Have you heard about some gas stations not letting people pay with credit cards?

Question

so i heard yesterday that some gas stations are not allowing people to pay at the pump with credit cards because they are losing too much money now that prices are so high and i'm a little confused and wanted to see if i missed something.

are they not allowing to pay with credit cards just at the pump and still allowing you to pay inside? or do they mean no credit cards at all and you have to pay cash? because i dont know about you guys, but i use my debit card for everything, i dont carry cash at all. and yesterday it cost me $50 to put in 11 gallons of lowgrade (i have never paid that much in my life) and i'm sure as h**l not carrying around $60+ in cash to make sure i can get gas.

but i guess carrying a $20 for emergancies wouldnt be too bad. i just have a tendancy to spend cash and not keep track of it like i do with my debit card.

just wondering if its happening around you, or your take on this story if you heard it. so far in northern virginia i havent seen it.

Answer 1

well the thing is when people use their credit cards it the credit card company charges the store money for them to get the money. so its not more expensive for your its more expensive for them. because the company gets a portion of the money they make when they sell the gasoline

Answer 2

LOL im guessing its one of those things that the media makes a huge deal out of it and when only a few gas stations are doing it...

It probably is that they give you a cheaper fuel if you pay by cash, thats how it works at truck stops for commercial trucks...

Answer 3

I read what was probably the same article but haven't run into any places that are doing that.  We do have one station that is cash only, but it has always been that way.  This means inside the store and outside.  I don't know if there is a fee for their accepting the debit card.  You can ask your bank.

Answer 4

The gas stations pay a transaction fee when people use their credit cards- maybe 2 or 3% to master card, visa, american express, whomever.  Now that gas is so pricey, the fees are more and more expensive and eat into their profits.  I hadn't heard they were refusing to take cc's here, but have heard they charged people less for gas if they paid cash (a few cents a gallon less).

PS  A debit card is different since it's linked directly to your bank account- so they would not have to pay this transaction fee- so if you pay with a debit card, it IS like paying cash.