Paying before you pump law looking to be put in place

[squiggs96]

Since pumps have taken credit cards, that's how I've paid for gas.

1. Insert card
2. Pump gas
3. Leave

I don't see why consumers would get worked up over this or how this makes their lives harder and/or more complicated. I see the benefit for the employees working at the station. Of all things to get upset over, I am confused as to why this topic would enter the debate.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Yasa

You wont have to do 2 transactions if you go inside, pay for your gas + whatever else you wanted. Then go outside, pump your gas and leave.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, you can't just do a fill up that way.

Isn't that exactly how it works? I pay with credit or debit every time so this will have zero impact on me. Perhaps I'm just ignorant to the process.

[bosox_fan05]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm not a fan.

Very often, I'm going inside to buy something else anyway, with the new law I'll have to do two transactions for what used to be one.

Also, I generally find it quicker to go inside to pay. Pay at the pump machines are some of the slowest technology ever created.

I actively avoid Pay-at-pump only pumps and stations. I'll get over it if a law did come into effect, but I'm not a fan.

Still, it makes a lot more sense then the Oregon law than doesn't allow you to pump your own gas.

You should look into getting a Speedpass if you go to Esso or the same type of thing if you go to Shell. It literally takes an extra 10 seconds before you fill up to pay at the pump. There is also usually an incentive to pay that way (1.5 cents off or something).

This is probably a good idea overall. It will stop gas station owners from being so paranoid. I saw a guy actually writing down every license plate that came in. A portion of the revenue they lose from in-store sales (which I don't think will be substantial) will be recovered by the fuel not being stolen.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by moon

So if using debit you have to guess at what it will cost?

And if you go over you go into the store and get a refund?

If that is the case it is a pain in the ass but probably not something to get worked up over.

if you use your credit card it will usually ask you if you want a fill up, if you say yes I think it checks to see if you have 150$ available, not exactly sure on that number

than if you only fill up 40$ it will only charge you that

if you say you don't want a fill up it will ask you how much $ you want to pay, and the machine will stop when it gets to that amount

[Ben_in_Canada]

I used to go gas up at Shell quite often for the extra 'in shop' AirMile offers. But during winter all their pumps seemed to pre pay? Completely destroyed any and all desire I had to go get a drink / snack. I haven't been inside a gas station for as long as I can remember.......

[Bane]

Originally Posted by puckluck

I think it's a great idea, and it will give cops more time to deal with other problems.

And really when a full tank costs $50-$100 it only makes sense that you have to pay before you fill up.

Yes, now those cops will spend their time investigating gas thefts where scumbags have syphoned gasoline out of the tanks of other vehicles instead.

It doesn't solve the problem, just shifts it to law abiding consumers.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by bosox_fan05

You should look into getting a Speedpass if you go to Esso or the same type of thing if you go to Shell. It literally takes an extra 10 seconds before you fill up to pay at the pump. There is also usually an incentive to pay that way (1.5 cents off or something).

This is probably a good idea overall. It will stop gas station owners from being so paranoid. I saw a guy actually writing down every license plate that came in. A portion of the revenue they lose from in-store sales (which I don't think will be substantial) will be recovered by the fuel not being stolen.

I do my fuel shopping at Calgary Co-op (when I can).

Another reason why this is annoying: fill up limits. Last summer, on vacation, driving a camper through BC, I would stop to fill up, and the pump would shut off at $100, no matter whether the tank was full or not (It wasn't).

Also, stories of some gas pumps holding all the money authorized before up to several days after you fill up before refunding.

Again, I don't use Pay at the Pump often, but when I do, I usually end up thinking, this would have been so much easier and quicker had I just gone inside to pay for it. Heck, I've been tempted to cancel the process halfway through, and go in and pay instead, since the process was talking so long.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, you can't just do a fill up that way.

Why not? I use a credit card at the pump so I rarely go inside. I don't see why you can't pre-pay inside + whatever else you want to buy.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Yasa

Why not? I use a credit card at the pump so I rarely go inside. I don't see why you can't pre-pay inside + whatever else you want to buy.

