DRIVERS will be charged up to a £100 deposit fee when topping up petrol or diesel at Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
This will be taken out of a driver’s account the moment a card is put into a Pay at Pump machine before the petrol station will work out the correct fee after the car has refuelled. Drivers will then see money refunded to their accounts minus what they owed for the fuel payment.
Tesco had used a £1 authorisation fee but this will be replaced for the new £99 deposit.
The money will be ringfenced with tesco confirming money would be released back into drivers accounts immediately after topping up.
The supermarket chain said the new rules were being trialed at their Stevenage Broadwater store before it could be rolled out across the UK later this year.
The new updates have come into force after Mastercard, Visa and American Express changed their rules.
Tesco said: “Under new rules implemented by Mastercard, Visa and American Express, we must now request authorisation from your card issuer for up to £99.
“Once you’ve finished filling up, the final transaction amount is sent to your card issuer, and the remainder of any unused funds up to the maximum filling amount will be released back to your available balance.
“We’ll only ever charge you for the value of the fuel you’ve actually purchased.”
Tesco said the changes were being introduced to help custoners keep an eye on their finances.
Sainsbury’s has also confirmed drivers will have £100 “ringfenced” prior to fuel being authorised and dispensed before the final transaction is calculated.
The move comes almost two years after Asda ditched a similar charge following concerns from customers.
Source: Express.co.uk
