Paying with a credit card is something we do every day. Hardly anyone uses cash anymore. In fact, during the pandemic, all businesses asked customers to pay by card to avoid contact, remember? That’s how we got used to paying with a card or our phone. Even for gas, right?
Well, wait, because swiping your card after filling up the tank has now become an extra cost!!! Gallon after gallon, many gas stations in Florida are adding a surcharge for paying by card!!! Almost a full dollar more per gallon of fuel!!
But is this legal? The fine print says yes, and state regulations… allow it. Here’s what’s going on.
Gas stations are taking advantage
Many users have complained about this “trap”, like Igo, the main character of this story, who noticed his total was a lot higher when paying by card. And worse, some gas stations were trying to hide the surcharge!
Even worse, in most states it is legal for businesses to impose a surcharge on those who pay by credit card, but the only requirement is that the business informs the customer beforehand that they will be charged more.
And this is where the “trick” is!
Gas stations are sticking to this rule strictly to take advantage of customers. Igo has a fleet of 12 trucks, and refuelling costs him nearly $3,000 a month.
He went to fill up one of his trucks when he noticed that the price on the pump wasn’t the same as the sale price. There was a sign with very small letters indicating that customers paying with a credit card had to pay $1 more per gallon.
Of course, he walked up to the window to ask the manager if it was a mistake. The manager told him the sign was intentionally placed by the gas station, and the worst part is that they have free rein to charge any extra amount they want! Long live the free market!!!
Impact on household budgets
A car with a 15-gallon tank that refuels weekly could end up spending up to $780 extra a year if paying with a card…
For commercial fleets, the bill shoots up to five-digit numbers!!!! And it’s not just a few stations using this practice. So yes, we are handing money over to gas stations, yes.
But is it legal?
Yes! It’s legal!!! And not only is it legal, but it’s widespread and accepted across the country. Is it fair? No, especially for those who work daily on the road, and even worse for low-income people who see more and more dollars vanish every time they fill up…
How to avoid overpaying
Before grabbing the nozzle, check the digital screen and the stickers near the card reader. If the price is different from the one on the outside sign, you’re facing a surcharge. Switch to cash or find another station.
- There are now apps that show both the “cash” and “card” rates and let you filter for the most convenient one. Even if it’s just a few cents less per gallon, it’s worth driving a couple extra miles.
- Some pumps also offer gas rebates, so you’ll have to choose wisely to avoid losing money.
- Another option is to look for stations that offer membership cards. The discounts aren’t huge, but they’ll help a bit.
So yes, when you go to fill up, pay close attention to the signs around the pump or make sure you have cash on hand, because this practice borders on false advertising and life is too expensive to be handing out free money to companies, right?
