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Post by melanell on Jul 19, 2014 2:05:02 GMT
(They were mentioned in the thread about making certain things universal.)
This was a new one to me.
I bought gas recently at a station I have never been to before. I swiped my debit card and the gas pump asked if it was debit or credit. I pressed "debit". The pump then displayed the message "This machine only accepts credit cards." I'm thinking "Really? Now I have to wake up my sleeping toddler to bring my debit card inside to pre-pay?" (How's that for not only a first world problem but a relatively new one, too, huh?) Then I thought "Wait a minute. My debit card works as a credit card, too."
So I swipe my card again. It asked me again. This time I pressed "Credit". And it let me pump my gas. What was that about? I don't get it.
I used to always press "credit" on all machines because we received points when we used it as a credit card. But when the credit program stopped, I switched to debit. I don't really have a reason for that, but I did.
But I don't really understand what was the purpose of that whole situation with the pump. Anyone know?
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 19, 2014 2:10:00 GMT
Possibly to alleviate any concerns people might have about their pin numbers being skimmed. Possibly because there are banks that still issue debit cards that don't have visa/mastercard, and the gas station may not be able to process those.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 5, 2024 17:46:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2014 2:14:16 GMT
I have actually had that happen before...except it knew it was a debit card even with a VISA logo, it wouldn't run it as credit. One of our local quilt shops just sent out an email asking that people pick credit over debit. But I have no idea why. As far as I have ever known, debit was cheaper for the business to process than credit because credit gave their customers points for using (and those were paid by the business).
The only thing I can think of is that with all the banking fee changes that banks have upped their debit card processing fees to businesses/CC merchants.
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Post by melanell on Jul 19, 2014 2:15:43 GMT
Maybe. I never really thought about it before I guess because I have not been asked for a pin at a gas station in I couldn't even tell you how long, or maybe I never have been asked. Which basically means that all of the pumps just automatically run it through as credit, just like this one did. So why bother asking me?  |
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Post by melanell on Jul 19, 2014 2:16:48 GMT
You know now that you say it that is why I started using "debit". It was because I heard it was cheaper for the businesses. I must have had a brain fart there in my OP.  |
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Post by Dreamsofnyssa on Jul 19, 2014 2:17:29 GMT
It could be because of the fees that the gas station has to pay depending on the type of transaction that is processed. Or maybe they are not really set up for debit transactions.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 19, 2014 2:20:19 GMT
Maybe. I never really thought about it before I guess because I have not been asked for a pin at a gas station in I couldn't even tell you how long, or maybe I never have been asked. Which basically means that all of the pumps just automatically run it through as credit, just like this one did. So why bother asking me? Could be a glitch in their system. It could be that certain pumps are prepay-with-credit-only but the other ones actually WILL take debit, and there's something in the program that makes it have to ask you credit-debit before it tells you that you can have credit only. I am sure your question was at least partially meant to be rhetorical, and I don't actually know the answers-- I am just hypothesizing. My biggest annoyance is the gas station by me recently made its pumps all prepay (cash inside, or swipe credit card). Which is okay, but if you're gonna make me pay at the pump, get your butts outside and REFILL THE RECEIPT PAPER. (I refuse to leave without a receipt, lest I be accused of stealing gas, which will cost you your license in my state.) |
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Post by melanell on Jul 19, 2014 13:39:24 GMT
There is one gas station near me that never seems to have any receipt paper. And their store is a like a 3 ring circus so I just wind up leaving without it, but I can see why you would want to have it.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,840
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jul 19, 2014 13:42:41 GMT
I have not had that problem here in Canada. My debit card is my debt card and my credit card(s) are my credit cards.
Must be because most (if not all|) debit/credit cards have the chip technology.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 19, 2014 13:47:46 GMT
That would aggravate me because when I pay with my debit card at most pumps I get the cash price which is cheaper than the credit price. I am traveling this weekend and filled up on the road. The pump automatically ran my debit card as a credit. So maybe there has been some recent change in the fee structure for businesses making them prefer the credit transactions.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709 
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Post by Dani-Mani on Jul 19, 2014 14:02:51 GMT
I have not had that problem here in Canada. My debit card is my debt card and my credit card(s) are my credit cards. Must be because most (if not all|) debit/credit cards have the chip technology. My debit card is my debit card and my credit card is my credit card. Running my debit card as credit doesn't change it into a credit card--it simply allows me to forgo entering a PIN number. It still takes the money out of my bank account, just like a debit transaction. |
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Post by scrapsotime on Jul 19, 2014 14:05:30 GMT
I used to have a debit card that would not let you pay at the pump. I think it had something to do with very high hold fees that some stations put on the card when you use it at the pump.
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Post by Dreamsofnyssa on Jul 24, 2014 1:27:15 GMT
That would aggravate me because when I pay with my debit card at most pumps I get the cash price which is cheaper than the credit price. I am traveling this weekend and filled up on the road. The pump automatically ran my debit card as a credit. So maybe there has been some recent change in the fee structure for businesses making them prefer the credit transactions. That would be coo l to be able to get the cash price when using a debit card. The only place I have come across, that offers a cash discount, specifically states we can only get the cash price if we go inside the store and pay with cash. :-(
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Post by myshelly on Jul 24, 2014 1:37:56 GMT
I only use my check card as credit.
I don't know my PIN because I've never used it.
Using it as debit and entering my PIN just seems like one more opportunity for it to be compromised so j don't do it.
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Post by txdancermom on Jul 24, 2014 1:40:56 GMT
my debit card will work as either debit or credit, and at the gas pump I usually do credit.
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Post by Flibbertigibbet on Jul 24, 2014 1:49:30 GMT
It could be because of the fees that the gas station has to pay depending on the type of transaction that is processed. Or maybe they are not really set up for debit transactions. This is true. I've had it happen before, too. There are places that I just won't go because of it. |
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 24, 2014 2:18:28 GMT
There is one gas station near me that never seems to have any receipt paper. And their store is a like a 3 ring circus so I just wind up leaving without it, but I can see why you would want to have it. I actually quit using one of the stations near me because of this. Luckily, I have a lot of conveniently located stations. |
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