I had a terrible day at work!!!

[jpg7n16]

In the words of Ron White, "You can't fix stupid"

When you swipe at the pump, one of two things happens, either they check to make sure the card is active, or they check to make sure that there will be enough money available. For the first option, they use a small charge (like $1) - and for the second option, they use a large amount (like the $75 or $100 mentioned above)

The $1 charge is just to make sure that the card is active. It doesn't even go through, it falls off when the actual amount goes through.


Pansori - you can't help that some people are just stupid.

This is probably what you felt like: YouTube - 0.002dollar = 0.002cent

[snafu]

I used to teach a course called "Coping Effectively with Difficult People." Check at your library for the book and material by Branson. He was an early guru on that theme. People who scream and yell like that oaf have learned that they can be successful with boorish, intimidating behavior. Don't let rude people ruin your day...it's their win, your loss. They then brag to friends how they made a clerk cry!

[khosta]

Psh.... Some people are nuts and need to learn not to be so ignorant! Where I live some of the gas stations put a $75 hold on my card until the transaction goes through! It's life buddy! I hope this guy wakes and smells the coffee one day!

[wincrasher]

I often see these $1 charges on my debit card as "pending". Usually in a day or two it drops off and the valid charge for the gas or restaurant is there instead.

Never seen that with a credit card. Seen hold for hotels for several hundred dollars.

But this idiot is nuts! Firstly, anything pending is just that - pending. You don't have to pay until you get your monthly statement, and then you always have the option of writing a letter to put the charges in dispute - or call again to dispute. And lastly, you have the option to cancelling your card on the spot and having a new one issued if you are so worried there is a "fraud". You also have a max limit of liability of $50 anyways if you've reported a so-called fraud. Would you really loose your mind and go into a tirade for $50? Really? Get a grip!

[Pansori]

You also have a max limit of liability of $50 anyways if you've reported a so-called fraud.

Actually, with our cc's the fraud liability is 0.

[tulog]

I get those $1 holds all the time when using my debit card to buy gas.

Usually its only surprising because the merchant is charged as the gas station owner, rather than the station itself. For example, I expect to see a charge for Chevron, but instead the merchant is "Jose Chavez" or "Vu Trihn". I then wonder for a while, what did I buy from Vu Trihn for $1?

[Petunia 100]

<< The problem was not that he did not understand me. I was clear, and he completely understood what I was saying. The problem was that he accused me of lying. He flat out said "I think you're lying to me." He escalated because he did not believe me, not because he lacked comprehension. >>

I know I am late to the party, but I have a suggestion which may help in the future. Is there an area on your company's website which talks about these holds? If so, you could have pointed him in that direction so that he could verify for himself that you were not lying.