Member Offer: My Esso Card

We have had our Esso card for about 3 weeks and to be honest it is not worth the hassle to save a couple of pence.  It can take over a week for the amount to be debited from the debit card linked to the account. 

We are still waiting for fuel bought last week on Wednesday to be debited from our current account.  It is not even a pending debit.  Unfortunately it was a large amount so every day I have to check the balance in our current account as we prefer to keep a minimal amount of cash in the account as a few years ago we had a card cloned and the account drained.

As for using it overseas on the continent as it is linked to a debit card, there is a good possibility you may incur transaction charges on the debit card.  If the card was linked to a CC then we would have no issue.

A good idea but poorly managed by the fuel company issuing the cards so more than likely we will be cancelling our card as it is too much hassle to use just to save £3 on a tank of fuel!

As many people have alread pointed out, the uptake on this offer has far exceeded the level of demand that was expected.  I wonder how this will affect how generous the discount will actually be in future.

My reasoning is that the sales through the card are a sort of "base load" to give a continual steady sale of products to make the running of the whole import/refining/distribution system financially viable. If the "base load" was not there then the more profitable retail sales would have to be made at a much higher price to cover the overheads.

For fleet owners it is possible to give added value in terms of all sorts of analysis to keep them using that brand while the price creeps up, but really none of that will be of use to individual purchasers.

It would be nice if the card ordered on 23 November would actually arrive so that I can take advantage of the offer. I have the PIN and get the prices but can't use the card I don't have.

Shambles!

Also, if I don't get it soon, I will have even less chance, ie none compared to more or less none, of winning the free fuel draw at the end of the month. 

by using Esso and other leading petrol dealers you could save your engine or big repair bills. supermarket fuel is like  orange juice to Esso  so much different 

Not if you take notice of one of our regular posters who works in a refinery,,or look at all the fuel companies tankers(including the supermarket tankers filling up from the same distribution depot

As this card is used by compays they ask for your registration, just say its not required.

Here’s an interesting tale. 

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/your-stories/capntomo/esso-card/

Shame it’s in Stories rather than this thread as it introduces another issue people should be aware of. 

Caveat Emptor springs to mind ……………………..

I agree Husky but unless you're in business VAT is part of the price on the ticket or in this case the pump, Joe Public cannot reclaim it. Unless VAT is mentioned in the offer it probably wouldn't occur to most that it wouldn't be included - this saving to them would be on the pump price on the board or pump.

Considering the price we pay for fuel is heavy on tax, I presume the margins are tight and rely on volume sales??? Thus 5 - 8p a litre is huge and Rowena quotes over £5 a tank, so although I didn't explore the offer myself VAT flashed through my mind.

Has anyone else had the issue? I was intrigued by an invoice being quoted? I'd assumed the amount would be deducted from your debit card otherwise the work involved in issuing invoices would be astonishing!

Although our esso card has yet to arrive,if it does i think it will go in the bin if the price is plu vat