Using credit debit cards at automated petrol pumps on the continent (1 Viewer)

[Masman]

Having been to France a few times.I have used credit debit cards in supermarkets with no problems.I have never been able to use self service petrol pumps.My cards are Tesco and Yorkshire bank.Have other people had same problems.we are going to travel to France, down to Italy sometime next year.Can anyone recommend a good card that automatic pumps will take.Any help much appreciated.

 

[Jenben]

We often use self service pumps and have never had a problem but don't use either of the cards you have. We have Nationwide credit and debit cards which we tend to use when we are away.

 

[maison]

We spend at least six months each year in France.

We have never had a problem with our Tesco Card at tended or unattended filling stations.

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[Mack100]

I use a Tesco credit card at automatic pumps in France without problems. Contact Tesco Bank and see if they have a solution.

 

[Manic]

I've used my Tesco credit card for paying at an automated pump with no problem but I try and fill up when the pay booth is open and I can use by Revolut card which won't work on automated pumps.

 

[Duck Truck]

Yes our Barclays card wasnt accepted for fuel in some places
and it wasn't accepted for entry to an aire on Isle de Re

The aire didn't accept a Dutch guys card either

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[Gorse Hill]

I have a Yorkshire bank debit card and had no problems in Europe including self service

 

[Mr Milliemobile]

My Halifax clarity card was rejected at self service pump first try took it of card reader and put it back in and it worked. Sometimes the card readers canbe temperamental, happen in UK but less often

 

[Duck Truck]

with my luck it would keep it

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[magicsurfbus]

It varies - our Santander cards work for most purposes most of the time but not always at automated pumps, and very occasionally they're rejected by aire ticket machines.

 

[Mr Milliemobile]

You may also find a spurious pending payment on your credit card statement online it looks like you have been charged twice for fuel. I spoke to my credit card provider who say it was normal in parts of France and Spain. They disappear after 2 -3 days but was a concern when we first spotted them.

 

[mikebeaches]

About five years ago we were having problems, but more recently none at all. However, we use an Aqua credit card, which like some of the others mentioned, has no foreign exchange loading - it also provides 0.5% cashback.

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[Bailey58]

Halifax Clarity never worked in auto pumps in Denmark this summer but used in card machines I always had to sign.

 

[chaser]

You will find that if you try to use a credit or debit card that is close to its limit it won't work, because if you have internet banking have a look at what it takes out of your account , they nearly always take twice as much as the diesel cost, and then give it you back at a later date, if the extra puts you over your limit it won't work even though the original cost would have been covered.
We got this everywhere we filled up automatically with our Halifax clarity card, it's a bit disconcerting when you first see it on your account but up to yet , fingers crossed it's always been put back.
Edit it took me so long to write this I see @Mr Milliemobile got in first

 

[Duck Truck]

Chaser do you mean that a company is taking your money for a few days gaining interest then giving you the original amount back
well that's a new one on me
Eelctricity gas companies please take note
lol

I think the term is barstewards

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[Lot lover]

Leclerc has recently refurbed 2 fuel stations near St Cere (Lot) both of which are now unmanned at all times. There is a facility to pay in cash before filling up. I have not used this facility and have no idea how widespead it is but it might be worth keeping an eye open.

 

[Duck Truck]

yet another nice kiosk lady not required

 

[Khizzie]

Used both my Caxton card and Halifax clarity card with no problems at automatic unmanned fuel stations.

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[Minxy]

We use a Halifax Clarity Card or Aqua Card as they have no transaction/usage fees abroad whereas a lot of other cards do so something to check if you have another type. This last trip, however, we rarely used our credit card as we had loads of dosh on our Revolut account when the exchange rate was €1.31 = £1.00 so it made more sense to draw out cash and use that rather than the credit card with the abysmal exchange rate of €1.10 the cards would have given us!!!

 

[Louis]

Halifax clarity card- never fails. (YET)!

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

My Halifax CC has never been rejected at maybe 60 auto pumps over the years in fact twice I've been able to help Johnny Foreigner locals who's CA cards had been rejected
Entente cordiale indeed.

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[Duck Truck]

Louis
can I borrow it
Pretty please

 

[Louis]

Louis
can I borrow it
Pretty please

Why yes of course!! Once you've paid off the balance I owe

 

[buttons]

Same here...Used a number of different debit and credit card with visa or master card symbol never had a problem...

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[mitzimad]

we use a we swap prepaid card and it works great rates as well for petrol most cards debit the acc with the maximum you can get and then a couple of days after credit the diffence of what you actually purchased

 

[Mack100]

Used both my Caxton card and Halifax clarity card with no problems at automatic unmanned fuel stations.

I don't do that after reading stuff like this referring to currency cards like Caxton:

We don’t recommend using your Card in automated fuel dispensers (‘Pay At Pump’). When you use an automated fuel dispenser a temporary hold of funds up to the equivalent of £100 or USD$100 will be applied to your Card, even if your transaction is for a lower amount. This is to ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay for the fuel before you leave.


The funds can be held for up to 7 days meaning that you’re not able to access the additional money held during this period. We would always recommend paying at a kiosk or should you need to use an automated fuel dispenser, using an alternative card.

http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/uk/Top-Navigation/FAQ1/FAQ-my-account/

 

[32143]

Chaser do you mean that a company is taking your money for a few days gaining interest then giving you the original amount back
well that's a new one on me
Eelctricity gas companies please take note
lol

I think the term is barstewards

No with ours it sits in the pending transaction, after a few days it disappears, though it does effect your available credit, so be aware if you get close to credit limit.
As a rule as soon as we use the clarity card I send a payment straight from our Uk bank account to ensure we always have credit available. If you use for cash withdrawing this is free, but interest is from the point of withdrawing, so good practice to transfer money straight in.

Lin

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[chaser]

Chaser do you mean that a company is taking your money for a few days gaining interest then giving you the original amount back
well that's a new one on me
Eelctricity gas companies please take note
lol

I think the term is barstewards

It's exactly that, but sometimes it's not just a few days, can be a fortnight before you get it back, and it's not just the diesel pump either, if you use your credit card after not realising they have took maybe a hundred pounds out , it could show overdrawn and be rejected somewhere else , even though it actually isn't
It's always been the case with airport car hire but this was new to us till this year.
Edit again, I'm getting well and truelly gazumped in this thread today, shall really have to learn to type with more than one finger

 

[MR. FUSION]

I took 5 different cards on my last euro trip, and was down to 1 only working at one stage. First direct cards refused to work in Norway and Finland and Barclaycard decided to change from MasterCard to visa whilst I was away and cancelled my existing card.......moral, you can never take enough cards. Cash is becoming increasingly unusable for fuel in some countries like France and Finland.

 

[Duck Truck]

Louis
Oh dear
Oh Dear
is that the way to treat such a close and dear friend
lol

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