gas rationing?

[forgotten_aria]

I went to the McGrath Hess next to the stop and shop. I paid with a credit card, started pumping, but the pump stopped before my tank was full and it said "fuel limit exceeded."

Now it stopped at $50, but I think that's just because that's what their pumps already do. I'm going to bet it's not because of a fuel shortage, but rather to limit the amount of fuel they sell until the price stablizes, since it's been going up so fast.

Anyone else have any expriences like this?

EDIT: thank you for cluing me in on the credit card limit. I thought I'd bought more than $50 before, but I guess I just came close.

Comments

[dilletante.livejournal.com]

i think the $50 limit is a standard, all-the-time one. i first encountered it a few years go when filling up the rv we'd rented for burning man, when prices had just started to climb above $2.

[jered]

I believe that is a limit imposed by your credit card company, although it may be the gas station.

Basically, when you swipe your card, they get authorization from the vendor for $50. When you hit $50, you need to swipe again so they can get authorization for more.

[aerynne.livejournal.com]

The limit on credit card gas purchases is usually around $50, to minimize theft/fraud, since you don't sign for it. You can swipe your card again to get another $50 worth.

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

usually my card will not let me swipe again :( Either that or the gas pump will not let me swipe it again. It says "You are LYIN'! You only need $50 of gas! We knows it!"

Silly people don't seem to realize my Cadillac has a 24 gallon tank :)

[ocschwar.livejournal.com]

CC transaction limit imposed by the fuel companies. Nothing personal.

Too many chargebacks.

[gmpe.livejournal.com]

I have charged more than $50. My father-in-law ran into this. I am pretty sure it is the station imposing the limit. His station had gas ten cents cheaper than elsewhere, and there was a huge line.