Paying For Fuel In France (1 Viewer)

[Pete&Sara]

We may just be plain dim but what is it with paying for fuel at French petrol stations. ?There are very few with a manned kiosk where English cards and cash are taken but fuel prices are higher. The 24 hour automated machines apparently only take locally registered cards so our English ones don't work . Tried pre loaded , credit and debit cards
Anyone know the answer to getting fuel easily we are constantly left searching for a manned kiosk and paying more

 

[Stroppy Bird]

Think it depends on the card you are trying to use.

I use the post office credit card (no extra fees incurred with Euro transactions) and have had no problems using it anywhere - even on an automated machine which after using I noticed a sign on saying 'will not accept UK cards'.

 

[Flamenca]

We may just be plain dim but what is it with paying for fuel at French petrol stations. ?There are very few with a manned kiosk where English cards and cash are taken but fuel prices are higher. The 24 hour automated machines apparently only take locally registered cards so our English ones don't work . Tried pre loaded , credit and debit cards
Anyone know the answer to getting fuel easily we are constantly left searching for a manned kiosk and paying more

I have used my UK Visa credit card at automated fuel pumps many times in France without problem. Just ignore all signs such as 'no UK cards'. I tried using my Spanish card once and the machine spat out the card so quickly I could not catch it before it landed on the ground

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[vwalan]

just wait till a french man /woman arrives let them use their card and you pay them cash. works every time .

 

[jonandshell]

Not sure what you are doing wrong but we have never had a card issue on self service pumps.

 

[Lenny HB]

Never had a problem with a card at a French filling station for the last 7 or 8 years. We always use 24/7 pumps much easier exit than via the kiosk. Just back from 3 weeks in France we have noticed more each year of the Hypermarkets & Supermarkets are refurbishing their filling station and they are card only no payment kiosk.
The last few years been using a Nationwide CC, before that various cards including Lloyds, Tesco, as said never had a problem, I have heard of pre-payment cards not working (I would never give anyone my money up front ).

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[GeriatricWanderer]

Halifax credit card has worked every time for me during the last 6 weeks. It also works every time at peage barriers.

 

[scotjimland]

Must be your Norfolk Bank debit card ..

 

[Pete&Sara]

Thanks folks we will keep trying but has spat out our Caxton fx , nationwide credit or debit cards and santander we are away for six months had no trouble using cards for fuel throughout Spain

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[Ivory55]

Was there not something on here before about automated pumps, where it deducts more then what you spend then credits it back a few days later. So if your Caxton card does not have enough money on it , then it rejects the card.

 

[sdc77]

We use unattended Auchan at calais when we go over in the evenings... Never had a card problem yet

 

[SomeoneElse]

Halifax Clarity card and Nationwide Select Card have worked perfectly for me.
Over the past year or so I've noticed that an increasing number of machines in the supermarkets and at fuel pumps now switch to English when they detect my cards.
Never had the need for a pre-payment card.

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[Pete&Sara]

Was there not something on here before about automated pumps, where it deducts more then what you spend then credits it back a few days later. So if your Caxton card does not have enough money on it , then it rejects the card.

Loads of money on the Caxton

 

[magicsurfbus]

Probably stating the bleeding obvious here, but I take it that the OP has had their cards authorised by their bank/building society in advance for use abroad?

It varies for us - some aires don't do foreign cards, and we occasionally get a card transaction refused, but having a Santander account is handy.

 

[sdc77]

On the caxton site it says...
"
Your prepaid card will not work at automated petrol stations
For security reasons your Caxton FX card will not work at automated petrol stations. We recommend that you avoid using them or you use an alternative card to settle the bill."

.. I've never had a caxton card..

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[Wildman]

only had a problem at one fuels station with my visa card, I had to use a debit card instead but that is the first time in nearly 10,000 miles around Europe.

 

[Tom A]

We've got a Fair Fx pre payment card and that won't work at the pumps. I just use normal debit card if I need to.

 

[Ivory55]

When we go to France we aim to hit a large supermarket with fuel station Attached about 11 in the morning or 4 to 5 in the afternoon . We have found them manned at this time, lunchtimes there is nobody in the booth.

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[Taran_Las]

Used my HSBC visa card today for fuel at an unmanned French fuel station without problem. I believe Caxton/Fairfx won't work in the automated machines because the retailer requires an authorisation code to proceed with the transaction. Neither Caxton or Fairfx automatically issue these authorisation codes (afaik). If in doubt use a large supermarket with a cashier during non-lunchtime hours (if you can work out when that is).

 

[gus-lopez]

Deleted, double post.

 

[gus-lopez]

Probably stating the bleeding obvious here, but I take it that the OP has had their cards authorised by their bank/building society in advance for use abroad?

.

Why ? I made official complaints about them requesting this otherwise there was the possibility of being refused . If you are going to tell them when/where the cards are going to be used then you might as well paste all over the internet that the house is empty & to rob it !

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[Shandyman]

We have just returned today and for the last 2 weeks used a N and P debit card with no problem.

 

[icantremember]

Thanks folks we will keep trying but has spat out our Caxton fx , nationwide credit or debit cards and santander we are away for six months had no trouble using cards for fuel throughout Spain

Caxton FX specifically state that their cards will not work in either auto fuel pumps or tolls machines.

 

[Chrisy]

Arrived home last week from a month touring France. Every supermarket we went to including Carrefour SuperU and leClerc took our Santander credit card at the auto pumps. We paid once in cash at the kiosk. Hadn't been over for 5 years when nothing worked but this year no problems at all. We used cash at tolls only problem there was getting in and out to insert ticket then cash and collect change. A struggle for her indoors!

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[Cobweb]

We have used our Nationwide debit card in various supermarket fuel stations and tollbooths with no problems. The only thing we cannot use is our Fair FX card although it is accepted in the supermarkets for purchases .

 

[Larby]

Think it depends on the card you are trying to use.

I use the post office credit card (no extra fees incurred with Euro transactions) and have had no problems using it anywhere - even on an automated machine which after using I noticed a sign on saying 'will not accept UK cards'.

Same as I use, no problems anywhere. Caxton for cash withdrawals.

 

[magicsurfbus]

Why ? I made official complaints about them requesting this otherwise there was the possibility of being refused . If you are going to tell them when/where the cards are going to be used then you might as well paste all over the internet that the house is empty & to rob it !

To the best of my knowledge only the bank knows they've authorised my card for foreign use. They don't put the details on Facebook. Secondly, you're assuming my house is empty when we travel abroad - it might not be. I am security conscious though - I never post on here that I'm abroad, I wait until after we've got back then say where we've been.

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[bhs]

Had Caxton card declined recently at automated filling station in france, went in to booth and card was aceepted, not very helpful, contacted caxton who told me there should be no problem with automated payments, clearly there is, post office CC it is then

 

[peterc10]

Used cards in both booth and automatic fill ups in France and never had problem. Mainly try to use cheap supermarkets rather than motorway services. Used Nationwide, Visa and even Amex without problem.

 

[Pete&Sara]

Thanks everyone we will have another go

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