Credit cards are a popular and convenient way to pay for most things, such as making up for gas stations, and there are benefits to using them with a pump, such as bonus points and cashback when purchasing fuel.
However, if you’re not careful, you may be more likely to pay gas with a credit card. That’s what Pat Igo from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida recently learned about Hardway.
IGO, like many consumers, noticed an increase in gas stations charging more money per gallon for credit card purchases than cash purchases. Worse, gas stations in some areas are trying to hide their credit card extra charges.
In most states, it is legal for businesses to charge additional fees on customers they are paying for. Credit Card. One of those states is Florida.
The only requirement is that businesses must do Notify customers of these additional charges In advance. However, some Florida gas stations have tested that concept with unfair restrictions.
IGO said WPTV News His company, North County Cooling, has a fleet of 12 trucks, and all of those refueling costs around $3,000 a month for his business. He recently went to fill in one of the trucks when he noticed something that shocked him with the pump.
“I noticed it was at the bottom in this little box,” IGO shared with WPTV. “And that didn’t match the price on the street.”
According to the IGO, the small sign on the pump showed that anyone paying with a credit card would pay $100 million per gallon, so they asked the station manager if it was an error. “And he said no,” Igo said. “‘I can do whatever number I want,’ and I went out. ”
Reporter Dave Bowman looked into the issue and found it Many local gas stations I was charged one dollar more per gallon for credit card payments than cash. When he began to question, two stations dropped an extra charge to 90 cents per gallon.
Boffman also contacted consumer attorney Thomas Patty to see if the practice was legal. His reaction? yes.
“They say, ‘Listen, we will offer you a discount on cash-based services, and we will charge you a standard credit card price.”
The Florida Attorney General’s Office confirmed with Boffman that the practice was legal. However, Patti confirmed that gas stations must disclose differences in price to consumers. The problem is that some stations don’t advertise price differences for large printing of street signs. Rather, they post it in small print on an actual pump.
Meanwhile, IGO is currently not using gas stations that charge $100 million per gallon for credit cards. He also believes there should be stricter rules to prevent consumers from being fooled.
“If you use a credit card, there should be a law that says they will charge you,” he said.
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The average US driver spent in 2023 $2,449 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, gas. If spending is similar, a few changes can help you save some money on the pump.
First, use an app such as Gasbuddy to compare gas prices in your area. Secondly, we are looking to pay attention to differences in price at local gas stations and avoid anything that charges credit card extras, but don’t resort to big signs that can be seen from the street. Instead, pull it up onto the pump and read the fine print.
Of course, paying cash is also an option if you want to avoid over-expenditure of gas. However, if you have a larger vehicle, it is not always feasible to carry enough cash to fill your tank.
recently yougov The survey found that Americans prefer to pay for gas using credit cards over any other method. However, if you pay with a debit card, you may not face an additional gas charge. So it could be a reasonable alternative. Additionally, YouGov has discovered that debit cards are the second-most preferred payment method used by consumers at the pump.
It is also recommended to try to avoid gas stations along rest areas and major highways. Pay attention to the tank along these lines. That way, you should be forced to fill up at the nearest station just because the gas is running out.
Finally, the more efficient you drive your vehicle, the less fuel you use. To do this, don’t speed up. Make sure your tires are not too low and consider longer road trips using cruise control.
A few tweaks will help you set up to stretch each fillup and enjoy some savings along the way.
This article is for information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
