Buying Gas with a Credit Card Could Cost More

The only reason this makes me mad is because the gas stations never told us. If they had just admitted up front that there was a fee for using your credit card, I wouldn’t mind. In fact, that would get more people to use cash, which in turn makes it so they don’t have to pay up in the first place. I agree. The price of petroleum is outrageous enough without them sneaking nickels and dimes out of our pockets.

Im in the UK enough said lol

I’ve heard about this. Also I have noticed at some gas stations in the area charging more than they are advertising. My friend noticed one day while filling up after paying cash that something wasn’t right. He stopped at 1 gallon exact and noticed the price for that gallon was a couple cents higher. Whats that about?

This has been the practice for years and is nothing new. Even before this, there was a credit or cash price - it was just more prominently displayed. I didn’t realize that there was _still_ a credit/cash price, though - that’s not as displayed. If I can find that, it may be worth getting cash for gas, just to avoid an extra 5-10 cents/gallon.

I’m not really shocked, though. The companies get dinged when we use a credit card - all of them. Why should they take the hit because it’s convenient for us? Prices go up subtly to cover for that hit. It’s all part of running a business.

As for gas prices, let’s see our Congress do something about national production and I’ll bet the prices drop. Every time they say “no exploration in the US”, the price goes up. (Really - there is a correlation.)

Surprising that they would be so open about it. Merchant agreements with the credit card companies - unless things have changed in the last few years which I very much doubt - explicitly forbid offering cash discounts, CC surcharge or any other disincentive to using credit cards.
I signed merchant agreements on behalf of my company a few years ago, and it was made very clear that if we wanted to accept credit cards we couldn’t do that.
That being said, I know it happens from time to time, but I’m surprised to hear that major gas companies are doing it.

Well that would be stupid.

It costs more money to travel cash than to travel credit card data. Just another lame attempt for the oil businesses to earn even more money (as if they needed that right now).

that’s crazy

For the most part this is nonsense. By law the price on the pump is what you pay. If anyone is charging you more than the pump price, call Better Business Bureau and your police department. This is fraud. Of course, there are probably some businesses that try this, but they are in deep trouble. Always check your receipt, if it does not match what the pump says then you have problems. The receipt will show how much you pumped, the price per gallon and your total charge. All of these numbers should match what the pump says.

Credit card companies do charge merchants for using their system. These charges, along with all other expenses, are rolled into the price they charge, not added on.

Really? wow, I didn’t know that my dad rides motercycle a lot and he ususally uses the credit card to pay most of the time… looks like what saves time also costs more.

if you catch this being done, report it to your credit card company immediately. the credit card’s merchant account contract forbids all merchants from adding so called credit card fee’s. This is a card industry wide rule. The merchant can loose the privilege to accept credit cards for such activity. A local city was caught doing this, and lost the ability to accept credit cards for all of their services.

It comes down to semantics, since it is perfectly legal for someone to offer a cash discount instead.

Exo

Thanks for the tip chris !!!

I read some more of the comments above, the rule against there being a credit card convenience fee, only applies when the card is used in credit card mode. If you are forced to use your PIN, they are going through the ATM network which can apply such fees. Many banks offer programs that refund such ATM POS fees, you may need to notify your bank that it was a POS fee rather than an ATM fee and they may reverse it.

Exo

Wow that is crazy they charge you to use a credit card to pump gas, and they should be required to tell you about the charge if someone is not.

This is why I don’t drive. Everything about it is a luxury while the world treats it like a necessity.

Thanks Chris! I totally was not aware of this until now, but I do still believe most people who use credit cards do it to save time. People might not always have the time to pull out some change and walk up to the store, so credit cards makes it convinient for them. It is better to pay a little more than not having money to pay with at all. I’m sure a few people might have saved their jobs by not paying with change/cash at a gas station.

Just my opinion.

What i did to beat gas prices was bought a 1987 Mercedes Benz and i use 30% Diesel fuel and 70% oil i get free from mcdonalds and the like. I suggest that a lot of people do this. It saves a lottttt of precious $$$$

Thats a total ripoff. What happens if you only have $20 and they charge you $25? All they want is money.

Hi, wow thank god I have 2 years, until I have to drive, but it cant get any better in that time, good to know Chris!!!!

Lucky for me I don’t have to worry about gas :D, I don’t drive yet. Although It’s not looking good for when I do. I’ll probably end up driving some tiny used sub-compact :’(. Which is NOT what I want to be driving…

We hardly use credit cards anymore when it comes to buying gas. In Delaware they take off 5 to 10 cents. Thank you for the heads up though.

Wow, well now i know not to use a credit card when i fill up, haha man that can add up quick!

