Intermarché ‘pending’ transaction - beware!

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WoldsSunlight

Joined
Apr 18, 2021
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Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, United Kingdom
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Sunlight Cliff 540
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Since 2008
I am quite familiar with the practice, both in UK and Europe, of ‘blocking’ an amount of funds when paying for fuel etc. by debit card.
I am currently touring in France, and stopped at an unmanned Intermarche fuel station, because it had an AdBlu pump, and I thought it wise to top up with AdBlu as I hadn’t seen too many (if any) on my trip this far.
Long story short: I tried using my Revolut Visa debit card - refused (twice.) I then used my NatWest MasterCard debit card, which was accepted, but for some reason the AdBlu pump cut off after delivering €0.05 worth of fluid (yes, you read that correct, 5c) I gave up, and drove on (not needing AdBlu, but rather trying to top up whilst I could.)
Imagine my surprise later to find that both my Revolut attempts failed because Intermarche tried blocking over £430 (twice) and I was very thankful that I didn’t have that much credit on my account - read on!
Having received €0.05 worth of AdBlu, Intermarche had also blocked £130 on my NatWest account, which is still ‘pending’ some 7 days later. I talked to NatWest, whose hands are tied, and apparently it can take UP TO 10 working days for the pending amount to be ‘credited’ back to my account!
I use my Revolut card exclusively whilst touring abroad, and thank God I didn’t have enough credit on it for Intermarche to stick a spanner in the works and block such a ridiculous amount for 10 working days!!
Bizarrely, I’d already used the card twice at different Intermarche unmanned fuel stations without issue.
If I do need an AdBlu top up before my trip to France ends, Total Energy fuel stations sell it by the 10L container, so that’s where I’ll get some rather than try a pump dispenser again. The pump btw, was clearly signed as being available to both private vehicles and HGVs.
 
I’ve often had my Revolut card refused by unmanned stations. The 10-day delay is a shock. I hope it does clear up properly for you
 
My first top up of adblue was at a random french fuel station. I was surprised how easy it was, the only thing was you had to pay for the diesel at the pump, but had to pre pay for the adblue at the kiosk. How you are supposed to know these things? I don't know, but the friendly french motorhomer in front of me helped me out. He even waited and watched while I performed the task. How nice! And some people dislike the French! Actually, I think he was German!!

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Update 26/9/23:
Managed to get AdBlu at a Super U manned station without problem. Just over 10 litres to top up @ 80c/litre.
InterMarche have still not refunded the money -10 working days is up on 29 Sept. Grrrr.
 
Its not necessarily Intermarche its more likely the clearing process for card transactions. When you use fuel stations and some other transactions a block for say 100 is added so you can then fill up to 100. If you say only put 90 in then thats the amount that goes through the clearing process which will automatically release the 100. Should take 3 or 4 days but sometimes longer.
 
Had this at Super U. The normal deduction of 99 Euros didn't apply as the AdBlue pump was at the lorry pumps. I had about 350 euro as a pending transaction despite the pump not delivering any adblue. They hadn't taken the 350 euro, but it wasn't available to me.
I use Starling in the EU. A quick message to them on their app with copies of the transactions and they had it sorted in a couple of days. Apparently the service provider has 30 days to update the transaction or the pending amount drops off. Personally I'd rather have the funds available to me ASAP.
Lessons for me were...always take a receipt. If something goes wrong take photos of the pump.
 
I stopped at Intermarche for fuel in my scooter on Sunday, about 8€ worth. The machine wanted to take a 100€ deposit, yeh right. I didn’t bother.
Phil
 
Cash is still best. Find a fuel station with a human cashier.

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Russell's Dad said:
Had this at Super U. The normal deduction of 99 Euros didn't apply as the AdBlue pump was at the lorry pumps. I had about 350 euro as a pending transaction despite the pump not delivering any adblue. They hadn't taken the 350 euro, but it wasn't available to me.
I use Starling in the EU. A quick message to them on their app with copies of the transactions and they had it sorted in a couple of days. Apparently the service provider has 30 days to update the transaction or the pending amount drops off. Personally I'd rather have the funds available to me ASAP.
Lessons for me were...always take a receipt. If something goes wrong take photos of the pump.
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We've had exactly the same happen to us in France (Total site). Although apparently they have up to 28 days to drop the reserved pending amount, a quick message to Starling Bank using their phone app and it was removed instantly and our available balance was restored on the account.
 
