Was 125 or 150 euros taken when you filled up with fuel? This is normal and we’ll explain why!
Filling up with fuel is usually a chore for most motorists.
A surprising levy for fuel
In addition, it is expensive, especially in recent years, with a sharp increase in the price of petrol and diesel throughout France. So, it is no longer surprising to fill up with fuel that exceeds 100 euros, which was relatively rare before. But sometimes, once you have finished filling your tank, you can have an unpleasant surprise when looking at your bank account. Indeed, you can then see a request for a direct debit for an amount much higher than what you spent at the service station, in the order of of 125 or 150 euros. But what is it? Is it a mistake, or worse, have you been scammed? Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything to you, but there’s actually no reason to worry. In fact, you should know that it’s simply a bank imprint, a very common process, whether in resorts or in the hotel industry, among others.
Don’t worry!
The bank imprint is a transaction set up by some merchants to ensure that the customer has the necessary funds to guarantee a payment. In other words, it is a form of temporary deposit, intended to verify that the customer’s account has sufficient funds before finalizing a transaction. Unlike an immediate debit, this amount is not taken from the customer’s account, but is “blocked”, that is, it appears as a pending transaction or a temporary authorization. Depending on the bank and the type of card used, the funds can be immobilized for a period of five to seven days, although only the amount actually due is ultimately debited. This amount, relatively high compared to the amount actually spent to fill up, can cause inconvenience for some people, especially those with limited financial resources. In addition, this process is generally unfamiliar to customers.
In fact, many consumers discover this process when their account shows a pending transaction.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
