GAS stations have been accused of attempting to hide an extra $1 a gallon fee for using a poplar payment method – but the charge is legal.
Credit cards are a very popular payment method for shoppers – including filling up on gas.
2
2
There could be various benefits to using one at the pump like bonus points or cash back.
But if you aren’t careful, using your credit card for gas each time may end up being costly due to a surcharge.
In most states, it is legal for businesses to slap a surcharge on customers who choose to pay via credit card, including Florida.
The only requirement that businesses have to abide by is informing customers of those surcharges in advance.
But some gas stations in Florida have been accused of attempting to hide the fee.
Pat Igo from Pat Beach Gardens, Florida, told WPTV News that his company has 12 trucks, with fuel costing his business around $3,000 per month.
As he went to fill up one of his trucks, Igo noticed something.
He said: “I noticed this little box at the bottom.
“And it didn’t match the price that was out on the street.”
Igo explained that a tiny sign on the pump showed that those paying with a credit card would pay a whopping $1 extra per gallon.
After reading this, he approached the station’s manager to ask if it was an error – which he replied “no, I can make it any number I want,” according to Igo.
Reporter Dave Bohman investigated the matter, where he discovered local gas stations were charging $1 more per gallon for credit card payments.
But when he begun asking questions, two stations dropped the extra charge down to 90 cents per gallon.
Bohman also approached consumer attorney Thomas Patti to see if this surcharge was legal.
Patti said: “If they say ‘listen, we’re going to provide you a discount for cash-based services and we’re going to charge you a standard price for a credit card,’ that’s seemingly a lawful way to go about it.”
The Florida Attorney General’s Office also assured reporter Bohman that the surcharge is legitimate.
But Patti confirmed that gas stations have to disclose the price differences to consumers – but some stations don’t advertise the price difference obviously.
Business owner Igo now makes sure his employees don’t use gas stations that charge an extra $1 per gallon for credit cards.
He added: “There should be a law showing what they’re going to charge you if you use a credit card.”
High gas tax states
Here is a list of the states with the highest gas taxes (including local fees and federal excise taxes) in the US:
- 1. California: $0.86 per gallon
- 2. Illinois: $0.84 per gallon
- 3. Pennsylvania: $0.80 per gallon
- 4. Indiana: $0.74 per gallon
- 5. Washington: $0.70 per gallon
- 6. Michigan: $0.66 per gallon
- 7. Maryland: $0.65 per gallon
- 8. New Jersey: $0.60 per gallon
- 9. North Carolina: $0.59 per gallon
- 10. Virginia: $0.57 per gallon
Per Visualizing Energy.