SpeedyDux said:
Like your bank branch, use it or lose it.
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I've used petrol stations for 50 years but they have still taken cashiers away and with modern banking I have no need to go into a branch.
 
We have a separate fuel credit card for this a 'Starling card', loaded with just enough cash just prior to using it. Sometimes it gets refused, but its never the end of the world as we never go under ½ a tank of fuel, so we can move on to the next one.

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Why do the French have this system of paying €100 which then gets credited back later? We don't do that in the UK.
 
Thornebt said:
Why do the French have this system of paying €100 which then gets credited back later? We don't do that in the UK.
Click to expand...

Probably had historical problems, with lot's of different countries credit cards. What with France essentially being an access route to and from better bits of Europe. ( I don't believe that last sentence, I just popped it in to cheer Chris up).
 
Thornebt said:
Why do the French have this system of paying €100 which then gets credited back later? We don't do that in the UK.
Click to expand...
yes you do, look at your card once you put fuel in you will have a pending transaction...
 
Thornebt said:
Why do the French have this system of paying €100 which then gets credited back later? We don't do that in the UK.
Click to expand...
this used to happen in the UK until just recently. There have been articles in the media about it.

At one point they targeted Asda fuel stations for taking £99 out as a pre-payment. Sainsbury's used to also do it.

think it stopped a couple of years though.

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MichaelT said:
yes you do, look at your card once you put fuel in you will have a pending transaction...
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Never noticed any pending charge but I don't check credit card account whilst I'm filling the car. Certainly don't have to wait days for it to be credited back!
 
WoldsSunlight said:
If I do need an AdBlu top up before my trip to France ends, Total Energy fuel stations sell it by the 10L container,
Click to expand...
Don't buy the 10L container if they are sat outside in direct sunlight. Heat and sunlight deactivates it and "may" result in your engine being shut down by the emissions control system.
 
WoldsSunlight said:
Update 26/9/23:
Managed to get AdBlu at a Super U manned station without problem. Just over 10 litres to top up @ 80c/litre.
InterMarche have still not refunded the money -10 working days is up on 29 Sept. Grrrr.
Click to expand...
Never mind. I see you got sorted lol :)
 
Gromett said:
Don't buy the 10L container if they are sat outside in direct sunlight. Heat and sunlight deactivates it and "may" result in your engine being shut down by the emissions control system.
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I had this stop my Berlingo three times.
Three times back to the dealers
Eventually Citroen had to replace the entire AdBlu system in the car (under warranty)

At the time there was a queue of cars at the dealers awaiting new AdBlu plumbing and a massive shortage of parts.

Citroen have now quietly withdrawn the automatic stop/start software.
So whether I switch this feature on or off on my car it no longer works.
 
I think, but could be wrong, it is better to use a credit card than a debit card. We had exactly this issue recently in the US from a hotel and it took about a fortnight to be refunded.

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BikerGraham said:
this used to happen in the UK until just recently. There have been articles in the media about it.

At one point they targeted Asda fuel stations for taking £99 out as a pre-payment. Sainsbury's used to also do it.

think it stopped a couple of years though.
Click to expand...
It still happens in some stores. Carlisle North Asda took a £99 pending charge but refunded three days later when the actual cost of fuel went through. That was in August this year.
 
MichaelT said:
Very few now both here and france
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Many fuel stations in France and Spain have machines that take cash and either link direct to the pump or issue a voucher to scan at the pump. We have only used a card twice in fifteen years of driving to Spain and back.
 
MichaelT said:
Very few now both here and france
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Where is HERE.
If you mean the UK you're sadly mistaken..
3very station I've been to is either fully kiosk or a choice of pay at pump or pay at kiosk.
I've never seen a fully unmanned fuel station
 
Just returned from France, and if I purchased fuel Monday to Thursday the amount was modified within a hour on our Starling card Friday to Sunday took a couple of days.

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