So I spent last week in Orlando

Attempted to use my credit card (Visa) to purchase gas at the pump and the message appears

"PLEASE ENTER ZIP CODE"

Attendant explains that the zip code must match the billing address of the card used. I explain that in Canada we have Postal Codes with letters and numbers and he says that it won't work. He was willing to hold my card, activate the pump, and allow me to fill my tank.

I wasn't so lucky at several other gas stations, most won't override the pump and I must pre-pay with cash (which I don't ever carry anyway) and come back inside for my change. I had to go to a bank and pay a $12.00 service fee to take money out of my Canadian bank account.

Visa says "Sorry, just go inside the gas station and the attendent MUST manually swipe the card"

Good Luck, most refuse and are of no help at all.

Visa should use the PIN already built into their system instead of Zip Codes.

Posted by Nvr2loud So I spent last week in Orlando Attempted to use my credit card (Visa) to purchase gas at the pump and the message appears "PLEASE ENTER ZIP CODE" Attendant explains that the zip code must match the billing address of the card used. I explain that in Canada we have Postal Codes with letters and numbers and he says that it won't work. He was willing to hold my card, activate the pump, and allow me to fill my tank. I wasn't so lucky at several other gas stations, most won't override the pump and I must pre-pay with cash (which I don't ever carry anyway) and come back inside for my change. I had to go to a bank and pay a $12.00 service fee to take money out of my Canadian bank account. Visa says "Sorry, just go inside the gas station and the attendent MUST manually swipe the card" Good Luck, most refuse and are of no help at all. Visa should use the PIN already built into their system instead of Zip Codes.

Call Visa's 1-800 number, tell them what's going on and hand the phone to the teenager behind the counter. When the kid gets off the phone, say "I am going to pay <THIS> way, if not, you're shit outta luck."

I had a similar experience when my wife handed over her card, and the cashier checked the signature thingy. Instead of finding my wife's signature, she found written in bold red ink: Please confirm With photo ID.

No dice. She needed to see a signature.

Does this make sense? I can forge a signature onto a new card, and bobs-yer-uncle. I obviously can't forge the face of someone else onto my face, or to my photo ID.

I went into Ready-Aim-Fire mode and explained (to a teenaged cashier) what this all meant, how this worked, and that yes, YOU WILL accept this card...anyhoo I got Visa on the phone and they worked it out.

Just another day in the life of a Credit Card customer.

Just another ploy for the corporations to scam you out of service fees, international conversion currency exchange fees, interstate commerce fees, etc., etc., etc.

I HATE CC companies. They are leech's incarnate.

Posted by tunnelbug I HATE CC companies. They are leech's incarnate.

And that's why I don't have one.

Posted by tunnelbug Just another ploy for the corporations to scam you out of service fees, international conversion currency exchange fees, interstate commerce fees, etc., etc., etc. I HATE CC companies. They are leech's incarnate.

And dont forget to probably spam your ass straight to hell!

I have "ASK FOR PHOTO I.D." printed on the signature strip of every credit card I have. It is funny because I'm asked for ID for $5.00 purchases but I've made several thousand dollar purchases and they don't even look at the back of the card.

Oh yeah, it is hard to phone a credit card company from a gas station if they won't let you use their phone.

The exhange rate from Cdn to USD on my Visa is so slightly higher then the bank that it actually saves me money to use the card. I'll explain, if I guess how much money I'll need and take it out in cash, I pay the exchange rate and have my money. When the trip is over, I sell the USD back to the bank at a reduced rate then what it was purchased at, so I lose money. I never have to return 'money' unused if I only use my CC. The slightly higher percentage is offset by the points anyway, I use those points to purchase RRSP vouchers.

Posted by Nvr2loud Oh yeah, it is hard to phone a credit card company from a gas station if they won't let you use their phone.

"Well...we're going to have to arrive at some kind of compromise. This is a valid credit card and I'm using it to pay for a legal purchase. This is the only way I have to finalize this sale. May I use your phone?"

"No."

"Well...we're going to have to arrive at some kind of compromise. This is a valid credit card and I'm using it to pay for a legal purchase. This is the only way I have to finalize this sale. May I use your phone?"

"No."

"Well...we're going to have to arrive at some kind of compromise. This is a valid credit card and I'm using it to pay for a legal purchase. This is the only way I have to finalize this sale. May I use your phone?"

Sooner or later, the clerk will click in to what you're getting at. It might take a while, but perseverance will win the day.

Theres a gas station near me that always has the lowest prices around and he only takes cash to avoid irresponsible credit card toting american women. IMO, that's the way they all should be...

Posted by Sinister Crayon Theres a gas station near me that always has the lowest prices around and he only takes cash to avoid irresponsible credit card toting american women. IMO, that's the way they all should be...

...so in other words, he's a misogynist pig?

Posted by KublaKhan ...so in other words, he's a misogynist pig?

He knows how to run a business.

The women part was just narrowing it down. But yeah, I used to work in restaurant and people would walk in order, hand me a credit card to pay. I'd run it through and the card would be maxed out or inactivated so I'd give it back. Then the person would just pull out a wallet with about six or seven other cards and have me try those until I found one I could charge. Fucking annoying and fucking sad. What could you possibly need that maxes out 5 or 6 credit cards every month?

I don't have a problem with a business that dosen't accept credit cards, I have a problem with a business that dosen't accept MY VISA when they will accept everyone's visa along with a valid ZIP Code. Either you accept the card from everyone or don't accept the card from anyone. This is Visa's problem and they have failed to deal with it, therefore I will cancel my Visa and they have lost a customer.

The problem with demanding the phone is that I have not put any gas into my car yet, they just tell me to pay first or get lost. I don't exactly wish to spend my hard earned money there after that anyway. I'm pissed because I have to try several different gas stations until I've found one that works.

Posted by Nvr2loud I have "ASK FOR PHOTO I.D." printed on the signature strip of every credit card I have.

Me too. No signature, just "Check I.D." And they rarely do.

To make it more of a fun game for myself, I never sign my name on the receipt either. I usually sign with one of these:

Evil Guy
Evil Dude
Jesus
Bat Man

And I have never been questioned.

On one of my credit cards, I have "Check ID or I'll punch your face". I've seen someone look at it, read it, and still not ask my ID. Most of the time they look at it, laugh, and ask me.

I like signing the receipts "Fuck you" and "Check ID" when they don't ask for mine.

I like it when I'm at a drive-thru window, they don't ask for my ID and so I just draw either a line or a circle in the signature area.

Most people don't understand the "ASK FOR PHOTO ID" request, they are baffled by my explantion. Some don't even look at my picture on the ID, they just look for the signature to compare to what I've signed on the receipt..... which is never the same anyway LOL.

Posted by SaraBellum On one of my credit cards, I have "Check ID or I'll punch your face". I've seen someone look at it, read it, and still not ask my ID. Most of the time they look at it, laugh, and ask me. I like signing the receipts "Fuck you" and "Check ID" when they don't ask for mine.

...yer killin me.