Heard about the fuel station scam?

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Burkey

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A friend is currently travelling down the west coast of France and has refuelled at three places. Each of them are card payments at the pump. The first top up cost 60€ but later discovered he had been debited 260€ , without boring you this happened on two further occasions. Thankfully he kept receipts and has now been credited….. so fellow motorhomers beware .
 
I recall this being mentioned here over the last few years,but can’t remember the reason. Probably show up if you do a search.
 
Not a scam, it's what a lot of unmanned fuel stations do. I used to be 100 euros but has been increased to 200 euros due to the rise in fuel prices and it is credited back to your account automatically a day or two later.

I understand that some UK fuel stations are now operating the same.
 
Two on Tour said:
Not a scam, it's what a lot of unmanned fuel stations do. I used to be 100 euros but has been increased to 200 euros due to the rise in fuel prices and it is credited back to your account automatically a day or two later.
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I think they all do it now,manned or unmanned.

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Burkey said:
A friend is currently travelling down the west coast of France and has refuelled at three places. Each of them are card payments at the pump. The first top up cost 60€ but later discovered he had been debited 260€ , without boring you this happened on two further occasions. Thankfully he kept receipts and has now been credited….. so fellow motorhomers beware .
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Common practice in France, has been for years and the account is credited with the difference in fuel cost and deposit taken within a day or two.
 
We had lots of these when we did 75 nights in Spain and France one station actually refunded within 24 hours and some stations (including some supermarkets) only take 150€ with the bigger chains taking 200€
 
It's something to bear in mind if using a debit card or preloaded card to ensure you have enough funds to pay the initial charge and actual charge before the former is refunded.

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Thought a few supermarkets in this country do it for £100. Some it’s just £1.
 
Tesco fuel stations do it
Asda auto pumps take £1 to check the validity of the card
 
Happened to us a few years ago with a prepaid card. I use a credit card now for fuel and square it up before the end of the month.
 
I have had a issue on my Starling card this year where a pending charge for the fuel amount has stayed on my account for more then 31 days even though the payment for the fuel amount has been debited, this has only happened on motorway fuel stations in France fuel bought at supermarkets and fuel stations away from the motorway have been fine the balance of the pending charge has been returned within 3 days.
I had to ring Starling to get one amount removed this week, and will probably have to ring them next week to get a second amount sorted, it's only been a issue this year been fine for the previous 4 years.

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Not quite as bad but similar has been common practice in "drive off" areas across the pond for 30 years or more. You go in, pay what you think you will need. The pump will only dispense that amount. If you can't get it all in, they refund the amount not taken.

Our daughter works in a fuel station at the moment near St Alban's and they have lots of drive offs. Police are not really interested so it becomes a civil recovery claim which is hard work. They also have a blacklist of vehicles that have driven off previously which is checked before the pump is authorised. The French or US system would largely solve the problem.
 
Not really a scam - just pre-authorisation - filling stations have been doing it for years.
As have car hire companies, and hotels.
Perhaps in the current climate, the amounts are a bit more scary.
 
Just traveled up through France from Spain, over last week.
Refuled /topped tank 4 times using clarity card. Took only as per the pump price and discount shown.
Super U and E.Leclerc and an independent diesel and gas. N12.
No problems.
 
Also had this when topping up the gas in Norway. 1000nok on the card when removed from the pump amended to 76nok two days later. Just be prepared.

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Interesting.
Filled up a few times in France recently. Never noticed how much was taken........or re funded for that matter.
But will next time we go.
 
meanders said:
Our daughter works in a fuel station at the moment near St Alban's and they have lots of drive offs. Police are not really interested so it becomes a civil recovery claim which is hard work. They also have a blacklist of vehicles that have driven off previously which is checked before the pump is authorised. The French or US system would largely solve the problem.
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They blooming well should be. It's robbery/theft. Crack down on it hard or it will become a major problem.
 
We had the same problem with a Starling card at E.leclerc. Had to ring Starling to clear it. It has only happened the one time and have used many self service pumps including other E.leclerc ones this year.
 
2 years ago I filled up in Olite, Spain , it took €100 and never refunded for 2 weeks, last week I filled up at Tesco, Newmarket, and the £100 payment wasn’t taken for 2 days, swings and roundabouts.
 
cyberyacht said:
They blooming well should be. It's robbery/theft. Crack down on it hard or it will become a major problem.
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I agree completely. Sadly the Police, particularly in cities, are too busy dealing with hate crimes of one type or another to deal with dull stuff like theft. Need to address this by writing to your PCC or Mayor (good luck with that in London)

Have to say, I have never noticed the OPs issue. I naturally assumed that they took the amount that showed on the pump. It must be that by the time I get home to look at statements, any refunds have been made.

Good thread though, thanks.

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Burkey said:
Ah what a relief…thought the brexit hating french were at it 😂😂
Very grateful for your replies
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Has the OP actually been to France and met the “brexit hating French”
Having just travelled almost 1800 miles in France and met with French people in all walks of life, from campsites to village markets, from supermarkets to village fates we have yet to encounter any “hateful” people at all.
What we have found is a warm welcome from wonderful people that we have missed due to Covid19
Cheaper diesel, cheaper meals out and an environment void of all rubbish across the whole of the country
 
Jimbo50 said:
Has the OP actually been to France and met the “brexit hating French”
Having just travelled almost 1800 miles in France and met with French people in all walks of life, from campsites to village markets, from supermarkets to village fates we have yet to encounter any “hateful” people at all.
What we have found is a warm welcome from wonderful people that we have missed due to Covid19
Cheaper diesel, cheaper meals out and an environment void of all rubbish across the whole of the country
Click to expand...

Agree. Nothing but friendliness and "Thank god the British are back!"

The only French who hate us are Macron, his government, and those that work in Brussels.
 
The £100 minimum in the UK for unattended petrol pumps is mandated by the Card schemes Mastercard and Visa, so assume that similar rules are followed in Europe now with different max values. The unattended pumps here used to take £1 to verify the card but now all have to follow the card scheme rules. Like people have mentioned it should reconcile to the actual amount at a max of 2 days, poss longer over weekend.

If you have a credit card then using it for unattended purchases (instead of a debit card) especially abroad will give you better chargeback protection if anything goes wrong with the payment.
 
So, is it not actually possible to buy fuel and pay by cash anywhere in France?

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