This here fuel station deposit thingy

[DefTrap]

I can clearly recall the first time I saw a self-service petrol pump (Belgium, mid 70s). And it did seem weird, especially as it was attached to a new fangled modern service station where you could buy stuff other than just oil. Plus they gave away random shit with petrol like plates. My folks had sets of odd crockery for decades.

And probably the final time I had petrol administered to my vehicle by 'the attendant' was at the village garage, maybe early 90s - it closed up for good not long after. I'm sure some must have staggered on but are there any left at all now? (in the UK).

[Yorick]

Until at least 6 years ago, there's an ancient petrol station at Scamblesby that looks like summat from the Waltons.

They don't take cards only cash.

As it's only 3 or 4 miles from Cadwell, they mention this at the briefings

[Rockburner]

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.

I got caught out by that once on the way back home in the van (from my travels*). If I remember correctly it took almost 3 weeks (or longer) for the money to come back onto the WeSwap card and I had to fuck about with other cards for a while.





* Have I mentioned that I went travelling? No? well....

[Mr. Dazzle]

Until at least 6 years ago, there's an ancient petrol station at Scamblesby that looks like summat from the Waltons.

They don't take cards only cash.

As it's only 3 or 4 miles from Cadwell, they mention this at the briefings

Dunno if it's the place you're thinking of, but East End garage in Alford (also just down the road from Cadwell) still has attended service. You can even see if written on the pumps

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x ... nF8A&hl=en

There's also a Coal Merchant just up the road. Loads of random bric-a-brac shops and the most surprisingly good Indian restaurant I have ever been too. The local 'fancy coffee shop' is a nice old lady with home made cakes and a Nespresso machine

[Jody]

I can't help but think the whole thing is a bit of a ruse tbh!

I wouldn't be difficult to set the machines up to take your card, ask you how much you want to put in and then only allow that much to come out the pump !

The pumps already automatically cut off when you reach the limit of what you're allowed, so it's definatley possible.

But 'this way' the bank get to go off and invest your EG €110 for 3 days before finally letting you have it back. !

[Mr. Dazzle]

I wouldn't be difficult to set the machines up to take your card, ask you how much you want to put in and then only allow that much to come out the pump !

Tesco pumps can already do that.

[weeksy]

that's deffo only the case in EU though currently. This doesn't happen in the UK for sure.

[Horse]

I can't help but think the whole thing is a bit of a ruse tbh!

I wouldn't be difficult to set the machines up to take your card, ask you how much you want to put in and then only allow that much to come out the pump !

The pumps already automatically cut off when you reach the limit of what you're allowed, so it's definatley possible.

But 'this way' the bank get to go off and invest your EG €110 for 3 days before finally letting you have it back. !

I've often wondered if that is why gas/electric suppliers are keen to get people to overpay by direct debit so their account is in credit - they can invest the excess while its in their bank not yours

My supplier balance the predicted annual use over the next 12 monthly payments. If I should use more, then I'll have it added next year.

I've checked their predicted total value (and so payments), it's based on last year's payments. After grief with a failed meter they increased the estimate, then reduced it.

[2xtwins]

I'd read about this on the money pages somewhere but just dismissed it, as I pay everything by credit card which is cleared in full each month by direct debit.
If my card is not authorised when I fill up then I'll have more to worry about than whether I can get home on what's left in the tank.

Kev

[gremlin]

I've often wondered if that is why gas/electric suppliers are keen to get people to overpay by direct debit so their account is in credit - they can invest the excess while its in their bank not yours

Let me assist you there and stop your wondering.

It is.

[Cousin Jack]

I have a £2k overdraft. I rarely (like perhaps once in the last 5 years) use it, but I like it, it's a comfort blanket.

And the £99 debit doesn't bother me, I always pay for fuel and everything else on a credit card. If they block £99 for 3 days, so be it. It ain't my money.

[Horse]

I can't help but think the whole thing is a bit of a ruse tbh!

