Had an interesting experience this past week. I stopped in at the Shell station just off Rainier on Genessee, and pulled up to the pump. All the pumps weren't accepting pay at the pump anymore, so I walked into the office and dropped my card off, asking them to turn the pump on.
I did that, went back, filled my car up, and went back inside. They charged my card and I left.
Should be fine, right?
First of all, they added an extra 75 cent charge to the gas. For one, they never informed me of this, I just happened to notice it on the receipt. When I went back into the store and asked about it, they said they're doing this to all credit card transactions now. Secondly, I'm pretty sure that Visa & Mastercard don't allow merchants to charge extra for the use of credit cards - it's against their terms of service. I have half a mind to call Visa & Mastercard about this and get the mini mart's credit card privileges revoked.
But that wasn't the best part. I get home shortly thereafter, and on my home answering machine is a message from the fraud department for my credit card - apparently a couple of extra transactions from Genessee Mini Mart had been posted, and they flagged this as irregular activity.
Well ain't that peachy.
So kudos to Capital One for flagging the fraud and catching it so I don't have to.
And a big thumbs down to the shell station on Genessee near Rainier. They've forced me to have to cancel and get a new card, I don't think I'll ever go back.
PS. Well, so much for a regular posting schedule. Work is crazy and will be for a while, I figure the rare but informative posts are better then the often but fluff-filled posts :)
7 comments:
I stopped going to them years ago because of this charge. At the time they took pay at the pump with no extra fee, but it wasn't working that day. They did tell me about the fee, and refused to drop it even when I protested. I told them they would lose my business, and they did. I wish I'd contacted VISA, maybe I still will.
Why didn't you guys report them? If what they are doing is against Visa's Terms of Service AND they are attempting to steal from you, why do you take it lying down?
I just got gas there and at the pump the sigh said bring your credit or debit card inside. The clerk took my card and said pick up the card after you pump. I put $27 dollars in gas. When I got home to view my bank account I noticed they made an extra charge of $100 dollars. These people are thieves. I'm filling a fraud report on them through the bank.
Read this article for an explanation of the added CC fees stations are now charging -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092400255_pf.html
Major credit card companies are reaping huge profits from rising gas prices because the fee that banks charge gas stations to process a credit card transaction is based on a percentage of the purchase price. As gas prices go up, the processing fee goes up.
Another article about the legality of it all --
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/gas_stations_charging_more_for_credit_card_users/
Please, when writing an article on your blog, take it to the obvious next level and do 5 minutes of easy easy research. Thanks.
What's really sad about this story is that very few Americans realize that the gas is usually being supplied to them by international central banking families who also own the credit card companies. These same banking families own the US Federal Reserve banks and the IRS, as well. 100% of your personal income tax on your wages is pocketed profit by the same families. And these same families now control most of the mainstream media. Go do the research if you don't believe me. Lookup Rothschild and Rockefeller for starters.
Should have reported them. Shoulda-coulda, I know. Hey, I wanted you to know that the old Rainier Rotary is getting re-started as the Rainier Valley Rotary Club. It turns out the old club was down to 5 members and dysfunctional, but new schedule of interesting breakfast programs at Tutta Bella Tues. mornings at 7:20. It's $10 for coffee and danish, but as a visitor the first 2 are free. What I thought of when reading your posting on the Shell Station Pirates was the Rotary focus on ethical business practices.
www.rainiervalleyrotary.org/~vidteams
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