Okay I'm writing this up on EVERY forum that I am a member so that everyone can be aware of what Shell is doing when you purchase from their pumps with your credit/debit card and hopefully you won't get the same problem I have had to deal with!



Here's the situation: My girlfriend used my Discover card to get gas this past Sunday (6/18/06) and got $39.19 worth. Now since then I went to purchase a FPR for $120 on Monday.. this is where ALL hell breaks loose. My credit balance on my card is $0!!! I knew I had over $380 in the account so I am alittle curious. Call up my CC and they say that a hold on the last purchase was the remainder of my credit line on the card. I ask is this something normally done? They say typically its $1(Gate) or $5(Chevron) or $100(Shell) per purchase, but over $300 is unheard of. So I call Shells corporate office and raise all hell asking whats going on and why is this happening. I get the basic run around until I raise even further hell and get transferred to the manager (who I was told was out on lunch). Manager says they can't release the money without written proof yada yada yada. I call Discover they say they can't release without my permission which I do give them. Shell sits on their *** about it so I have to call over AGAIN! 2 days have gone by since this time.. its now TUESDAY! Since I have been able to use my card which I need to use for daily functions(lunch, etc). Get on 3 way call between Discover and Shell, both of them duking it out over the phone while I sit back on speakerphone listening to all the legal B.S. that their throwing at themselves like two crazed divorce lawyers.



After spending 20 minutes of listening to this they finally start making some headway and finally reach a somewhat mutual agreement. I have now so far $200 back on my credit line.. awaiting the rest to be put back after midnight tonight.. if not I am going to raise all hell again and this time it will not be pretty.



So basically I am warning you all!! Don't USE SHELL!!! and if you do.. DON'T USE YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT cards @ the damn pump!!!!



I for one will not be using their products anytime in the near future.. I'm going to pull the fleet accounts that my fathers business has with them and switch over to Gate or Chevron... I would recommend you boycott them and save yourself the hassle and annoyance that they are!

 

Other than shell having some of the best most preditable octane levels. Sorry they are all I use to keep my engine safe.

 

thanks for the heads up man, i always use my debit card for gas so thanks alot!

btw i like ur sig about subie lols(sry off topic)

 

I'm quite confused by your post.

1. What is a FPR? sorry for being ignorant
2. Maybe this was just worded badly but I don't understand what you were trying to convey, "Call up my CC and they say that a hold on the last purchase was the remainder of my credit line on the card."
3. What is this? "They say typically its $1(Gate) or $5(Chevron) or $100(Shell) per purchase, but over $300 is unheard of." Are you telling me when you use a credit card at chevron they charge you an additional 5 bucks on to what you pay at the pump?

 

i actually shell isn't the best. some s2k guys had trouble with shell and a lot switched over to chevron. yeah it may not be the best gas for performance but i heard it increases the longevity of the car.

 

actually nut, 76 is a lot better for your car than shell!

 

That is why I have a shell card. If they want to hold money from me its their own.

 

Almost all of the gas stations I know of do put the pre auth on the card. Most are either $50 or $75.00. Sunco I think is up to $100. Was it a truck stop station by chance? A rig can take $300. easily and that would make since why it is such a high pre auth amount. On the flipside when I drove my motor home from Ohio to Florida I found it to be a pain with the pre auth amount being only $50 or $75 as they shut off the pump when you hit the amount and you have to start over.

 

If you guys can show me some evidence, I'd gladly switch. Shell is expensive.

 

i think shell gas is crap anyways, never put the stuff in any of my cars. my dad swears by shell and his cars are always the ones with problems.

 

Thanks a bunch for the heads up, I also like shell gas, but I think I will start paying in cash from now on to prevent this kind of thing from happening. I watch my account pretty close and I have never seen anything like this, but that dosen't mean it can't happen in the future. by the way great sig! (sorry also off topic.)

 

This must just be you. I always use my debit card for Shell (only gas I ever buy) and only $1 is held for payment until approx. 3-5 business days then the final amount will post. This has always been the case and I've been buying Shell gas for 2 years since I live right next to a Shell station.

 

BP is considered very clean by industry standards. I use either that or Shell.

 

shell was crappy with my evo. didnt run as well and didnt get as good milage. i used only BP in my evo and it ran very well every time. while i am not as picky with my bike, it still takes 93 and ill go to BP first if there is one.

 

basically, when you use a debit card (which is esentially writing a check to the gas station) they withdraw additional funds to ensure that the ballance is covered. After the amount sold is transfered over to them from your bank account, they will refund the difference.