Amex BCE/BCP outrageous gas preauthorization?

[Anonymous]

Now that the 5% back on gas for Chase Freedom is over, I went to fill up the car today with my BCE.

I just checked my account online and noticed a $200 preauthorization for the transaction. Have others experienced this?

[andre181]

That is strange, pre-auth amounts are set by the gas station, not the credit card issuer.

Is it the same gas station you usually use?

[Anonymous]

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@andre181 wrote:

That is strange, pre-auth amounts are set by the gas station, not the credit card issuer.

Is it the same gas station you usually use?

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Yes, same one. On Freedom the preauth has always been $1 which is why I am quite shocked to see that amount.

[LS2982]

Are these high preauths also on AMEX charge cards?

[webhopper]

I bought gas with zync today. Will check author and report back!

Edit: quicktrip in Oklahoma pending transaction is the exact amount I spent on gas. Back when I used debit; it would only show 1 dollar

[LS2982]

@webhopper thanks! im getting gas tonight on AMEX so ill look for your response

[pizzadude]

It varies by station and also by the type of card you are using as to how much will be pre~authorized.    I always use my ZYNC and I just go inside to pay so that there is no pre~auth problem;  of course I have the $200 Hard Limit so I might be declined if I tried it at the pump.. 

[webhopper]

I honestly think the 1$ auth from chase was a ploy to make people incur overdraft fees for people who have a lot of gas charges

[adavis425]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Now that the 5% back on gas for Chase Freedom is over, I went to fill up the car today with my BCE.

I just checked my account online and noticed a $200 preauthorization for the transaction. Have others experienced this?

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I get this each time I purchase gas with my AMEX. Usually it's either $125 or $150, but reconciles in a day or two. The first time it happened I called the gas station and was told that the station sets the amount.

[Anonymous]

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@adavis425 wrote:

I get this each time I purchase gas with my AMEX. Usually it's either $125 or $150, but reconciles in a day or two. The first time it happened I called the gas station and was told that the station sets the amount.

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Same with me.  If I use our USAA Amex at the pump, the preauthorization is always some horrible outrageous amount.  My husband and I learned very quickly to NEVER swipe at the pump -- go inside!  Also, (in our case), when we have swiped at the pump, the preauthorization doesn't reconcile in a day or two, it takes 8-10 days.  As I said, we learned our lesson quickly on this one -- no more swiping at the pump with an AMEX!!!