I wouldn't be difficult to set the machines up to take your card, ask you how much you want to put in and then only allow that much to come out the pump !

The pumps already automatically cut off when you reach the limit of what you're allowed, so it's definatley possible.

But 'this way' the bank get to go off and invest your EG €110 for 3 days before finally letting you have it back. !

I've often wondered if that is why gas/electric suppliers are keen to get people to overpay by direct debit so their account is in credit - they can invest the excess while its in their bank not yours

My supplier balance the predicted annual use over the next 12 monthly payments. If I should use more, then I'll have it added next year.

I've checked their predicted total value (and so payments), it's based on last year's payments. After grief with a failed meter they increased the estimate, then reduced it.

Just checked on the smart meter jobbie. We've used about £800 of gas & electric so far - and we pay just over £100 each month.

They're not making a fortune on banking the summer excess to outweigh the winter shortfall.

[cheb]

Even the Outer Hebrides has pumps where you can set the amount of fuel to be dispensed.

And the utilities, and other companies too, also like not have to spend time and money getting people to pay any monies owed. If they let you overpay they're greedy, and if they let you underpay they are complicit in letting you get into debt.

Like most things, if one half of the public aren't whining then the other half are, and about the same thing.

[Hoonercat]

A mate got caught out by this in France a few years back. He had a pre-paid card (load it with cash before leaving the UK) but we were doing lots of miles when meant lots of fill-ups, and unknown to him lots of money being 'blocked' on his card which was refused. None of us knew about this at the time so he was in a bit of a panic, thinking his card must have been cloned and someone was busy spending his cash, while at an unmanned petrol station in rural France on a Sunday with a nearly empty tank. From memory his card issuer 'unblocked' the oldest transaction after he phoned them.

[Count Steer]

I can't help but think the whole thing is a bit of a ruse tbh!

I wouldn't be difficult to set the machines up to take your card, ask you how much you want to put in and then only allow that much to come out the pump !

The pumps already automatically cut off when you reach the limit of what you're allowed, so it's definatley possible.

But 'this way' the bank get to go off and invest your EG €110 for 3 days before finally letting you have it back. !

I've often wondered if that is why gas/electric suppliers are keen to get people to overpay by direct debit so their account is in credit - they can invest the excess while its in their bank not yours

They're happier with the money in their account rather than yours. But, the usual aim is to even out payments over the year so you go into credit during the low consumption period (summer) which helps pay during the high consumption period. If you pay the same every month I suppose it helps you to budget and not get a nasty surprise every January.

They could pay interest on your credit but IIRC they'd then have to meet banking regulations.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Until at least 6 years ago, there's an ancient petrol station at Scamblesby that looks like summat from the Waltons.

They don't take cards only cash.

As it's only 3 or 4 miles from Cadwell, they mention this at the briefings

It's been gone a few years now, looks like the grumpy old guy has died, the place looks abandoned

[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

Nearly a year to the day and the Asda I use have now bumped up the pre-charge to £100.
Handily all the banking crap had sorted itself out by the time I got to work (4 minutes) and only the 40 odd quid that I'd used was showing in the banking app.

Must remember to start print receipts at the pump in case it does go tits up and places a £100 hold on my account for longer than it should.

[demographic]

It's OK but can be a pain in the arse for when I'm filling my van up as it's often enough that I want more than ￡99 in the tank.
Not the end of the world, just a faff when I'm not right sharp on a morning and forget to press the Pay at the kiosk button and end up having to fill up again a day sooner because I didn't fill the tank.

Be better if it was for maybe ￡130 for me. And I almost never just put ￡20 or so in, thats just irritating.

[Noggin]

I've used the 'pre authorise' thingy a couple of times in the last few days. On a Revolut card (cos I can't remember my normal bank card's PIN!!! ). But it's been ok. They've blocked the money for a short time and then it's available again. When I first used the system it could take a week or more to 'unblock' - but the last couple of days it's been a few hours. No idea if it would be the same for the proper bank card!!

[Yorick]

Just pay at kiosk. No hardship.