arggg.. that would have saved me some aggravation. good to know for next time.

Thanks for this. Out of habit I used the last four on one of mine the other day and couldn't unload it via BB after trying to reset multiple times. I'll have to give it a go with a rep and see if I gave better luck.

Honestly surprised that worked. Every other report, my experiences included, resetting the pin/setting a new pin with a CSR did not restore debit functionality.

You must have gotten a smarter one, or perhaps they've worked out the kinks in the system.

They don't reset the PIN. They reset the fraud block on the PIN. It's a flag that gets set after so many invalid PIN attempts, but sometimes it is improperly set at activation. The only fix is to call and have them reset the flag (even if they tell you the flag is not set).

This is exactly right. I previously attempted to use a MCGC to purchase money orders after having the card rejected a few times by Kate at Walmart. I called and reset the PIN through the automated system. I then talked to a CSR who said that he unlocked the card. That didn't work either, so I had to call back again and got a CSR who removed the fraud block on the card. This was for a US Bancorp Master Card gift card purchased at Kroger.

Reminder today only January 17th is 4x Fuel Points at Kroger. Could be regional, but it seems like most Krogers have it.

Thanks, I thought I missed it!

any suggestions in the Pacific Northwest on where to purchase money orders with gift cards with pin now that Fred Meyer stopped allowing thus?

I bought $200 in merchant GC last night at Ralphs and just got 2x fuel points. The GC rack had a sign with the 40c/$100 too. I asked my cashier, and she said the discount would show at the pump despite not getting 4x points, but I don't think that's right. I couldn't find the manager so just let it go.

It's super sekrit but the store starts with a W.

That's how it has worked for me here in SAN in the past at Ralphs. I was confused the first time, too, because when they have the "40 cent" gc deals it does NOT show in the total of fuel points at the bottom of your receipt. In the end, it works out better because you still earn the normal 2x fuel points on gift cards PLUS the 40 cent promo - so if you buy 1 $100 gift card you can get a fill up at 40 cents off and a second fill up at 20 cents off.

I still haven't figured out if buying 2 $100 cards gets you 2 fills at 40 cents off.

Sweet...Wendy's is super convenient for me.

How does that work?

If I bought $100 in gift cards on the 17th, my receipt would show 200 fuel points. I see how the first fill up would give me 40c/gallon off, but how do I get a 2nd fill up 20c off? Wouldn't the 40c use up all the fuel points? Or are you saying that I get the 40c off without using up any fuel points?

I bought the $200 gift cards on the 17th but didn't go to the gas station that day. Will I get 40c off next time I fill up (say, the 22nd) as long as I bought the gift cards that day?

All of that sounds exactly right, based on my experience.

For whatever reason, Ralph's does things differently with these "promos" than other Kroger locations do. The 40c is a "promo" added to your account which is separate from your earned fuel points. This means that the first time you go to the gas station to fill up, you will enter your phone number or scan your card and it will offer you 40c off - based on the promo that has been added to your account. This will not impact your fuel points balance. If you go back a week later it will offer you 20c off, based on the available fuel points. This surprised me the first time it happened - I thought "how did I earn another 20 c fuel perks?" but that is the only logical explanation I can come up with that fits with my experience.

You don't need to use the discount right away but the do eventually expire - typically at the end of the following month, so in this case February 28.

My receipt, at the bottom of it shows two things, on a purchase of a single $100 gift card and 1 other $1 item:

This reflects the fuel points earned.

This reflects the 40c offer - which is separate from fuel points. I haven't tested to see if this stacks - i.e., if buying $200 nets you two 40c discounted fills or if it nets you an 80c discounted fill, or if there is a cap of 1 - 40c discount, etc. Gas is not such a big expense for me that it makes a ton of sense to go wild maximizing this to find any loopholes. I'm happy buying a single $100 card, and getting a 40c discount on one fill and a 20c discount on the next.

This happened to me yesterday. Called in and the rep reset the card. Just a few minutes later I tried to feed it to Kate again but she spit it out. Thinking I didn't leave enough time for the reset to work, I left. Came back an hour later, and she still didn't like it. So I left and called CS again. Turns out the first rep reset the credit side of the card, not the debit. Second rep reset the debit side. Will see if Kate likes it this evening.

I didn't know that the cards could also be used as credit. Haven't tried it, but good to know.