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AIBU?

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Original poster

Tesco's petrol stations automatically charging £120 per transaction on 'Pay at Pump'

223 replies

Silverlog · 16/03/2023 03:46

Article here in the Daily Fail

Charging you and then refunding the difference. Did you know about this? I didn't. I'd be effing furious if this messed up my banking and the refund wasn't instant. The maximum I ever put in the the car is £40. I prefer pay-at-pump because it's usually faster than going in the kiosk. Aibu?

OP posts:
SlipSlidinAway · 16/03/2023 03:52

I don't think it's just Tesco is it? Happened to ds a couple of years ago - small amount of petrol but default £100 taken from his account. The refund took a day or two to go through and I remember him being quite anxious about what was going on. I never pay at any pump now for that reason.

Mumma · 16/03/2023 03:53

It used to only take £1 but people were using that as a hack to get a full tank when they didnt have the funds avaliable. I know i did it when i was so skint i couldn't afford petrol. It would take you over your agreed account limit. They do it this way now to avoid thay happening. It does state this on all the pumps but it seems a little harsh as who fills up THAT much!

steff13 · 16/03/2023 03:53

That's standard here in the US, but the difference in the money is refunded immediately once the transaction is complete.

Original poster
Silverlog · 16/03/2023 04:02

There was no notice at the pump last time I went in. That's the end of me getting through the station fast in future. I'll have to go in the kiosk. I don't want to risk a delay getting this money which is MY money refunded. Hmm

OP posts:
SlipSlidinAway · 16/03/2023 04:08

I don't think I've ever noticed that information on a pump.

lljkk · 16/03/2023 04:11

seems reasonable to me

Sortinshit23 · 16/03/2023 04:21

There were signs up when it was first implemented. It's a nightmare and I got caught out myself close to payday. I always pay at kiosk now.

SaltanVinegar · 16/03/2023 04:33

What happens if you don’t have the £120 available? Is your card declined, or advised to pay at the kiosk?

steff13 · 16/03/2023 04:41

SaltanVinegar · 16/03/2023 04:33

What happens if you don’t have the £120 available? Is your card declined, or advised to pay at the kiosk?

Here, it declines the transaction and there's a message that tells you to pay the cashier.

BlueSpark · 16/03/2023 04:42

So the Tesco near me is pay at pump only. On the occasion I have more than £120 in the bank, it takes £120 as I put my card in, the second I finish my transaction I get a second transaction for the actual amount of fuel I used. The £120 transaction disappears and I have the correct amount. I rarely use it as get nervous but have never had a problem.

On the occasion I have less money in, it knows how much and only lets me spend that. Same principle as above.

I once had enough for lunch and petrol and did get nervous I wouldn't be allowed the lunch purchase but it was all ok as quick to resolve.

I think they did this as years ago you could put as much as you like and the transaction hit a few days later but imagine this got them in trouble.

SpookyBlackCat · 16/03/2023 05:05

Can you not choose the amount? I live abroad, so maybe it's different, but if you choose the "fill up" button, it does the take 120 pounds from your account thing or you can select the amount, say 50 pounds and it just takes 50 pounds from your account.

ArdeteiMasazxu · 16/03/2023 05:24

this is perfectly normal for any service where something is paid for after it is provided - same thing as with hotels. Part of the responsibility you are supposed to develop as a grownup who uses credit cards is managing your finances so that you are never sailing so close to your credit limit that things like this are a problem.

if you haven't yet achieved that level of adulting, it's easy enough to opt to pay at the till and then you are only charged for what you actually take.

boboshmobo · 16/03/2023 05:25

They changed this ages ago , you can just pay inside if you don't have the funds

BibbleandSqwauk · 16/03/2023 06:08

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hay5689 · 16/03/2023 06:12

It's visa and master card putting doing this not the supermarkets. They are losing money due to people filling up and not having funds to cover it. It depends on your bank and card provider if they'll charge you the £120 or not, some are not charging it.

Oblomov23 · 16/03/2023 06:12

I saw the notice on the Tesco pump yesterday.

hay5689 · 16/03/2023 06:13

Don't know where the putting came from 🤦‍♀️

Tontostitis · 16/03/2023 06:19

This is standard and has been for ages

EmmaDilemma5 · 16/03/2023 06:22

Unfortunately I think it's a case of, like it or lump it.

If you don't like it, pay in the kiosk. A few minutes out of your day isn't going to hurt.

WinterMusings · 16/03/2023 06:24

Mumma · 16/03/2023 03:53

It used to only take £1 but people were using that as a hack to get a full tank when they didnt have the funds avaliable. I know i did it when i was so skint i couldn't afford petrol. It would take you over your agreed account limit. They do it this way now to avoid thay happening. It does state this on all the pumps but it seems a little harsh as who fills up THAT much!

@Mumma

Loads of people with bigger cars (well technically bugger fuel tanks I suppose).

@Silverlog I'm sorry you didn't know. I'll lend you my friend, he's a grump, middle aged, taxi driver... you'll also know about every 'idiot' on the road, every bit of road works (not) going on, & every pothole...

It was all over here a couple of times too.

it does say on the screen as well, when you're putting your card in the slot.

I use PATP in ESSO at least once a week & it says about the £120, but so far it's only shown as taking the amount the fuel costs. My friend says (at the same garage) that it 'holds' £120 from his card. 🤷🏻‍♀️

i always use my credit card, he always uses a debit card. I wonder if that makes any difference??

kirkandpetal · 16/03/2023 06:25

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Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 16/03/2023 06:25

Makes sense why they do it. It doesn't bother me, if you don't have the funds for the full amount, go and pay in the kiosk.

WinterMusings · 16/03/2023 06:27

SlipSlidinAway · 16/03/2023 04:08

I don't think I've ever noticed that information on a pump.

@SlipSlidinAway it's on the screen that gives you the card instructions.

itsgettingweird · 16/03/2023 06:27

ArdeteiMasazxu · 16/03/2023 05:24

this is perfectly normal for any service where something is paid for after it is provided - same thing as with hotels. Part of the responsibility you are supposed to develop as a grownup who uses credit cards is managing your finances so that you are never sailing so close to your credit limit that things like this are a problem.

if you haven't yet achieved that level of adulting, it's easy enough to opt to pay at the till and then you are only charged for what you actually take.

Unnecessary and rude.

Some people may only want £30 of fuel and it's understandable they don't want another £90 debited and refunded a few days later. It's their money!

And we are in a major CofL crisis where fuel is still very expensive. People have less funds.
Wages are way below inflation rises.

loudbatperson · 16/03/2023 06:28

It's been this way for quite some time now, although I believe that most places have a £99 hold. Although plenty of cars are over £100 to fill now, as pump prices have increased, which may explain the move to £120.

If you do not have enough funds in your bank account, can't you use a credit card and just pay it off a few days later when the correct amount is settled?

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