Useing cards to buy fuel.

[Harry the B.]

Hi, Was wondering how everyone gets on with buying fuel with useing cards abroad, Off to France next month and was going to use a credit card for the fuel etc, is this the best way or will i get hit with transaction charges everytime i fuel up.
Thanks Dave.

 

[Artemis]

Get yourself an Abbey (Santander) Zero card. No charges for cash withdrawals or foreign transactions.

 

[ericonblackbird]

I always use cash since not all stations accept plastic (certainly out in the sticks where I go). Even the large stations sometimes refuse cards that should work.
24 hour stations normally work on card activated machines out of hours and again can be slightly dubious of Brit cards.
Oh and don't forget the French love their lunch 'hour' (often 12-2pm) and petrol stations (including those attached to supermarkets) close.

I draw cash from any local bank on my debit card (one transaction cost) and then use that for fuel.

Enjoy the trip, riding is still good in France just beware of the cameras and diesel on the way out of the ports!

 

[stormer]

And unless you are on a Mway most stations (and everything else) are shut on Sundays.......brok3.......shops...bars....brothels......:yo: churches are open:violin:

 

[TANK0700]

Hi, Was wondering how everyone gets on with buying fuel with useing cards abroad, Off to France next month and was going to use a credit card for the fuel etc, is this the best way or will i get hit with transaction charges everytime i fuel up.
Thanks Dave.

unless its a French credit card you will not be able to use it in the 24 hour stations, if you use your card you will be charged £1 i was with Lloyds, but heyho shit happens. plan your stops i never leave 1/4 in the tank i fill up as soon as i see a fuel stop. BTW when you going

 

[Harry the B.]

Thanks for the info, Will try the card but make sure i have the euro's as a back up. Was over there a couple of years ago on the bike and managed to get petrol on a sunday only by useing a mates card at a unmanned station. Off on the 7th July Poole-St Malo ret 15th Cherbourg-Poole.
H.

 

[Spikeywan]

unless its a French credit card you will not be able to use it in the 24 hour stations

Well the automatic unmanned machines took UK credit cards last time I went to France in 2008. :dunno:

 

[adam81]

Yeah last year I went down the west coast and more of the stations were taking my English card than previously. When I got back up towards the Ferrys though I got caught out and had to wait around till a French guy came with his card and I gave him the cash to fill my bike up.

 

[Spikeywan]

Maybe only chip and pin cards work? But then they're all like that now, aren't they?

Perhaps it's UK debit cards that don't work?

 

[adam81]

It is defintley station specfiic. I always travel with 5 cards. 3 credit cards and 2 debit cards. All chip and pin. 3 different bank issuers.

I always try all 5 cards before giving up and moving on. But some stations seem to accept any of them, although I can't confirm this as I stop at the first succesful attempt obviously.

 

[OldBirdMan]

It is defintley station specfiic. I always travel with 5 cards. 3 credit cards and 2 debit cards. All chip and pin. 3 different bank issuers.

I always try all 5 cards before giving up and moving on. But some stations seem to accept any of them, although I can't confirm this as I stop at the first succesful attempt obviously.

Seems to be the case, I found "big name" petrol stations more likely to accept the cards than supermarket ones, only the automatic pumps as everywhere would accept the card in a normal card machine.

Regards,
OldBirdMan

 

[TANK0700]

I think the upshot of the past couple of posts is, be prepared for your card not to work, my debit card works on the toll roads and the main routes, but once off the main roads with just you and a fuel pump that only takes cards, as every man and his dog has disappeared for lunch can be quite worrying. I never let my fuel get below ? of a tank , if i see a fuel stop i pull in just to make sure.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

Nationwide gold credit card is another good one to take abroad. Free exchange as such, not sure about withdrawels, I always take wad of cash and use the card for fuel. (In fact it was cheaper to use the card than the exchange rate was for cash when I went in April)

The last 2-3 years I have had very little trouble, even on a sunday, getting fuel. Finding a station is usually the main problem, but that is one way that sat navs can actually be usefull IMHO.

Even supermarket stations nearly always have a pair of card only pumps these days, and with there one at a time at the exit tills, they are way quicker as a rule as well.

 

[mickeystitch]

To be honest, I have a place down near Limoges and found this such a problem I got myself a French bank Account it saves all the hassle and was really easy to get, all you have to do is go into local bank anywhere and say you are thinking of buying in the area and there you go sir thank you very muchly, keep a few euros in there for when ever I am travelling and buying petrol, it saves the worry of being stranded as everywhere takes french cards, your normal cards will work a lot of places especially the motorway stops but then the fuel is up to 20 cents dearer per litre

 

[karlos2000]

I travel a fair bit with this in mind, so I make sure I'm covered, in a few lines ......

A Credit card with NO fees for any Euro transactions = The Post Office Credit Card, underwritten by the Bank of Ireland. Top drawer customer care and no hassle, I use them a fair bit now (Euro zone).

Credit Card with FREE anti fraud cover, cash back, and "day exchange rate" with no transaction fees = Capital One, I use them in the USA. They are really hot on anti fraud. This card has worked in every hole in the wall on every continent (except the Polar caps, I ain't been to them 8ree!)

Best bank account with 24/7 concierge service overseas with Visa card etc = Nat West Private Banking, but that isn't cheap, the annual service charges arebrok3, but the perks are worthwhile.

 

[bonoeuf]

credit card

I use the santander zero card and it works in most fuel places. I do carry cash just in case as I have been caught out.
Marty

 

[Harry the B.]

There was a report on these cards in one of the papers the other day, todo with people going to South africa for the world cup and this one (Travelex) got recccommended. Seems like there's no fee's.
H.
http://www.compare-prepaid-cards.co.uk/prepaid-visa-card.html

 

[Nige J]

Well the automatic unmanned machines took UK credit cards last time I went to France in 2008. :dunno:

I managed to use mine OK too (HSBC debit and credit cards)

However, your card may be rejected if you have not advised the card issuer that you're travelling abroad

 

[scubashark]

never had a problem in france with credit/debit cards (even filled up near limoge airport at an auto pump on a sunday) ...

however you may want to note if your going to italy .... they still have a considerable number of "non chip" machines which will not recognise a chip n pin card .... i got caught on rome railway station so its not just in the wilds ....