This here fuel station deposit thingy

[Demannu]

So you in the UK are embracing the prepayment at supermarket fuel stations.
Apparently they take £99 against your card until you draw the fuel, then refund the balance 'almost' immediately.
No idea how immediate the refund is, but this side of the channel, they like to take €150 and usually takes 3 days to get your money back, which is a pisser if im on the bike doing some miles on a Sunday.
It's a brave new world

[Skub]

I've used that method for years now,but I haven't noticed any delay in refunding. In fact I didn't even know that's how it worked!

[Horse]

So you in the UK are embracing the prepayment at supermarket fuel stations.
Apparently they take £99 against your card until you draw the fuel, then refund the balance 'almost' immediately.
No idea how immediate the refund is, but this side of the channel, they like to take €150 and usually takes 3 days to get your money back, which is a pisser if im on the bike doing some miles on a Sunday.
It's a brave new world

Its
a. Old news
b. Almost momentary

AIUI the system puts through - at least, initiates - a transaction (when you pay at pump, so put your card in, then fill up, then pay) to validate your card. But it's not completed, it does not show on your statement. So mot refund.

[MrLongbeard]

Asda still only ping you for a quid before you fill up.
But the new system by Visa which charges £99 is slowly creeping onto all forecourts

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'm struggling to think of the last time I did anything other than pay at pump in my car. Hundreds of fill ups easily. Never noticed this...

I've heard about it but it's never happened to me.

[Cousin Jack]

AFAIK they don't actually take the £99, they 'block' it. So they make sure you have £99 available, and then block it so that it is sort-of reserved for them. When you stop filling, and the amount is known, say £20, they actually take the £20 and release the block on the extra £79. Again AFAIK this is more or less instant.

Edit. Chapter and verse.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/ ... rs-accoun/

Should be instant, but allegedly some have found it not.

[DefTrap]

Maybe I never noticed because my current account always has plenty.

I recall my eldest moaning about it but then his bank account typically errs on empty.

[Horse]

I recall my eldest moaning about it but then his bank account typically errs on empty.

IIRC the Tesco pumps will allow up to £99 worth of fuel - the pump doesn't know what vehicle you're (or he is) filling.

It might also depend on whether he has an approved overdraft.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

First time I used pay at pump was in California in 1997, my bank account was in the UK, filled up no problem, never worried about it, or seen anything strange on any statements.

[Demannu]

Maybe I never noticed because my current account always has plenty.

I recall my eldest moaning about it but then his bank account typically errs on empty.

I use revolut for my € transactions, so get notified of all money in and out, but having to allow for possibly€300 a week dead money is a ball ache

[Yorick]

Over here most filling stations have nice little folk who fill the bike/car up for you

[DefTrap]

IIRC the Tesco pumps will allow up to £99 worth of fuel - the pump doesn't know what vehicle you're (or he is) filling.

It might also depend on whether he has an approved overdraft.

Doubtful!

[DefTrap]

I use revolut for my € transactions, so get notified of all money in and out, but having to allow for possibly€300 a week dead money is a ball ache

I'm reasonably certain my son's issue was with one of these new-fangled banks where the account pings you for everything. Sounds annoying!

[Nidge]

Using the BP app (which I do most of the time) it’s a pre-approval (similar to how it works when you check in to a hotel). It normally shows as a pending amount on my bank account for a couple of days

[Jody]

Unfortunately it's another thing that will only effect the poorest people. Those people who don't have £99 in their bank account but do have £5 for enough fuel to last them until payday.

[Taipan]

I use BP ultimate in my car but pay at kiosk, despite having the BPme app. My bikes get filled at Tesco and always pay at the pump. I expect there's plenty of times near the end of the month my current account has left than £99 remaining, but its always gone through. It'll be a PITA if i have to check I've always got enough in there, or have to transfer £s to fill up. CBA with all that taking yer lid off to pay at he kiosk either.

[weeksy]

Unfortunately it's another thing that will only effect the poorest people. Those people who don't have £99 in their bank account but do have £5 for enough fuel to last them until payday.

NAh, it doesn't care what you have in there, last week the day before payday i'm 100% sure i had less than £99 in my account, it's not the first and not the last time, but no effects.

[Jody]

Unfortunately it's another thing that will only effect the poorest people. Those people who don't have £99 in their bank account but do have £5 for enough fuel to last them until payday.

NAh, it doesn't care what you have in there, last week the day before payday i'm 100% sure i had less than £99 in my account, it's not the first and not the last time, but no effects.

Fair enough, maybe things have changed. I just know that a few years ago, using a prepayment card abroad, I couldn't buy €20 of fuel because I didn't have the required €130 available.

[Horse]

Unfortunately it's another thing that will only effect the poorest people. Those people who don't have £99 in their bank account but do have £5 for enough fuel to last them until payday.

So no different from paying by cash. You press the 'pay in kiosk' option, fill up, then pay. It won't prohibit them from getting fuel, but it might reduce theft.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Unfortunately it's another thing that will only effect the poorest people. Those people who don't have £99 in their bank account but do have £5 for enough fuel to last them until payday.

NAh, it doesn't care what you have in there, last week the day before payday i'm 100% sure i had less than £99 in my account, it's not the first and not the last time, but no effects.

Overdraft?

BTW, these days if 5 quid is enough to get you fuel to last until payday you probably live close enough to walk 1.40 last time I filled up.