Well, this sounds like a stupid question, well it actually is quite interesting what I have found out after being here for a month. As a canadian it is quite painful to buy gas!
So everywhere you go now a days is a pay at the pump, which is great if that was what it meant for everyone. It says "Insert card" so I put in my credit card, then oddly enough it asks me if it is a credit card or dedit card, what the hell do you think? You read everything else off the card, enough to charge my account and it still asks me if this is a credit card, come on! Then it asks for a zipcode, as a canadian I don't have one, so what do I do? I have to go inside. That is fine. This is apparently to protect you credit card. I go inside and
I said, "I am Canadian, how do I get gas", with my arms up in the air, picture it :).
Anyway she laughs and says "Oh this is a safety feature for your credit card",
I thought, "well that is nice of them."
She says "How much gas do you want?"
I say "I want it full."
She says "How much is that?"
I say "I don't know, I just want it to be full."
She says "Is it a little empty or a lot."
I say "An eighth of a tank."
She says "Oh that should be about $30."
I have never put less than $40 in this car. She make me leave my credit card with her, anyway and I have to go out and pump? How is this protecting my card. A stranger is sitting there at a gas station studying my card and who knows what else. I finish pumping and then have to go back in again to get my card, how is this even remotely convienient, its not. I think I am going to contact Visa and ask for a 5 digit number as my ZIP and see if they will go for it.
Submitted by johnkean on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 16:51.
so how much did it cost?
Anonymous (not verified) | Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:46
So did you only pay 30$ or do you have to pay more?
hmmm... interesting system those americans have.
- reply
»site administrator
Heather (not verified) | Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:58
I cant sign up for your site... it wont give me a password and says to contact site administrator... fix it please!
- reply
»They had my credit card unfortunately
johnkean | Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:21
Unfortunately they had my credit card so I had to pay what I had pumped. It is a screwed up system here!
- reply
»credit vs debit cards
Julie M (not verified) | Thu, 01/31/2008 - 22:11
The way I understand the American system for the credit cards is that your card is actually attached to your bank account, so it sort of acts as a debit card. Many cards are actually both. It's really weird. But basically, if you go and buy a bunch of appliances or something huge (or spend like Dana!! :) ) and put it all on your credit card, it'll actually do a check on your bank account to make sure you can afford it - or something along those lines. I learned this from some Americans I work with... This may explain why the reader didn't know if it was a credit card or a debit card... Anyway, just a little tidbit.
It sounds and looks like you guys are having an awesome time! John's going to have a tough time getting David "detoxed" from all these activities and fun when you guys are back in Richmond and he's by himself with the boys!! Enjoy!!
Julie
- reply
»buying gas...
kevin@haggaret.com | Thu, 01/31/2008 - 22:34
JK - I've been through what you are talking about - when I spent a couple of weeks in California - you can read about it here if you like. In my case I didn't have to leave my card with the attendant - they just ask how much you want to put on it. If you like it'll take $40 then say $40 and if you can't put $40 in then the difference will automatically be refunded to your card - or at least that is how it worked for me.
- reply
»blah blah blah....
danakean | Fri, 02/01/2008 - 21:08
"blah blah blah"....this is what john hears when i tell him something - i totally explained the credit/debit thing to him! Hmmm..... I never thought of the florida "detox", somehow story time at the library is not going to be as exciting as giant sea turtles and manatees...... good thing I will be at work:)!
- reply
»Post new comment