DRIVERS are being caught out by a charge of up to £100 that could leave them with cash unavailable when filling up at the petrol pumps.
New checks are in place as several supermarkets that hold the cash while the transaction goes through.
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The pre-authorisation checks are in place at pay at pump services at petrol stations.
They are there to make sure customers have sufficient funds in their accounts to cover the cost of the petrol.
To use the pay at pump service you have to enter your card and PIN before filling up with fuel.
The pre-authorisation check ringfences cash to cover the cost.
Some Asda customers have been left confused by the charge, and Morrisons shoppers too.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s shoppers faced a similar surprise last year when the amount went up.
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Visa and Mastercard last year increased the holding fee to up to £100 last year
The charge was previously a low amount of around £1, meaning many never noticed it appearing on their account.
You don’t ever pay more – the money is held temporarily until the exact amount you fill up on is charged.
Usually this is straight away, but some drivers have found it takes longer and the cash shows as unavailable to spend.
One shopper caught out has warned others about the temporary charge after filling up with £30 of petrol.
Although she had enough money to cover the fuel stop, her account showed as -£20 in her overdraft.
How to avoid the £100 pay at pump charge
Shoppers wanting to avoid having the money marked as unavailable in their account are advised not to use pay at pump.
On its website Morrisons advises customers to pay inside the petrol station to avoid the £100 pre-authorisation charge.
It says: “If you do not wish to pay the pre authorisation amount processed, please pay at the kiosk inside the petrol station where no pre authorisation payment will be applied.”
Asda advises that anyone who encounters an issue with the pay at pump charge should contact the bank that issued the card.
Shoppers at the supermarket can also avoid the charge altogether by not using the pay at pump service and instead paying as usual at the petrol station till point.
Tesco says on its website that is trialling the charge at “selected locations” so drivers “may find this payment change happens at one petrol station but not at another”.
We’ve asked which locations and will update when we hear back.
Again, paying as normal at a till inside rather than at the pumps means you won’t be charged.
And at Sainsbury’s the charge is only in place at pay at pump services, so if you don’t use them you won’t be charged the pre-authorisation fee.
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