Citgo Shiv Mart Gas station charged my debit card $26 and I didn't even pump any gas Hickory, North Carolina
I fist visited this store on June 7th, 2012 to get gas. I got out and swiped my card, but then decided I did not want to get gas here so I pressed cancel numerous times and went on my way to another gas station down the road. 2 days later I looked at my online banking and it showed a point of authorization from citgo on the 7th. I purchased no gas from here and cancelled my card out but it carged me $26.
I went into the store today (June 10, 2012) and talked to the manager, yet he did not speak much english (go figure). He said it didn't and shouldn't charge me and there was nothing he could do. I showed him paperwork and a printed copy of the transaction from my bank.
The clerk then came out and said that there is a problem with debit and that it does not work, only credit works, which I think he was bluffing because it did not state anything about that on the pumps.
I will never go back to a Citgo gas station or any other gas stations partnered with citgo.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Golden Meadow,United States of America
Ashlee
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, June 11, 2012
Notice Team Rebutt has a new bully, will you report me???
Ashley
springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Actual charge
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, June 11, 2012
Have you ACTUALLY been charged or is it a PENDING transaction? Often when you use debit cards at gas pumps they will charge an arbitrary amount at first, then reverse that arbitrary amount and charge the actual amount at a later date. Since its only been 1 buisness day since you were in, its likely that its a pending transaction. Have you contacted your bank to look in to the charge yet? If the charge is real, and they really did take the money, then you need to work your way up the citgo corporate ladder. Dont waste your time at the store level.
TWSM
Southold,New York,
USA
Youre jumping the gun
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, June 11, 2012
When you swiped your card at the gas station your card was authorized for their average sale -- $26 in this case. When you finish pumping the gas the credit card authorization would be changed to the final amount -- this is how gas stations run credit and debit cards. Authorization provides the gas station with the assurance your card is going to work. It is no good finding out after you pumped in the gas that your card would not be accepted. The act of swiping gave them permission to authorize your card.
You call it an authorization in your complaint, you can see it is just a pending charge. The time to get upset is if the charge actually charges out, which I doubt it will. Authorizations usually expire in 2-3 business days.
The authorization/collection system works fine for the gas station because frankly, no one swipes their card and then decides to go to another gas station. You might want to put it in the back of your mind, the time to decide on gas stations is before you swipe your card. Most people decide before they even enter the station.