Gas stations in the US

[Liar]

Y u so ass backwards?

Roll up. Try to use credit card. Get asked for zip code for some retarded reason. Not pin code. Zip code. Where I live. Say whatever and enter zip code. Get told your zip code is not a zip code. Remember you have a foreign card and adress and it probably therefore doesn't work, in spite of the card working with a pin everywhere else in the country and on the planet. Resort to cash. Walk in. Pay for what you blindly guess your rental needs. Walk out. Fill up. Realize you guessed too low. Walk back in. Make another guess. Walk out. Pump some more. Realized you guessed too high. Walk back in. Try to settle the difference. Met by moron who don't seem to see what the problem is. Decide you can't be arsed with this bullshit. Flip the bird. Walk back out. Drive off.

 

[pete]

pay inside with credit, yo.

no zip code required

 

[lovetoread]

I live in Jersey. I don't remember how to pump gas myself.

 

[Pookie]

pay inside with credit, yo.

no zip code required

You're still guessing though.

 

[Pookie]

One option for those without a US zip code would be to buy a pre-paid debit card.

 

[Liar]

pay inside with credit, yo.

no zip code required

I just assumed if they couldn't process my card outdoors that they couldn't indoors. So I didn't even try.

But I still have to do the guesswork, don't I?

Why is the zip about at all anyway? Nowhere else asks for it.

 

[Sean]

When I worked in the bookstore in the US, the number of people that hadn't signed the back of their credit card was extraordinary. Their rationale was "then people could copy my signature if I lose my card". They didn't seem to understand the logical ridiculousness of that.

 

[lovetoread]

One option for those without a US zip code would be to buy a pre-paid debit card.

That doesnt work unless the pump does the debit at the pump at time of the purchase. If its one of those that is not an immediate debit, then it will be rejected.

 

[Pookie]

I just assumed if they couldn't process my card outdoors that they couldn't indoors. So I didn't even try.

But I still have to do the guesswork, don't I?

Why is the zip about at all anyway? Nowhere else asks for it.

It's a way to try to limit loss from credit card theft. If the thief doesn't know your zip code, then they can't use the card at the pump.

Of course they can go inside and use it where the attendant never asks for ID.

 

[Liar]

It's a way to try to limit loss from credit card theft. If the thief doesn't know your zip code, then they can't use the card at the pump.

Of course they can go inside and use it where the attendant never asks for ID.

Um. That's what the pin code is for, innit? Safe enough for the ATM.

 

[Pookie]

That doesnt work unless the pump does the debit at the pump at time of the purchase. If its one of those that is not an immediate debit, then it will be rejected.

The ones I go to usually ask if you're paying with debit or credit. I've never tried a pre-paid debit card. I don't know how a pre-paid one would work at a gas pump.

I never use my bank debit card at a gas pump because of the potential for skimmers. I usually just move money online between my bank checking account to my bank credit card after I use it.

 

[Sean]

Um. That's what the pin code is for, innit? Safe enough for the ATM.

Chip and pin isn't anywhere near as common in the US as it is in more civilised countries.

 

[Pookie]

Um. That's what the pin code is for, innit?

I only get asked for that with a debit card. It really makes little sense the way they do it at gas stations.

 

[Saint Peter]

It's a way to try to limit loss from credit card theft. If the thief doesn't know your zip code, then they can't use the card at the pump.

Of course they can go inside and use it where the attendant never asks for ID.

At least they would have camera footage of the thief.

 

[Pookie]

Chip and pin isn't anywhere near as common in the US as it is in more civilised countries.

Chips are now pretty wide-spread for stores, but there are still a lot of mom and pop businesses that are still playing catch-up. Gas stations are far behind.

 

[lovetoread]

Chip and pin isn't anywhere near as common in the US as it is in more civilised countries.

Hey now, I just got one of those chip bank cards

And WalMart's had them new fangled chip readers forever!

 

[RawHumor]

Chip and pin isn't anywhere near as common in the US as it is in more civilised countries.

The chip is just now getting popular over here.

For a long time, when I traveled in Europe, we'd have to explain why our company credit cards had to be slid and not just inserted into the chip reader.

 

[Liar]

I only get asked for that with a debit card. It really makes little sense the way they do it at gas stations.

I dunno. Never had a problem w that anywhere else in the states, from cash machines to bars to even market stalls. Last month was the first time I did the gas station thing though. Was a bit blindsided.

 

[Liar]

Anyway, good to know from some natives that it wasn't me being a moron. At least not only that.

 

[Pookie]

Anyway, good to know from some natives that it wasn't me being a moron. At least not only that.

We're still catching up with the 20th Century. Give us a year or hundred.

 

[Saint Peter]

We were busy sending humans to the moon. Cut us a little slack!

 

[Liar]

We were busy sending humans to the moon. Cut us a little slack!

You should totes do that again. That was pretty cool.

 

[Pookie]

We were busy sending humans to the moon. Cut us a little slack!

Did you know you don't need debit or credit cards on the moon? I bet it's much easier to pump gas there!

*twirls blonde hair*

 

[Sean]

We were busy sending humans to the moon. Cut us a little slack!

Yeah, those Nazi WMD guys certainly knew their stuff.

 

[oggbashan]

A couple of years ago in The Netherlands the petrol pumps wouldn't take any of my credit or debit cards and there was no attendant - self serve only.

Another customer explained to be that the petrol station was a cooperative. Only members of the cooperative could use it. He directed me across the road to another petrol station that charged a couple of cents more per litre.

In that one, the machinery recognised that I had a UK issued card. The instructions for payment switched to English.