Be very careful, using your debit card to prepay at the pump; when refueling on a road trip. My wife had the unpleasant surprise of refueling our car for $25.00, at the Signal Mountain Rd. Raceway gas station, in Chattanooga, Tn yesterday; then attempting to make a subsequent grocery purchase shortly, there after.
The second purchase was declined. While there was enough funds to actually pay for the purchase; she called the bank to determine why the transaction was declined. She was informed that the gas station purchased had not yet processed; but they had placed an AUTHORIZATION HOLD for $125.00 !!!! :yikes: The bank then informed my wife, they had been flooded with calls (this week...) from customers, reporting the SAME problem. The bank also informed my wife that it should have dropped off within several hours of the ACTUAL purchase of a specific amount; but that it was still in effect, some 29 hours later; and had to be MANUALLY reversed by the bank.
So... if you're on a road trip and using your debit card; consider going inside and prepaying the pump. This will ONLY capture the amount of the sale; and NO authorization is involved. Otherwise... you may have your card MAXED out by authorizations... before you ever get to the destination. Sure it'll clear off in a few days... But in the mean time, hotel accomodations, meals, incidentals, FUEL and anything else you normally use your DEBIT card for; maybe difficult to obtain.
And using it as a CREDIT card option at the pump, may not bypass this dilema. My bank advised me to simply go inside and prepay the fuel; and this WOULD eleviate the problem. And based on the huge number of complaints they have received in the last week; they have begun to DECLINE any LARGE amounts from gas stations, based on this AUTHORIZATION CAPTURING. So be prepared for some more difficulties with electronic banking.
