Well, I suppose if you're going to DRINK it...

[CarcinogenCrunchies]

Guy comes in tonight to buy a bottle of soda and some gas. He runs his EBT card, then asks why he still owes $40-something.

CW: You used an EBT card.
SC: Yeah, the pump said I can use debit.
CW: Do you have a debit card?
SC: Yeah, this one. (holds up EBT card)
CW: That's a food stamp card. It will only pay for food.
SC: But right on the pump there's a little card that says debit. Somebody told me this would work.
CW: That isn't a debit card. If you have a debit card, you can use it.
SC: Well, I wouldn't have filled up if I knew I couldn't use this.
CW: So how do you want to pay?
SC: I don't get my check until Monday. It said on the pump I could use debit.
Me: (thinking) You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

CW ended up running it as a drive-off, took the guy's info and told him we'd see him Monday. If we don't, I guess the cops will.

[Anakah]

I never understood why gas pumps work before you pay. Out here you have to pay first before it even turns on.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I never understood why gas pumps work before you pay. Out here you have to pay first before it even turns on.

Likewise. Last Pump Then Pay I saw was YEARS ago on a vacation. Somewhere in rural Arizona, I think. Maybe it was Utah...

Just seems impractical.

[Gibbo]

I wish we had some sort of pre-pay system where you pay first at the till before you fill up. There has been a lot of resistance in England towards paying at the pump. One of our major supermarkets started doing that with their petrol stations which caused uproar, as people complained about not having a choice.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

We have pay-before-pump here in BC now... all it took was a guy to get dragged to death after trying to stop a gas'n'go...



I hope that the rest of the world adopts this before anyone else gets hurt or killed.

[CarcinogenCrunchies]

We have the ability to do prepays, but it's rare enough that I get confused when someone comes up and says, "$10 on pump 5," and the screen shows nothing for that pump.

The real fun starts when, after I authorize a prepay, the person hasn't actually pulled their car up to the pump and another car gets there first. Then the person getting gas complains that they were shut off after $10, and the pre-payor complains that someone stole their pump.

[cinema guy]

One of our major supermarkets started doing that with their petrol stations which caused uproar, as people complained about not having a choice.

My local M......... has that option on some pumps and I love it. But bizarrely they only put on half their pumps. Plus you can just press the button and go in to the kiosk to pay.

[LillFilly]

A good many of the places around me have a pay inside after pumping policy; but then, these places also have LOTS of cameras

[EricKei]

The real fun starts when, after I authorize a prepay, the person hasn't actually pulled their car up to the pump and another car gets there first. Then the person getting gas complains that they were shut off after $10, and the pre-payor complains that someone stole their pump.

What kind of idiot would park their car and turn it off, come inside to pay, and THEN pull up to a pump...?

Never mind...I just realized that I'd really rather now know...

[chainedbarista]

i haven't seen a pump then pay for a long time; i'm surprised that any location still has them.

as for the ebt moron, he needs to see his counselor (or whatever the term is for those who teach the users) about just what that card can be used for.

i don't have one and i have a fair idea of how it's supposed to be used, thanks to everyone here.

ebt moron also needs

[elsporko]

Here in Upper Michigan I can only think of one place that makes you pay before you pump. Prepay is really inconveniant since I don't know how much it will take to fill my tank.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I never understood why gas pumps work before you pay. Out here you have to pay first before it even turns on.

I think it depends on the area. In my area, all the pumps are pre-pay (even the ones that don't take the debit/credit cards.)

And if your card is rejected, you have to either pay inside or you can push your car home.

[Rine]

When gas gets expensive around here, the stations set their pumps to prepay. Right now, a lot of stations let you pump then pay. I always either pay with a credit at the pump or go in first and pay cash.

Though sometimes I guess prepaying at the pump confuses attendants.

Once I got accused of a drive off a couple years ago. I paid at the pump with my credit card and left. They got my license plate and the cops came to my house. I had the receipt proving I paid. I was so steamed that they accused me of being a thief! They did give me my next fill up for free and a free fountain soda, though.

What's a EBT card exactly? Just for food stamps? I thought that was all done with paper checks and stuff...?

[Evil Queen]

I wish we had some sort of pre-pay system where you pay first at the till before you fill up. There has been a lot of resistance in England towards paying at the pump. One of our major supermarkets started doing that with their petrol stations which caused uproar, as people complained about not having a choice.

You can. Just hand your drivers license over, tell them what pump you're on, pump your gas and then go in, stock up on goodies and then pay.

Okay, so not prepay but as close as you can get.

What's a EBT card exactly? Just for food stamps? I thought that was all done with paper checks and stuff...?

EBT cards is the new system of Food Stamps. It's put on a reloadable debit card now. That way you can use the card and not be "embarrassed" for being on food stamps.

That's the excuse anyways.

[BookstoreEscapee]

EBT cards is the new system of Food Stamps. It's put on a reloadable debit card now. That way you can use the card and not be "embarrassed" for being on food stamps.

That's the excuse anyways.

Electronic Benefit Transfer...I imagine it's easier and cheaper than sending out checks or coupons or whatever.

Every time there's a gas thread it makes me glad I live in NJ...