are they breaking any consumer laws by doing this? I want to claim the charges back from them - any pointers where I should start with this??

cazziebo

Thanks for the heads up - I didn't know this...

Keith

Everytime I've used Esso, there has been a sticker warning that they do this on the pump.

Asda also do this.

maemaesmummy

And Tesco..

Wig

I regularly use Tesco pay@pump and have never seen (or atleast never read) any warning sticker about this. I have also never had Tesco debit my account for anything other than the amount of petrol I actually took.

As a starting point for the OP, I would go and photograph the pump you used to show no warning signs/stickers, do it discreetly, otherwise they will ask you to leave. Also photo the entrance to the petrol station for lack of warning signs.

Preferably in your photos have someone holding todays newspaper.

Keith

Tesco don't do it, only Asda and Esso do.

anewman

I've never seen a sticker warning of it, but the machine tells you how much it has authorised on your card and tells you to take a maximum of.. £xx

Wig

Yes, but you only get debited the actual amount, I have never seen on any statements saying I was initially debited the £40 or £60 and the balance returned to me.

greyteam1959

Are you saying that if you fill up with £20 of petrol they actually take £60 ??
Or am I missing something here ??
'Reserve' ??? they either take it or they dont take it !!!

moonrakerz

Most hotels do this as well. If you check in for say 5 days, they "reserve" 5 days room hire on your card and often a large % on top of that as well.

It is quite possible to book a hotel stay for £500, say, and have £1,000 taken off your available balance on your credit card the instant you book in !

Wig

moonrakerz wrote: »

Most hotels do this as well. If you check in for say 5 days, they "reserve" 5 days room hire on your card and often a large % on top of that as well.

It is quite possible to book a hotel stay for £500, say, and have £1,000 taken off your available balance on your credit card the instant you book in !

But you woud have to agree to the amount. I have never (to my knowledge) agreed to Tesco taking anything other than the price of the fuel I have taken.

And I just checked my CC statements for the time I filled up @ Asda, also only debited (or rather charged) the amount I used.

So I don't understand any of the OP's troubles.