derek500

That's slightly different. You're using a self service pump where you're telling them how much you want to spend. The full amount is debited along with a credit if you were under.

The OP is using a debit card in a self service garage where they are telling you how much you can spend and a retention of that amount is put on your card, but not charged. The actual amount you spend is debited, and the retention balance is subsequently cleared.

I always use my CAM credit card when buying fuel in Spain or France to get the promotion points.

Im_and_Er

If you're worried about that then you'd best not hire a car as they usually block the security deposit which can be a hefty sum.

People have arrived on holiday only to find that the spending money they thought they had on a card has been 'reserved' and is therefore not available to them.

That could definitely spoil your day !

petew

The "holds" are on my account for 10 days, not 48 hours.

petew

But in the case of car hire you can see the justification for a block for the security deposit. In my case the transaction was finished once the fuel had been taken and the card had been debited. If I went back to the filling station, there is no way that I could take more fuel on that transaction. Maybe there is a reasonable justification for this but I haven't seen it yet.

petew

I have used my CAM debit card a lot in supermarkets etc in UK, France and Spain and never had this problem before. However this was the first time I have used it in an automated petrol pump. How long is the retention with Bankia?

Sue

Wow that is extreme. Did you ask the bank why the hold was for that long?

Im_and_Er

Some information on the pre-authorisation process here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_hold

Snopes has something to say about it too.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/gascharge.asp.

Mitzyboy

Yes, in the States you have to pre pay. Normally I have no idea how much so I have to say something like $50 and they debit your card. If then you only fill $30, they take your card back and credit it! It anoys me but if you argue they just tell you to fill up elsewhere! (And have a nice day)

petew

Yes but I couldn't get any sense out of the CAM/Sabadell call centre person I spoke to. I have emailed an official "reclamacion", maybe that will reveal more.......

petew

I forgot I had never closed this thread off. I got a letter from Sabadell/CAM informing me that my reclamacion had been assigned a reference number. Since then - silence - no email, nothing. I was hoping Sabadell would improve on CAMs customer services which were OK as long as you didn't actually want them to do anything.