Random Notes from Southern California (3 of several)

Went the other day to put some gasoline in the BMW 135i Convertible BMW USA has arranged for me to test while I'm down here.

As some travellers to the US may have noticed, some American gas pumps now require you to key in your 'zip' code when paying at the pump.

I was going to use 90210, the only American zip code I know. But my friend down here in Palm Desert told me it has to match the billing address on your card.

He also said that if you key in the three numbers of your Canadian postal code, followed by two zeros (so, M5E 1E6, for example, would be entered as 51600) it usually works.

Pulled into an ARCO station just off Interstate I-10 near Palm Springs. There was no card swiping thingee on the pump; had to go over to a separate kiosk on the island.

No worries.

Swiped the card. Entered the 'postal code' as above.

Card rejected.

Tried again.

Card rejected.

Crawford tried his card.

Card rejected.

Hey - Canadian money is worth a lot down here now! What's up?

I went into the store to inquire. The lady said, 'We only accept debit cards."

WHAT? A gas station that doesn't accept credit cards?

Who ever heard of such a thing?

Debit cards of course make no sense whatsoever. Why use YOUR credit when VISA will let you use theirs for free?

Assuming of course you pay your balance off every month. And why wouldn't you? You CAN afford the things you buy, can't you?

I know credit card fraud and 'drive-aways' at self-serves are fairly big issues down here.

And I guess debit cards take the money out of your account BEFORE you fill up, so they got you without having to worry if you DO have money, or whether you WILL pay off your credit balance - eventually.

But a gas station that doesn't accept credit cards?

Come on!

Sometimes down here it feels like you're in a different country...

 

Comments

[Crash Corrigan]

I've had that happen to me several times in the US and it drives me crazy Jim! Mind you, it's not as bad as when you want to pay cash and they ask "how much fuel do you want"...How do I know, I simply want to fill the tank up until it can't take anymore! So I have to walk in, hand over a pile of cash, and then go back in again to retrieve what I didn't use. Come on now, have a little faith, you do after all have my face and license plate on candid camera!

[Brian]

A gas attendant reminded me about the postal code trick and I tried it at a BP in North Carolina and it worked. She did tell me though that it works less often as you go further south.

[Brian]

So I confirmed it works, twice. At a BP in NC and a Texaco in FL.