Canadians now able to pay with credit card at U.S. gas pumps
Travelling to the US this summer? You'll be happy to hear that gas prices are still about 20% less than we’re paying here. Unfortunately, you may need stacks of cash to buy it.
Billed as an effort to combat card fraud, more and more ‘Zip Code-required’ gas pumps have been popping up along U.S. highways.
The ZIP-code pump creates hassles for Canadians as it doesn't recognize Canadian postal codes, which include letters as well as numbers. As a result, drivers have to prepay (on-the-spot refunds if you guess wrong aren't attendants' top priority) or leave a credit card inside before filling up.
But help is at hand, at least in many states.
When prompted, Canadians can now enter the three numbers in their postal code, and two zeroes. So, if your postal code is A2B 3C4, you enter 23400 and roll on out.
While Canadian debit cards are another alternative, you’ll likely pay a couple of bucks for each fill up. As a result, you may want to consider getting a US debit card and maintaining a minimum balance if you plan on staying awhile, suggests Dave Hunter, author of several popular snowbird guides.
Click here to download a one page summary about fighting back or here and here for suggestions and tested ways to "work-around" this problem.
Have you had pay-at-the-pump hassles when travelling to the US? What's your solution?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Ray Rose | Jul 31, 2021 11:03:53 AM
I have a US mailing address and I use their company's zip code. You can also look up Costco or Wal-Mart on the net and use that zip code.
Posted by: John | Aug 1, 2021 8:28:42 PM
I have always been able to do this. What was the issue????????????????