Consumerist
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mastercard
Citi Mysteriously Closes Scads Of Mastercard Accounts Nationwide
Without warning, Citi decided to close a swath of gas-station co-branded Mastercard accounts nationwide. The trouble seems to have started October 15. Quan was one of the affected customers and the credit card company was pretty disingenuous about it when called. More » -
insulting
Gas Station Writes "Big Fat Black Lady" On Customer's Receipt
The gas station clerk needed some way to identify a customer who was returning after being shorted $10 at the gas pump. Before scrawling "Black Lady - Big - Fat" on her receipt, however, he probably should have realized that she would be taking the receipt with her. More » -
above and beyond
Customer Complaint Leads To Sincere Apology, Actual Change At HyVee
Matt complained to his local Hyvee grocery/gas station about the excessive holds they place on gas customers' debit cards. The company apologized, offered him a gift card, and changed their signage to prevent further customer frustration.
Technically, this shouldn't be considered "above and beyond." This should be what all businesses do when a customer has an issue, but Matt was so surprised and pleased that he just had to write about the experience. More »
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shorti
WaPo Devotes Five Pages To Wawa/Sheetz Epic
We thought our love for Wawa was deep and true, then we read this lengthy column in the Washington Post about people getting married at a Wawa or flocking to the stores on 9/11 to regain a sense of community and normalcy.
More »
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saving money
10 Things You Should Know About Gas Stations
MSN Money has a list of 10 secrets about gas stations that could cost you money if you don't know about them. The best ones are about why you shouldn't use a debit card. For example, some stations will ask banks to place a hold on some of the cash in your account to cover your purchase, and won't report the real purchase amount for a few days, leaving your cash in limbo.
"10 things gas stations won't tell you" [MSN Money] (Thanks to Chester!) (Photo: °Florian)
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fuel
Watered-Down Gasoline Damages Cars Near Baltimore
Rain water, not fraud or sabotage, is behind the bad gasoline sold at stations near Baltimore early this week. Hess, the supplier, is covering any damage to customers' cars caused by the diluted fuel. So, how does this happen? More » -
gas prices
So, Why Is The Price Of Gas Rising Now?
Anne writes:
I just don't get it. Does Consumerist know of a good media source that has a *current* (i.e., in the last week or two) breakdown of why the heck gasoline prices are rising 10 cents a week and more in the last month?
Let's take a stab at some possible reasons.
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exxonmobil
ExxonMobil Gift Card Results In Higher Prices At Pump
ExxonMobil says their gift cards are "better than cash." They also say, "This cash card is not a credit card." But Rob in NY was hit with a credit card surcharge when he used his. More » -
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gas prices
Why Was Gas So Expensive?
Did you know that gas price gouging almost never occurs as prices rise? Rather, it's most often when dealers keep prices artificially high even as their costs fall. As gas costs were near $5 a gallon until falling and oil companies earn around $100 billion each year, it's a good time to question what really goes into the price of gas. The numbers on the gas station sign hide a complex set of transactions. Before gas can power your car, it must be discovered as crude oil, traverse three markets, and be refined from crude into gas. Inside, we'll explain the three markets, walk you through the role of refineries, and show how oil companies use creative tactics to manipulate gas prices...
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3:12 PM on Mon Oct 13 2008
By Carey Alexander
38,673 views, 106 commentsMost discussed ai2tis: I guess my comment will be banned because this blog is mainly American. But the truth sometimes hurts. I can't believe. more »
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GOOD Sheet
Find Out Where Your Money Goes When You Buy Gas
Want to know where your fifties go when you fill up your car with gas? GOOD's latest chart breaks down the assorted costs, and compares them with other places around the globe. You can grab a free printed copy at any Starbucks, or go here to check it out in bright RGB goodness.
More »
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deceptive practices
NY Attorney General: 25% Of Gas Stations "Engage In Deceptive Practices"
New York's Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, is warning consumers after an undercover investigation found that 25% of gas stations are engaging in "deceptive practices, including wrongfully surcharging credit card customers." The AG says that under New York state law, retailers are not allowed to impose surcharges for using a credit card. More » -
gas pumping myths
Pump Gas In The Morning To Save Money? Nah.
Consumer Reports wants you to know that it's OK to sleep in, because you're not going to save money by pumping gas in the early morning. Why not? More » -
shopflifting
Always Print Your Gas Pump Receipt As Proof Of Purchase
You probably wouldn't try to leave a retail store without a receipt, but you might not think about it when you're at the gas pump—after all, it's not like you're going to bring the gas back for a refund. But a reader points out that you should always have your proof of purchase just in case you end up in an awkward situation:
I pulled out of the lot, turned left, and I wasn't more than 200 yards away when a cop comes up behind me, lights flashing. I knew I couldn't have been speeding so I was genuinely confused. He said the woman at the United Dairy Farmers said I drove off without paying for gas.
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gas prices
Can Prayer Lower Gas Prices? These People Think So
Some people think we don't have a prayer of gas prices dipping below $3.00 for a good long haul. These parishioners holding hands around a Shell station beg to differ. They're part of a group called "Pray At The Pump," organizing prayer-circles at various DC area gas stations, hoping to goad divine intervention into lowering gas prices. I wonder if they carpooled to the rendezvous point.
Activists Keep the Faith, if Not Their Money [Washington Post] (Thanks to ejangles!)
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gas
Buy Super-Cheap Costco Gas Without Costco Membership
Costco sells gas for $0.10-0.15 less per gallon than retail stations, but only to members who pay annual dues. Blueprint For Financial Prosperity claims to have found a way for non-members to access the bargain gas... More » -
violations
350 Of New Jersey's Gas Stations Are Violating State Regulations. Here's A Map Of Them.
A recent sweep of New Jersey gas stations by state and local inspectors resulted in over a third of them receiving citations for posting the wrong gas prices on road signs, changing the price of gas too often, and other other violations. The New Jersey Star Ledger made a very helpful map of the violator stations, available inside. More » -
gas prices
Gas Station Bans Credit Cards Because Of High Fees
It's not only the customer who is taking a hit from high gas prices, some gas stations' profits are being entirely mitigated by credit card interchange fees. The AP reports that gas station manager Roger Randolph was fed up with losing money on credit card fees. His solution was to place new signs on his Chevron gas pumps that read "No more credit cards." Details, inside... More » -
bp
Why Are Gas Stations Charging More For Credit Card Purchases?
Yechial wants to know why his Chase BP Visa card, which offers 5% rebates on gas purchases, costs him more to use at BP stations than if he pays with cash. He asked a BP station owner in Pennsylvania about this and the station owner told him it was because credit transaction fees had gone up—"When I told him that I would report his station to BP and to Chase Bank, he said, 'Screw you! I don't care, report me. They are the ones charging us more money for the transactions.'"
Now Yechial wants to know, are BP stations simply charging more to negate the 5% rebate on the Chase BP card, or are they really dealing with higher fees on their end? This L.A. Times article published last week says it's the second reason—which means any rebate your credit card promises you on gas purchases is going to be inherently less valuable so long as expenses keep rising for station owners. More »
gas stations
New York, 1:32 PM
Mon Nov 9
11 posts in the last 24 hours
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