If you shop at Esso please read....

[Ch40s]

You should have stole some gas.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by habernac

pretty much everywhere in the US I've been to lately makes you prepay. Doesn't affect me at all as I pay at the pump directly all the time.

Except that now because of an increase in credit card fraud, they require you to enter your zip code, which Canadians don't have and there's no way to enter a postal code with letters.

In a few years, we'll all probably have to prepay around here too. Most stations already require pre-payment before pumping after 10 or 11 at night.

[shoestring]

Originally Posted by habernac

pretty much everywhere in the US I've been to lately makes you prepay. Doesn't affect me at all as I pay at the pump directly all the time.

So does that cost your banking account anything?
It seems to me that this opens up virtual tollgates every time we turn around.

And the poor find it harder to do basic things.
The rich are catalogued,they accept it.
Tax and register,register and tax,we are sliding down a slippery path.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally Posted by shoestring

So does that cost your banking account anything?
It seems to me that this opens up virtual tollgates every time we turn around.

And the poor find it harder to do basic things.
The rich are catalogued,they accept it.
Tax and register,register and tax,we are sliding down a slippery path.

Acctually, pre-paying makes it easier for the poor. Oftentimes those on the very end of the low-income spectrum are getting by by increasing their debt - for example paying credit cards with credit cards. Pre-paying means that they are realizing the cost of the commodity right when they are using it, rather than paying next week for gas they used last week, they pay for exactly how much they can afford - avoids the temptation to go to the next dollar level when you miss the $.00- and helps them get a handle on their spending habits.

Some banks do charge the account holder a transaction fee when they use their debit card, you have to watch which type of account you use. Mostly the proprietor is dinged with a fee.

Taxes are inevitable. As for the register part, I guess you could walk up to a gas station, pre-pay in cash, fill the can and walk away and no one would be the wiser, but if you own and operate a car in this country you are already registered up the wazoo and they are tracking you at this very moment.

[EVERLAST]

I need to make a couple of points.

Esso and other large companies have holds placed on your account when you prepay for gas at the pump. I recently found this out as a result of calling the bank direct after noticing this on online banking. I woudl be very wary of paying at the pump as a result of this. I know you prevent yourself from waiting in line and you can leave right away BUT....a hold on a minimum purchase (under $20) can occur on a transaction for the amount of no less than $50.00 depending upon the comapanies policy. I in fact had this happen at ESSO and therefore WILL not return.

I recently had a similar incident happen where I tried to pre pay with cash inside the store befoe pumping only for the guy at the till tell me it's prepay only. I had already poured a coffee and this knob wanted it done on seperate transactions. Needless to say I left the coffee on the counter and walked out the door. I dont have to attend every fight that I am invited to but this was ridiculous. NOT ALL ESSO'S are bad ...just a select few...mostly in the hoods of Calgary.

[Incinerator]

I only pump gas at my neighbourhood Shell, been going there for the last 3 years and the owner plus all his staff knows me by now so I never had a problem with prepaying. They even give me free carwashes sometimes when they see my car is filthy haha. When I'm travelling I just use my easyPay tag, I only pump at Shells because of AirMiles

[Phaneuf3]

you are a young white male - its ok to treat you like ****.
do it to anyone else and it'd be racist and/or sexist.

might as well get used to it... i have. i get constantly bothered by police and security guards because of the way i look/dress. like other people said, pick your battles. i can't see much good coming from making a big fuss outta this, it'd probably just be a waste of time.