Fuel in France

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Sorry, obviously posting at the same time as you Deleted User User.

What is a bit bizarre, is that the amount of fuel you are authorized to take has increased as the price per litre has gone down, and there are fewer caisses manned theses days.

I agree, 149 euros seems a lot, but then the Toyota Hilux apparently has a 150 litre tank!  I suspect that the maximum amount has always been the same, but as fuel prices have gone down this amount of fuel is way beyond the average tankful.  It will be the same amount for SP95 or Premium fuels which are more expensive and therefore you get less litres for your euro.

Where was the Intermarche, Triky?

Write your comments here...Off at junction 31 for Wimereaux on the A16,towards the "Napoleon Column",left at the dual carriageway and at the top of the hill on right .Use it every time , !!.

Thanks, Triky.....

In 2014, I had no problems using my FairFx card at petrol stations - but I only used 'manned' petrol stations- not the automatic pay at the pump type.

David 

As a fairly regular visitor to France, I am puzzled by this talk of "Authorised amount". I assumed it was the equivalent of the "Maximum Spend" amount shown on British Self Service Pumps. We visit Europe so frequently that we have a French Euro account, with Euro denominated Debit Card. We use this Debit card for all fuel purchases at both manned and unmanned service stations. I have never noticed any "authorised amount" being "held" pending the transaction(s) clearing.

In nine years of using the Euro Debit card, I have, twice, been asked, at a manned station, to swipe the card and enter PIN in the "office" BEFORE drawing fuel. This happened once in France (Narbonne), and once in Spain (Benicassim). In both instances, I queried with the Cashier why I was being asked to do this. In Narbonne, I was told that since the economic woes of 2008, the instances of cards being declined after fuel had been drawn had increased significantly and the cashier did not enjoy listening to the sob stories. In Spain (Benicassim), I was told it was because I was riding a motorcycle, and they had frequent problems with motorcyclists "doing a runner"! 

 

At intermarche at Beaune, the unmanned pump authorized 149 euros worth of fuel and we drew 40, which meant 109 euros unavailable on our account until the purchase cleared. 

That's the bit I don't understand. What type of card were you using please? 

 

 

At intermarche at Beaune, the unmanned pump authorized 149 euros worth of fuel and we drew 40, which meant 109 euros unavailable on our account until the purchase cleared. 

That's the bit I don't understand. What type of card were you using please? 

 

We use a UK debit card from a major bank which is fee free in the EU ( It's no longer available to new customers).

We first came across the 'overhang' as we call it when had cause to check our bank balance on line. The 'amount available' was nearly £300 less than the balance. We had in the previous few days topped up our diesel before stopping each night.

We phoned our bank and they had a look and found the authorized payments which appear as 'payments pending' until cancelled by the supermarket. This happens within a few days when the actual amount for the fuel you purchased is debited. 

The pre-payment for fuel, or the presentation of ID, at some service staions on the motorways of Spain should not be confused with the process we've described.

P.s. The pending payments are not visible to you, the customer, only the bank can see them. The effect we're describing only applies to 'pay at the pump' deliveries. i.e. 24/7 pumps.