Originally Posted by
jerry305
• Why does the entire US gas station industry assume that 100% of their customers are Americans?
• Does every gas station owner not want my business?
• Who should I be angry at: service station owners? chains?
• Are there some chains that don't have these machines?
• Is there a workaround or magic 5-digit override code I can use?
• If I tell my Canadian CC issuer to send me statements electronically, so they don't actually have to mail me anything, can I change my postal code to a (fake) 5-digit zip code, just to appease these machines?
* Because statistically, that's close enough to a correct assumption that it doesn't make sense to invest in more elegant technological solutions. Almost 100% of their business
is from Americans. The manual workarounds are good enough for border towns, stations near international airport rental car facilities, etc.
* To be honest, they don't particularly care, but they always will sell you gas. They can almost always scan your card inside, pre-authorize for $75 or $100, and enable your pump. (I've never had them ask for a pile of cash when I've had to do this.)
* No one. Nothing really to be angry about... Really???
* The machines are nearing ubiquity, although I've noticed that there are a lot that will ask my ZIP Code for Amex but not Visa/MC.
* Lots of good advice in this thread...I'd always heard 00000 worked.
* Don't know...
Americans run into this exact situation in other parts of the world where Chip & PIN is the standard. Train station kiosks are a prime example. Some stations have a guy who will sell you a ticket manually, some don't. At least most major gas station chains are open 24 hours a day with someone available to process your card manually.