Topic: Odd happening at the gas pump today

[eigenvector]

Still has me freaked out - although I checked my account and everything looks fine.

Gassing up a gas can at the station today - put in my credit card, it accepted the transaction without even asking for my zip.  That alone was strange, I fuelled up the gas can - 2.2 gallons of 89 octane gas, put the nozzle back into the pump holster and when I went to get my receipt it reported the pump was closed.  No receipt available.

So I go inside, ask for my receipt, and the lady responds - "It's reporting transaction cancelled"
"Ooookay..."
I ask her to reset the machine so that I don't get mischarged for other transactions.
She reboots the pump and I drive off.

My bank reports the transaction - hasn't cleared it yet, but the charges are showing up on my account.
Good enough for me - but whenever stuff like that happens it always makes me worried that some scam was involved.

If there was - I just can't imagine what the scam would be.

[754]

I use a thing called CashPay.... Never ever ever had those issues. 

[BobbyR]

If it was a scam they would want your CC number. Best case it was a software glitch. Monitor you account for a while to be certain.

[Duanob]

If it was a scam they would want your CC number. Best case it was a software glitch. Monitor you account for a while to be certain.

Actually not, people put CC skimmers in gas pumps and ATMs. Electronically takes all your info on the card. Then that gets sold to the black market in who knows what country. They just busted a russian millionaire in Fed Court here in Seattle that made his money that way.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yep. Always be on the lookout for skimmers put over the normal card readers on gas pumps and ATMs.

[CycleRanger]

I use a thing called CashPay.... Never ever ever had those issues.

I use a thing called cash. The only issue I have with that is keeping it in stock! 

Skimmers, yes always look for them.
However, when I'm short on cash I only use a gas card at pumps, never a debit card.
Skim my gas card, I don't care. It's got a $500 limit and I won't pay for the charges anyway.

BUT, back to the topic, I too have had that sort of issue with gas pumps before.
For whatever reason the pump just loses its mind.
I do the same thing, make sure the pump gets reset before I leave and the charge always went through.
I never get lucky and get free gas.   

[jonda500]

Back in the early 90's I had just started to put fuel in the work ute when I noticed the pump reading over $20 - I had only just started pumping and only had just over $20 on me... The attendant didn't believe me and I had to pay over $20 for maybe $1 of fuel. Got back to work and they didn't believe me either and refused to reimburse me    Seems the person before me didn't hang up the nozzle properly and drove off without paying!
Alway make sure to check that the previous user hung up the nozzle properly before you start!!

Later in the 90's I found a petrol pump on the mid north coast near where I was living that could trickle fuel out without the numbers turning! I always filled up there whenever I was going past - I would usually not allow the $'s to go over 50cents - not bad for a full tank - lucky my bike (suzie dr250) only took 11 litres as it took a loooong time to fuel up with it only slowly trickling out   
John