Good Gas Cards? A Little Frustrated

theNavigator · ‎01-18-2010

I got a discover card, and every time I use it for gas they hold $100 of my credit no matter what. What's a good gas card that does not do this? It wouldn't be such an issue if they really didn't get the system updated regularly. It takes sometimes between 7-10 days for these gas stations to release the hold etc... cause they are so backed up with their system since so many people get gas I guess.

Does the sunoco gas cards do this as well? I mean, when I use my debit it doesn't to that, but what if you feel like using credit and not having them hold that $100 when you're just filling up $20-$30... Just a bit annoying? anyone else been through this..

Anyone?

Message Edited by theNavigator on 01-18-2010 03:37 PM

MarineVietVet · ‎01-18-2010

Really? $100? I use my Discover occasionally for gas but don't recall that ever happening. I've seen a $1.00 hold on some cards but that always goes away in a day or two.

Anonymous · ‎01-18-2010

I have the same problem with Discover although the authorization is only $75 on mine. Sometimes the hold takes over 2 weeks to drop and by that time I can have $225 in authorizations for the $75 in gas I've purchased. As a result I only use Discover for gas during the months when the 5% cash back is in effect. ALL of my other cards (Visa, Mastercard) authorize $1 at the time of purchase and within a couple of days the actual amount is deducted. I don't have a gas card so I can't offer any advice on how they treat the transaction but I think any Visa or Mastercard credit card would work without the lengthy hold. My Amex authorizes $50 at the pump but within just a day or two the correct amount is pending.

Anonymous · ‎01-18-2010

I have the Sunoco gas card and when I use it, it does withold a temporary amount, but usually updates within a day or so. This is not a problem for me since I have an $800 limit and have seldom used 100 or so of it anyway, so even with the withold - no real effect.

Anonymous · ‎01-18-2010

@theNavigator wrote:
I got a discover card, and every time I use it for gas they hold $100 of my credit no matter what. What's a good gas card that does not do this? It wouldn't be such an issue if they really didn't get the system updated regularly. It takes sometimes between 7-10 days for these gas stations to release the hold etc... cause they are so backed up with their system since so many people get gas I guess.

Does the sunoco gas cards do this as well? I mean, when I use my debit it doesn't to that, but what if you feel like using credit and not having them hold that $100 when you're just filling up $20-$30... Just a bit annoying? anyone else been through this..

Anyone?
Message Edited by theNavigator on 01-18-2010 03:37 PM

Use a different gas station, not a different card.

Anonymous · ‎01-18-2010

It depends on the area you live and the gas station. In my area, most stations authorize $1.00.

However, some areas will authorize either the average purchase amount, or the max purchase amount allowed, due to declines after sale.

Anonymous · ‎01-18-2010

jausanka wrote:
theNavigator wrote:
I got a discover card, and every time I use it for gas they hold $100 of my credit no matter what. What's a good gas card that does not do this? It wouldn't be such an issue if they really didn't get the system updated regularly. It takes sometimes between 7-10 days for these gas stations to release the hold etc... cause they are so backed up with their system since so many people get gas I guess.

Does the sunoco gas cards do this as well? I mean, when I use my debit it doesn't to that, but what if you feel like using credit and not having them hold that $100 when you're just filling up $20-$30... Just a bit annoying? anyone else been through this..

Anyone? :smileymad:
Message Edited by theNavigator on 01-18-2010 03:37 PM
Use a different gas station, not a different card.

This, exactly!

Bizarrely high authorizations for gasoline purchases used to drive me crazy before I had high limit CC's. Now that I have high limits I am a virtually located employee and don't buy much gasoline.

Anonymous · ‎01-19-2010

@Anonymous wrote:
@theNavigator wrote:
I got a discover card, and every time I use it for gas they hold $100 of my credit no matter what. What's a good gas card that does not do this? It wouldn't be such an issue if they really didn't get the system updated regularly. It takes sometimes between 7-10 days for these gas stations to release the hold etc... cause they are so backed up with their system since so many people get gas I guess.

Does the sunoco gas cards do this as well? I mean, when I use my debit it doesn't to that, but what if you feel like using credit and not having them hold that $100 when you're just filling up $20-$30... Just a bit annoying? anyone else been through this..

Anyone?
Message Edited by theNavigator on 01-18-2010 03:37 PM
Use a different gas station, not a different card.

+1

I always use the same card for gasoline wherever I go, so it's easy for me to see it's not the card issuer causing the excessive hold, but the gas station itself. When I'm in Vegas, for instance, I use a gas station convenient to my hotel, and that place holds $100 in authorizations for a full 10 days, always. Another station (same brand of gas) across town does the usual $1.00 thing with the same credit card, and the hold is gone within 3 days.

theNavigator · ‎01-19-2010

Yeah, let me try another gas station to see then. I usually use Sunoco cause it's close by the house and easiest for me.. I'll try Wawa now and see.

Thanks