Gas station question (Rant)

[bcer960]

Hi all,
I have just returned from an 18 day 4000 mile run which included the Norcal rally. Had a great time, except for riding in and through the tornado in Salt lake City last thursday.

My question (rant) is this:
Why do i need a postal code to use a credit card at a gas pump in the US? I live in Canada, i don't have a postal code. i have a zip code. So, I put in my card, go through all kinds of screens only to have it say that I have to go inside and see the cashier.
Now here's the funny part.... i go inside, usually wait in line, have to guess at how much gas I need, slide my card in the machine....... and go out and put gas in the bike. No questions about postal codes. No pin numbers required. No ID shown, just a huge waste of time. And all for under $10 worth of gas.......

Thankfully only about 2/3 of all the gas stations asked for a zip code.

Ray

 

[trikermutha]

verification you own the card by your zip code

Is the postal code the same as a zip code

 

[Chupaca]

Ah well....

It is a pain for all no doubt...if you use the debit card you need the pin credit card the zip and cash the felt tip to see if your money is real...:banghead: soon they will go to the chip...do you have one of those..??..:banghead:

 

[billybovine]

Sorry, but there is an easy way around it for Canadians. Too bad no one told you about it before you went.

The postal code for the billing address of your credit card is 6 digits alternating letters and numbers. Strip out the 3 letters and you are left with only 3 the numbers. Add 2 zeros to the end and you will get a 5 digit zip code that will work at every pump.

Example: postal code of N5A 1K8. Strip out the letters and you are left with 518. Add 2 zeros 51800.

Has the credit card thing got any better down there. The last time I went down, I thought I went back in time a couple decades. No chip and pin terminals anywhere. Only found one tap and go terminal that worked at a mcdonald's.

 

[Charlottes Web]

I was in Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick for 2 weeks. US Credit card did not work at pump. Had to go inside every time. Cell phones didn't work either.
Christine

 

[oldgoat]

Sorry, but there is an easy way around it for Canadians. Too bad no one told you about it before you went.

The postal code for the billing address of your credit card is 6 digits alternating letters and numbers. Strip out the 3 letters and you are left with only 3 the numbers. Add 2 zeros to the end and you will get a 5 digit zip code that will work at every pump.

Example: postal code of N5A 1K8. Strip out the letters and you are left with 518. Add 2 zeros 51800.

Has the credit card thing got any better down there. The last time I went down, I thought I went back in time a couple decades. No chip and pin terminals anywhere. Only found one tap and go terminal that worked at a mcdonald's.

Works every time.

 

[SPYD3R]

ZIP-PA-DEE-DO-DA

the reason the stations ask for a ZIP CODE, is if your card were stolen, and the person tried to use it at a gas station, would they know your ZIP CODE? most likely "NO"... the card would be 'rejected' and rendered useless... this is a security factor, protecting us from those that do not believe in following the laws of the land...
speak with your credit card company and ask them what can be done to rectify this situation...
good luck, and keep us posted....
Dan P
SPYD3R

 

[Highwayman2013]

Hi all,
I have just returned from an 18 day 4000 mile run which included the Norcal rally. Had a great time, except for riding in and through the tornado in Salt lake City last thursday.

My question (rant) is this:
Why do i need a postal code to use a credit card at a gas pump in the US? I live in Canada, i don't have a postal code. i have a zip code. So, I put in my card, go through all kinds of screens only to have it say that I have to go inside and see the cashier.
Now here's the funny part.... i go inside, usually wait in line, have to guess at how much gas I need, slide my card in the machine....... and go out and put gas in the bike. No questions about postal codes. No pin numbers required. No ID shown, just a huge waste of time. And all for under $10 worth of gas.......

Thankfully only about 2/3 of all the gas stations asked for a zip code.

Ray

I had to do the same in Canada a couple years ago. I live in the US! I have a zip code and I just rolled with it.

 

[robmorg]

I was in Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick for 2 weeks. US Credit card did not work at pump. Had to go inside every time.
Christine

Hmm. Have other US citizens run into that, and if so, is there a way around that problem? I've driven in Canada on several occasions and don't remember credit cards not working. But it's been several years. Maybe I just don't remember.

 

[jcthorne]

I travel to Canada frequently on business. Calgary mostly but have never had a problem using my Penfed, BofA or Chase credit cards in Alberta. My cards have a chip in them as many US locations are using the chips now. Much more secure. Gas pumps will be using them soon here too and the whole zip code think will go away.

The tap and pay cell phone payment thing is still far to fragmented with too many incompatible payment systems to be universal. Will never take off until all but one fail. Until contactless payment is universal, it will never be useful. It cannot be counted on, just a novelty.

