A Gas Gouging Heads up

[Limelight]

Watch this report and know how some folks are ripping you off when you use a credit/debit card at the pump. Always some son of a b*tch trying to rip you off.

:grr:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=8732718

[RB TexLa]

1. Many places have had separate cash and credit prices, nothing new.

I guess they just want to create outrage out of something that has been around a long time?

[Limelight]

3. Nothing new?

I've never seen it before and since when is is not fraud to do it an not tell people? But hey, if you don't mind being ripped off that's on you.

[RB TexLa]

6. It does tell you, when you choose your payment method, it displays the price

one price if you use the debit procedure, another if you use the credit procedure. They showed that in the video.

[Limelight]

8. It displays the price above the grade selecter...

One price before you put the card in and another after you enter it. Yeah, everyone is just completely stupid that they didn't notice the very subtle bait and switch. If they don't display it plainly it's fraud, pure and simple and I find it ridiculous that anyone would argue otherwise, but again...

You like being ripped off? That's on you.

[RB TexLa]

9. I look at the price when it displays it. We don't have to dumb everything down for the ignorant in

this country.

[Limelight]

13. It isn't dumbed to think...

That the price you saw at first wouldn't just suddenly change half a second later or that people wouldn't be allowed to advertise something at one price and then charge you another. To display one price and the second I've put my card in change the price WITHOUT ALERTING ME (which is what I take offense to) is fraud. It's a trick, a blatant attempt to rip people off because they don't display it anywhere else. Even in the report it was required that the 2 prices be posted clearly above the pump, not just on the grade selector. If people have the details and it's displayed clearly, no problem. But this bait and switch crap?

It's a cheap trick that is easy to miss. It doesn't make you ignorant that you didn't notice, but it does take an arrogant individual to assume that missing this fraud/bait and switch makes you unintelligent.

[Angela Shelley]

2. Welcome to America!

:-)

[JackintheGreen]

4. This used to be common

BUT it was disclosed! I still remember when "Same Price, Cash or Credit!" was used as a selling point at stations in Illinois.

I'm OK with stations who do it, but you gotta disclose. It's the damn law!

[Aviation Pro]

5. Clearly....

...you should use your bank's ATM machine before buying liquid gold. It takes a little discipline but it will save you about $100 - $200 dollars over the course of a year.

[AndyTiedye]

14. Most Stations Around Here Charge the Same for Credit

and my credit card gives me a rebate which is greater than what the "cash" stations would save me.

[Razoor]

7. not suprised one bit.

I am not suprised one bit

[mokawanis]

10. I stopped doing it

and only pay cash for gas now. Greed - it's the American way.

[Donnachaidh]

11. simple enough solution -- STOP using PLASTIC.

The stores are just taking the same road as the banks. People who use plastic are fair game for whatever charges stores or banks decide to drop on them.

We have a government that does NOTHING to protect the consumer from FRAUD. Paying for gas with plastic is just like wearing a great big -- *Hey - Rip me off!* sign.

[Dukkha]

12. It is illegal and they can be fined for it by Visa

and worse they can be denied their right to accept credit card payments for repeated violations.
It is also illegal for a merchant to invoke a minimum purchase policy. Every amount down to $0.01 has to be accepted.

[sharp_stick]

15. It's perfectly legal, at least in CT

AMEX and Discover are the worst of the offenders, charging per dollar rates that can bust a gas station, but all credit card companies do it. Now the owner of the station can tell you that if you come inside and pay, perhaps use his little ATM machine (that'll charge you $2.00) you can save a few cents a gallon. Probably worth going to your bank first if you're going to drop a hundred bucks on a tank.

Nothing illegal about it, I guess VISA can tell the guy he can't accept VISA anymore but I don't think you'll see that happen. Gas stations have been huge money makers for credit card companies and this won't change that much of it.

http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=8487956

[dysfunctional press]

19. it's not "illegal"...unless credit card companies are now the law of the land.

and they aren't.

[dysfunctional press]

16. you do know that merchants have to pay fees on cedit card purchases, right...?

and you do know that even though fuel prices are high- profit margins for station owners are extremely thin.

i have no problems with merchants who want to pass the credit card fees onto the people who use them.

[Dukkha]

17. It is the merchant's responsibility to pay the fee

Not the user! That is the cost to accept credit cards If their profit margin is too thin, though shit. They can stop accepting credit cards and experience the huge loss in an all plastic society.

[dysfunctional press]

18. that's not the law- that's the policy of the card issuers.

merchants could choose to pass the fee along to everyone by raising prices an extra 2%.

and some have started not to accept them.

before there is any kind of "huge loss in all plastic society" (whatever that means), the card companies will re-negotiate the terms on how the fees are assessed.