Use of Bank Cards at Supermarket Petrol Stations in France.

I posted this topic on another Forum and thought it would also be pertinent here as a note of caution to those visiting France by car or motorcycle.


Please be aware that when paying for Petrol /Diesel by card there is a possibility that your Bank account will have an amount blocked ( known as a 'Caution' in French) until the transaction has been cleared by the Bank.

The amount varies from Supermarket to Supermarket and can be as much as €500 if you use a pump that dispenses to H.G.V.'s as well as cars .

In our case in 2012 we filled up our Motor bike at a large Supermarket close to the C.W.G. cemetery in Bayeux. We put in €27 worth of petrol on Saturday Lunchtime and in addition had €500 blocked from our account until the following Thursday.

After enquiring at our French and English Banks we were told that this is normal practice and theoretically can happen on each occasion when using a card for purchasing petrol/diesel.

We only became aware of this after having lived in France for ten years, it now happens more frequently and affects French citizens in the same way.

The following link ( in French) is one of many which can be found on the internet concerning this practice which is causing problems.

http://lesmoutonsenr...-sur-le-compte/

 

What's the point of it? Seems counter-productive to me. If I've read it right, it reduces your available credit and therefore increases the chance of the card being refused....which reduces the amount you can spend.

 

Doesn't a similar practice happen here, admittedly only for the value of the transaction? A request for payment is "authed" by the bank or credit card, which may or may not materialise but that amount of money is not available sometimes for days.

 

Yes, but that is reasonable because you are using up available credit within accepted limits. The French system seems to be unnecessarily blocking access to credit that is, or should be, yours to use.

Have been to France many times and never been aware....albeit the last visit being in 2009.

 

I have lived in France for 8 years or so now and never had a problem with either UK or French cards in the way spoken off above. Perhaps there is a difference between using 'debit' cards and 'credit' cards.
The only time I have had a problem was one day when I was purchasing several expensive items (200 euro plus) and my French card I found out later has a limit per day for purchases, but to counter this problem on that day I used my UK credit card and all was well.
I must admit that French banks do have some odd rules.

TD

edited to add

The French banking does not like you going overdrawn, and was if it still isn't, illegal to for example write a cheque knowing you haven't the finances in your account to cover it.

 

It is illegal to write a cheque without funds to support it in this country too.

 

I am a Canadian doing a tour of ww1 Canadian memorials.
I only use credit cards while traveling in Europe.
Arras is home base for a few days before meeting Stolpi for a tour of the Ardennes.
Cheers

 

Hi, new here, hope you don't mind my input. I'm glad this has been posted as this happened to me last year in France. Filled up the scooter 9 litres of petrol and couldn't use the debit card again during my stay.
Like Piaf States it appears to be supermarkets that are the problem. If there is a list of offenders it would be very useful. On my next trip to France I will try and only use manned petrol stations.

 

Never used a debit card for petrol purchase purposes on the continent..always used a credit card without a problem.Is the adopted practice only connected with the use of debit cards?

Us of the credit card,once blocked and that was after using the same card for the ferry.

As regards the misuse of a current account by issuing cheques which are not honoured.Apparently the French banks address the problem by withdrawing cheque facilities from defaulters.

 

It used to be that at a petrol station or supermarket when out of hours (or a Sunday), you could only use a carte bleue, but this has now changed and if you have a credit card and PIN then they work, although you are normally restricted to 99 euros worth of fuel - dont suppose many of you have a 76 litre tank - unless it is a Tank ! :biggrin:

 

admittedly, i've never got to europe,but i had the same problem happen in mexico and canada, so i went back to the old school and use travelers checks, lol!

 

That is exactly the reason for my post.
There will many visitors to France in the next four years and unless you check your account online each day you may not be aware that a 'Caution' has been taken until the next time you use the card ( Credit and Debit) and perhaps it is refused.
This can cause difficulties when paying for accommodation etc.
We became aware because we check our accounts regularly and noticed a discrepancy of €500.
After speaking to both our British and French Banks we were informed that this is not an unusual occurrence .
There is no list of offenders all the Supermarkets /Hypermarkets are guilty, our French friends recommended do as they do and pay cash .
This also affects French Nationals it isn't aimed at Foreign visitors, if you can read French I refer you to the link I posted above.

 

First time in happened to me was in 2003 in Barcelona with bank and credit cards. Tell your bank you are going on holiday and they document it so they don't get blocked.

 

It has nothing to do with informing your bank that you are 'on Holiday', your cards can get blocked until the transaction has been cleared by your bank.

 

OK

 

Cannot understand the logic of this practice.

When a purchase is made or services bought,the card purchase amount and pin number are scanned by the credit card processing system.If it is declared to be acceptable,ie does not infringe the credit card credit limit or there is a reject flag against the card,the tranaction is sanctioned and the goods/services supplier fullfils the contract to forward the goods or supply the service, knowing that he/she is guaranteed to receive the related monies from the related bank.Some transactions are delayed on the good practice of the supplier if the goods or service cannot be supplied until a later date,say in the case where the seller of goods are awaited from the suppliers.Money is then claimed from the related bank as the transaction is revisited.

In any case, the supplies of goods and services are never at a financial disadvantage as the risk is being taken by the related bank, who if a customer fails to service the debt, initiates the usual debt recovery procedures.

Is it a case of a delay of the banks to pay the suppliers of goods and services?....it doen't appear to be a problem in the UK."Point of sales" or "cardholder not present" transactions are rapid and I am sure that the supplier of goods and services must be assured that a transaction finalised and receipt issued,will mean that monies are quickly transferred to him /her from the credit card bank.

 

Makes me glad I cant leave the country.

 

Harry,

You are correct there is no Logic, it's French Logic ?, it doesn't happen in the U.K. but certainly does here.
Our British Bank was not all surprised they are well aware of this practice, they told us not to worry !!!
However if this was to happen to the same person twice they would be in a right pickle, which was the reason I posted this note of caution before people start coming over for the D.Day commemorations.
Gill