Visa is making it easier for you to keep an eye on your finances when you use a self-service pump to fill your vehicle with petrol.
Working with retailers and our payments partners, we are improving the experience at petrol forecourts across the UK. Our innovative payments solution means you can make a quick pit stop to fill up your vehicle without entering the shop and keep control of your budget at the same time.
In the past, when you used an automated pump to purchase petrol, the exact cost of the petrol you had purchased would only show up against your bank balance one or two days after you had filled up. This could make it hard to track your daily spending and may have prevented you making a purchase if the cost of the petrol suddenly hit your account. At worst, you ran the risk of an unintended overdraft.
We have changed all that.
With our new payment system, the pump sends a funds-check, or approval request, to your bank before you begin filling your tank, which could be up to £100 (although some petrol retailers may request a lower amount). This is to check that you have sufficient funds in your account to cover the cost of your fuel.
As soon as you’ve finished filling up, the petrol pump will immediately notify your bank of the actual value of the petrol you’ve purchased. That means your bank is able to update your balance, giving you greater control of your budget.
If your account balance is below £100, for example £50, your bank may pass back a message to the pump that it can dispense up to that amount of fuel. The pump will automatically cut out once you have reached the approved amount (or before if you choose to dispense less). This is called ‘partial authorisation’ and ensures you can get the fuel you need.
If you chose to purchase less fuel than has been approved through the ‘partial authorisation’ – e.g. £25 rather than the full £50 – then this lower amount will be the value communicated to your bank once you finish filling up.
You can buy fuel with your Visa card at automated pumps across the UK. In fact, if you’re filling up at some supermarket service stations, you might find that all pumps are automated.
Our solution makes it easier for you to keep control of your finances when you pay for your petrol at the pump, however if an issue does arise, you should contact the bank that issued your card, where they should be able to assist.
