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Circle K no longer gives a lower gas price when using debit card
Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 11:40 pmAfter pumping gas at Circle K today, I noticed the price shown under my pump was the credit card price instead of the normally 10-cent-cheaper debit card price, even though I had inserted my debit card.
The marquee on the big gas station sign showed an "easy pay" price of 10 cents less than the credit card price, but I'd never seem them refer to debit cards as "easy pay" before
When I got home, I divided my total charge by the number of gallons I had pumped, which confirmed I'd been charged the higher credit card price.
It turns out Easy Pay is a new debit card specifically for Circle K. Sheesh. I don't want to have to carry around another card, and remember another PIN number. That's enough to make me switch gas stations. But then again, I like the idea that using Easy Pay would automatically email me a receipt.
And then I read this:
Nearly 80 percent of credit card skimmers were found at this 1 gas station chain (In Arizona, in 2018).
Gas pump and ATM skimmers: How to spot and avoid them
Update, 2020/02/26:
Since originally posting this, I've noticed that this Circle K's credit card price (which is now the same as their cash price) matches the cash/debit price of other nearby gas stations. So even without using an EasyPay card, their prices are still competitive. At least for the time being.
The marquee on the big gas station sign showed an "easy pay" price of 10 cents less than the credit card price, but I'd never seem them refer to debit cards as "easy pay" before
When I got home, I divided my total charge by the number of gallons I had pumped, which confirmed I'd been charged the higher credit card price.
It turns out Easy Pay is a new debit card specifically for Circle K. Sheesh. I don't want to have to carry around another card, and remember another PIN number. That's enough to make me switch gas stations. But then again, I like the idea that using Easy Pay would automatically email me a receipt.
And then I read this:
Nearly 80 percent of credit card skimmers were found at this 1 gas station chain (In Arizona, in 2018).
Criminals can install a skimming device inside the electronic guts of a fuel pump in less than eight seconds, officials said. Hidden behind panels, the small strip of wires is invisible to the public.
Gas pump and ATM skimmers: How to spot and avoid them
Gas pumps received a three-year extension on EMV transition in 2017, meaning fuel pumps will continue to be a fertile field for fraudsters with skimmers until October 2020. EMV chip technology has reduced fraud at the checkout counter since the EMV liability shift in October 2015.
Until fueling pumps read EMV chip cards, gas stations will be “one of the last bastions” for thieves, says Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center.
Update, 2020/02/26:
Since originally posting this, I've noticed that this Circle K's credit card price (which is now the same as their cash price) matches the cash/debit price of other nearby gas stations. So even without using an EasyPay card, their prices are still competitive. At least for the time being.