What I meant is that they aren't set up inside to do pre authorizations. I want to fill up, not underestimate the amount of fuel I need, or pay for more gas than I can put in my car.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

if you use your credit card it will usually ask you if you want a fill up, if you say yes I think it checks to see if you have 150$ available, not exactly sure on that number

than if you only fill up 40$ it will only charge you that

if you say you don't want a fill up it will ask you how much $ you want to pay, and the machine will stop when it gets to that amount

My brother worked at a credit card call center in the US for a few years and he said half his calls some days were people trying to get the pump to accept a prepay when they didn't have that extra clearance.

So they have $50 room and wanted to put $25 in but it wouldn't let them because it checks to see about that arbitrary limit.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

What I meant is that they aren't set up inside to do pre authorizations. I want to fill up, not underestimate the amount of fuel I need, or pay for more gas than I can put in my car.

I have had no problem with buying more than $100 and it never takes as long as going in to pay

[ernie]

Why does there need to be a law? In this area gas stations who want you to pay before you pump simply lock the pump until you either pay the cashier or pay at the pump. If you are filling up there is no need to estimate if you paying with a card as the cashier will do the same thing as the gas pump and get a pre-approval. If you work in cash then yes you need to estimate. In Arkansas (I think) it's coupled with severe penalties if the police do get involved (i.e. immediate loss of license once you're caught, big fine).

I understand the police enforcement point of view in this diverting resources from more serious crimes but I would think that most gas stations that have this happen more than a couple of times would have already moved to a pay first.

[Boblobla]

My only issue is there is a $100 max when you use your credit card at the pump which really bugs me filling up my truck. Having to pay twice sucks ass.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by bosox_fan05

You should look into getting a Speedpass if you go to Esso or the same type of thing if you go to Shell.

Just an FYI.......Shell EasyPay is being turned off tomorrow.

There may be another service later on, but not in the foreseeable future.

[burn_this_city]

Overall it doesnt really bug me, but I have to agree with the complaints about limits on how much per transaction, especially with the price of fuel, I should be allowed to buy more than $75 at once.

[mykalberta]

When associations like this start to think their opinion should be put in law, they should keep their mouth shut. They are paid by taxpayers to enforce the current laws, not try to change them because they dont like how much work it is. Will Calgary all of a sudden fire X number of cops because 2900 gas and go cases no longer exist?

If gas stations dont have cameras for this type of thing, then so be it. If they do then prosecuting should be a simple matter of looking up the address of he license plate. It should be up to gas stations whether or not to have this in place if its a serious issue.

[zuluking]

Can anyone guess how many fuel fill-ups are done in Calgary on an annual basis? Apply the 2900 gas-and-go cases to that number and see if there really is an unmanageable problem requiring legislation...

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by puckluck

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/05/30...irst-gas-pumps



I think it's a great idea, and it will give cops more time to deal with other problems.

And really when a full tank costs $50-$100 it only makes sense that you have to pay before you fill up.

Drives me crazy in California because I don't have a USA postal code for the credit card at the pump and they usually don't fall for 90210 . . . . . so march into the shop, leave your card, march out, pump the gas, march into the shop, pay for the gas, march out of the shop to your car.

Most stations want you inside the shop so you can buy impulse items which is where they really make money. Having people pay at the pump isn't really a good idea for them.

Cowperson

[Nammer403]

Im all for it, just gotta get used to payin first, I usually pump at night and most of the pumps i go to are pay before you pump anyways

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Rathji

My brother worked at a credit card call center in the US for a few years and he said half his calls some days were people trying to get the pump to accept a prepay when they didn't have that extra clearance.

So they have $50 room and wanted to put $25 in but it wouldn't let them because it checks to see about that arbitrary limit.

I think maybe that's why a lot of them have added the option where you can say no to a fill up and put in an amount of your choosing

when I was in school it was a problem when I just had a student visa and it would take over 100$ when you went to fill up the car that didn't get refunded for a few days