Gas station just pre-authed my AMEX for $500!

[Jlu]

This is hilarious - you basically went through a credit approval process to get gas - prime customers only! First Premier $300 limit'ers need not apply!

[Funk-O-Meter]

I've read in other threads that this is because each card company has different deals with different merchants. I suppose AMEX has the the higher allowable pre-auth amount and some guys just take the whole amount. I think it shows lack of respect for customers but it's that kind of politics with gas stations I guess. It reminds me of a few years ago when evey bar in town was pre-authing for $50 to start a tab for you even if you just ordered one $2.50 beer. That's a fine policy and I understand but they didn't make at policy of telling the cusomer first. Lots of people assumed rightfully that the card would only be run if you walked on your tab. After angry customers complained almost daily that the bar had over-drafted their checking account and it was going to cost them upwards of $50 for that PBR everyody stopped doint it and only run the card if the cusy walks now. I mean it must makes common sense not to screw your customers ya know?

[ramblin_wreck08]

Just got back from Chevron and have a $100 pre-auth pending on a $35 purchase.  It's frustrating, but doesn't bother me too badly.  $500 would though. That's more than excessive.

[Anonymous]

I wouldve gotten denied trying to preauth! 

[jsickz32]

i havent had that problem wit amex green or bce but ive had it with bofa amex. $375 pre-authed when filling up $60 smh..

[jamesdwi]

wow that gives you a reason to checking spending ability on my Zync card...  one way to increase my internal limit take mine and the wife's car to the gas station and fill both tanks with different transactions, a $1000 in pre-auths that will get removed in a day or two and never post. 

[jsickz32]

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@jamesdwi wrote:

wow that gives you a reason to checking spending ability on my Zync card...  one way to increase my internal limit take mine and the wife's car to the gas station and fill both tanks with different transactions, a $1000 in pre-auths that will get removed in a day or two and never post. 

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pre-authed arent posted to account...they stay in pending charges until they are processed for the right amount.

[jamesdwi]

yes but they could still be figured in your use for internal limits, who knows its an AMEX secret how they compute internal limits

[jsickz32]

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@jamesdwi wrote:

yes but they could still be figured in your use for internal limits, who knows its an AMEX secret how they compute internal limits

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might as well buy something big and return it its the same thing. i don think it counts

[SoCalBound]

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@Funk-O-Meter wrote:

Well yea it's no big deal at all if you've got pleanty of available credit but I had just got back from traveling. .... I had about grand worth of pre-authes over the week and a half of traveling. I wasn't planing on maxing out the cards just using them for the perks (rental insurance, travel insurance, points, etc.) . Had that occured a week before when I was 3 states away and tied up $500 of available credit I may have had a real problem.

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I have been planning a vacation, was in building mode myself for several years.  When I started crunching the numbers (hotels 150 a night, car rental 350 for the week, food, gas, activities) I soon realized the added holds were going to kill my available credit.  It's just something people with little credit need to plan for when planning a vacation/doing activities.  Always have a backup plan