topic Re: Using a credit card at Chevron in Community Chat

Using a credit card at Chevron

------ — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:33:13 GMT

Yesterday I filled up my tank at Chevron. The total came to $31. I went online to check my credit card balance and noticed that Chevron had charged my card $100. I did a bit of research and this is apparently common practice with Chevron, Texaco and a few others. They will charge a "pending" amount to your credit card unrelated to the actual charge/s made. The pending charge will drop off eventually.

This practice seems pretty sketchy to me. Don't think I will purchase my gas at Chevron again.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

Preds — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:40:05 GMT

Don't think I would either. I've never heard of that before, but I wouldn't want any charges on there that I didn't do.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

glb613 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:41:33 GMT

Many places do this for debit cards to make sure the real amount will be paid before the account runs out of money. It's one of many reasons I don't use a debit card.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

pommom — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 13:37:59 GMT

The gas station I use when I used my cc - which is no longer a practice of mine - does just the opposite. A ""zero"" amount shows for days. Sometimes as long as a week before the charge came through.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

SydneyH — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 13:45:02 GMT

Depends on your bank, many retailers will run a phantom hold before processing the real transaction. My bank does not remove the hold from my account, just the transaction.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

esmeraldagooch — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:01:26 GMT

We have this happen with hotels frequently. Unless you have a small credit limit available it should make no difference.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

------ — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:34:07 GMT

I would understand if a hotel did this but a gas station? Why place a pending charge for 3-5 days (which is the average hold time) that is over 3 times the original purchase? I'm curious as to why this is done.

Interesting pommom.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

brii — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:40:12 GMT

It's common practice because the purchase price is Not known. You may put in $30 of gas or fill up for $50. My understanding is if you go in and have your card swiped, there is no hold placed on funds.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

pistolino — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:43:49 GMT

All the gas stations in my area have a notice at the pump that if you use a credit or debit card at the pump, a hold will be placed for a specific amount (no matter how much you end up buying) and that hold may not be released for a day or two.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

------ — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:47:54 GMT

I don't remember seeing a notice on the pump but I will check if I ever go back.

Thanks for the info brii.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

brii — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:50:40 GMT

Gato, you might want to check into that.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

missy1 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:51:06 GMT

They usually only charge $1 as pending. I don't use any cards at pump now, only $. They take too many days to process.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

sidsmom — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:53:01 GMT

I'm betting you're using a debit card, yes?

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

brii — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:55:08 GMT

I did notice a safety sticker over the swiper yesterday. It said if the seal is broken, to notify management. I think because of skimmers being used to steal credit card info, gas stations are starting taking precautions.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

kdgn — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:16:22 GMT

Since you're using the card before the total purchase price is made, a set amount is put on hold to make sure there is credit available to pay for it. I am surprised that amount takes so long to come off the card's balance.

eta; Oops, it wasn't all that long for the amount to stay on. I've noticed when using a credit card anywhere that it can take up to 48 hours for the charge to show up on my account. So using the card yesterday and checking later to find the "pending" charge still there would be normal.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

------ — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 18:23:45 GMT

Hi sidsmom, I was using my AmEx. No spending limit so it seemed odd to me that Chevron needed to hold a certain amount aside. Maybe its common practice across the board.

kdgn, I will have to check again and see if the pending is removed later today or tomorrow.

It isn't that I need it but I find it curious that this is done.

missy, when I go to Shell they will keep $1 pending, not $100 like Chevron.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

missy1 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 18:28:22 GMT

The problem is in op situation this amount can cause NSF for some. Not good. Use cash at the pump. Same with restaurants. You don't know when they will add the tip or put a different amount. When I did use cc/ATM at restaurant, I paid tip in cash. Made sure I wrote that on receipt.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

missy1 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 18:29:25 GMT

On 3/9/2014 ------ said:
Hi sidsmom, I was using my AmEx. No spending limit so it seemed odd to me that Chevron needed to hold a certain amount aside. Maybe its common practice across the board.

kdgn, I will have to check again and see if the pending is removed later today or tomorrow.

It isn't that I need it but I find it curious that this is done.

missy, when I go to Shell they will keep $1 pending, not $100 like Chevron.

Same here it's $1. So some people pump and wait until payday.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

GCR18 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 19:57:46 GMT

I seem to think this is standard practice. I try to remember to have cash when I fill up, plus shell gives a discount for cash.

Re: Using a credit card at Chevron

ennui1 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:56:53 GMT

On 3/9/2014 pistolino said:
All the gas stations in my area have a notice at the pump that if you use a credit or debit card at the pump, a hold will be placed for a specific amount (no matter how much you end up buying) and that hold may not be released for a day or two.

My Shell station has those little notices.

For all those who only have $1 hold -- what's the point of that? Can you even buy only $1's worth of gas?

I remember the temporary hold was once $50 -- but gas keeps going up and up, and now it's $100.