I think that is stupid because it is the same product and your still using your money just in a different way and it cost more.

Here in Canada there are a few gas stations that give you 5 cents off per liter if you pay with cash or a debit card. Which is pretty cool i guess. I don’t have to worry about gas prices for about another month when i turn 16!!!!!

I have heard of certain merchants doing this and only one gas stations around here in Ohio but that’s it. If we weren’t already getting robbed at the gas station, I wouldn’t be all that upset, since it would save those that are paying cash since we don’t have to make up for those extra transaction charges.

It’s true! Even the gas stations around my area are now going to “cheaper gas if you pay cash”. It’s a nice thing, too, since I refuse to pay for stuff with a credit card. Personally, I think it’s downright illegal to NOT say that it’s cheaper if you pay cash!

I really didn’t think that was true. In fact I saw that on my local gas station. Well, here is the ironic part, some credit card companies gives you cash rewards for buyings, not much but 3% counts as a lot sometimes. And you save some money by paying using cash, isn’t it the same as using a credit card? Reward equals discount? I think the math is easy here. Nowadays, I prefer buses or just walk to my work, save some cash.

That is understandable. I mean…if oil companies weren’t making so much off every gallon already.

Are they charging the ten cents per gallon? If so, that is RIDICULOUS. they shouldn’t be making an extra $2 every time I fill up, just to pay for something that they have MORE than enough from my fuel purchase to pay. Mom and pop shops that don’t have much business, I can understand having finance charges like that, but gas stations!? EVERYONE needs a gas station, whether or not they have a car themselves, they depend on transportation. Transportation depends on gas. Gas comes from gas stations. All the companies are doing is ensuring more unhappy people forced to use their product despite their crooked and scheming ways.

i pay on gas 4.01 but if i pay with cash it is 3.95

my gas station here in wisconson is still $3.00
so im good!!! w00t!!!

Another reason it may cost more, is because people are used to paying their states taxes, but if they are traveling, which a lot of people do this summer, they may get confused because of the change in tax. Just a thought.

I have heard they jack up the price if you use your credit card. You should use cash, so you dont get charged the extra 10-20 cents a gallon

This is understandable from the gas stations point of view, but I think it is wrong on the CC companies part. What happens then is people can’t afford to get gas with cash or credit, because they cannot afford cash until payday and credit is too much, and eventually, I think, gas prices will have to get lower or alternate energy sources have to take off. Very soon.

LOL that is so true. I figured this all out last week and i was like…whoaa!

woah! that’s just not cool. What’s the point anymore. I’ve been riding my bike anyplace within 10 miles of my house now… which I guess is a good thing. But the price of gas is outrageous and this on top of it isn’t helping.

paid 3.93 in Idaho a week ago, in Mesa, AZ, its about 4.25

gas is high anyways i dont think it matters lol

Gas keeps fluctuating in Indiana. One day it will be 3.94$ a gallon then it will jump up to 4.15 a gallon. It’s frustrating. I just ride my bike to work now!

They take money off in NYC too if you pay cash, It’s because the gas stations get charged CC fees

Geez. If Petrol here had credit card surcharge, that’d drive people off the edge. The ACCC (The Australian Consumer Competition Commission) would go over the edge on that one. Outrageous. Boycott em I say.

WHOA! That’s insane. I’ll likely be paying cash the next time I purchase gas, especially now that it’s 4.15/gallon.

Very cool tips chris

I know the stations around here take cards, but many have signs advertising a better price if you use cash. I suppose I understand it. Haha.

i don’t $ have a lt a money so can’t get gas
i am geting a bike i need that

But what about those keychains that you swipe at the pump and then it likes put it on your visa or something, we always get trials in the mail but we never get em

I love all of your videos! It’s good to see that there’s more than one computer-loving, comedian guy out there!

Lying to get more money and rip-off their customers? Hmm…

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What? I didn’t know this! Now I can’t trust going to a gas station. And I use my CC for my gas all the time now I will start paying with cash.

Wow, that is incredibly insane.
You guys better start paying by cash imo.

Wow I never even noticed this.. Good thing I always pay with ca$h. Prices are already outrageous and now they gotta squeeze out 10 cents more?

Gas station owners are nothing but a bunch of rip-off artists that think they are owed everything on a silver platter!! Get over yourselves.
It’s called business. If any of you gas station operators had an inkling of business sense, you would understand that credit cards are a business too. By making the consumer pay the penalty for your problem with credit card companies, I say too effing bad, live with it. If you can’t, go back to your native country dumb-asses!! We are tired of supporting you as__oles!
It should be a crime in itself for you to send any of the money you make in the USA back to your foreign-*** country. Either be American or leave!