 

[billybovine]

Hmm. Have other US citizens run into that, and if so, is there a way around that problem? I've driven in Canada on several occasions and don't remember credit cards not working. But it's been several years. Maybe I just don't remember.

For Americans pay at the pump may be an issue. Canada like most of the world use chip and pin credit cards. In stores and restaurants the credit card machines still have the option the magnetic stripe. Maybe for a couple more years. So American credit cards can still be used there. Gas pumps on major highways and urban centers have gone to chip and pin to pay at the pump. No magnetic stripe reader anymore. It is my understanding from what I have read is that credit card issuers in the US are now issuing chip cards. If yours is then you need to talk to the issuer about setting up a pin number for it. With a chip card and a pin number you can pay at the gas pump in Canada just like the Canadians.

 

[spyderCodes]

Of course if you noticed a charge on your cc statement a charge you did not make I'm sure that you would feel the same.
Much ado over nothing.

 

[bcer960]

Thanks to all who posted.

I was told about, and tried the 3 numbers from my zip code, and adding the 2 (00's) after, never worked once.

What I don't get is, if i had stolen the card, yes I wouldn't know the postal code, but not once when I went inside did I ever have to prove it was mine. So, if I had stolen it, I could still have used it....... I never even signed anything.

Up here, as stated in other posts, everything is chipped. Stick your card in and use a pin, or just tap and go.

It was a small inconvenience, on a great trip.........

 

[PaladinLV]

You need a ZIP CODE in the US
Have never seen a pump ask for a POSTAL CODE
But then Im old and senile and don't really read what the pump says!

AJ

Hi all,
I have just returned from an 18 day 4000 mile run which included the Norcal rally. Had a great time, except for riding in and through the tornado in Salt lake City last thursday.

My question (rant) is this:
Why do i need a postal code to use a credit card at a gas pump in the US? I live in Canada, i don't have a postal code. i have a zip code. So, I put in my card, go through all kinds of screens only to have it say that I have to go inside and see the cashier.
Now here's the funny part.... i go inside, usually wait in line, have to guess at how much gas I need, slide my card in the machine....... and go out and put gas in the bike. No questions about postal codes. No pin numbers required. No ID shown, just a huge waste of time. And all for under $10 worth of gas.......

Thankfully only about 2/3 of all the gas stations asked for a zip code.

Ray

 

[dlby]

We call our card issuer when we are traveling very far.
They use zipcode authorization but also suddenly being 3 states away they will shut it down unless we inform them.
We like that and have not been hacked since.

I love R&R put another dime in the jukebox baby!

 

[murphybrown]

Experience same when

I RYDE in Canada. Never even considered getting my panties in a wad Not sure what you are going to do if and when someone can answer your questions.. It is what it is. Enjoy the adventure...:thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

If this is such an impediment to your enjoyment of the experience: why not just pay with cash? :dontknow:
I agree with Roger...

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

Hi all,
I have just returned from an 18 day 4000 mile run which included the Norcal rally. Had a great time, except for riding in and through the tornado in Salt lake City last thursday.

My question (rant) is this:
Why do i need a postal code to use a credit card at a gas pump in the US? I live in Canada, i don't have a postal code. i have a zip code. So, I put in my card, go through all kinds of screens only to have it say that I have to go inside and see the cashier.
Now here's the funny part.... i go inside, usually wait in line, have to guess at how much gas I need, slide my card in the machine....... and go out and put gas in the bike. No questions about postal codes. No pin numbers required. No ID shown, just a huge waste of time. And all for under $10 worth of gas.......

Thankfully only about 2/3 of all the gas stations asked for a zip code.

Ray

Huh, same way I felt when I was in Canada on my Nova Scotia trip. Every time I fueled I had to go inside and give them my card. I was told it was because I didn't have the chip in my card.
I feel your pain, I hated it, half of the time I would guess wrong on the amount I was going to get, you know the hole gallons to liters thing, and then have to go back inside to correct the charged amount.:banghead:

 

[Firefly]

the reason the stations ask for a ZIP CODE, is if your card were stolen, and the person tried to use it at a gas station, would they know your ZIP CODE? most likely "NO"... the card would be 'rejected' and rendered useless... this is a security factor, protecting us from those that do not believe in following the laws of the land...
speak with your credit card company and ask them what can be done to rectify this situation...
good luck, and keep us posted....
Dan P
SPYD3R

Not much of a security feature when you can simply walk into the gas station and use it without knowing the zip code or showing an ID......
But I'm sure it gives the illusion of security.

 

[billybovine]

I was told about, and tried the 3 numbers from my zip code, and adding the 2 (00's) after, never worked once.

Since I started using this formula. It has never failed to work. Don't know what to tell you.