Why RM200 is Deducted When You Use Debit Card To Pump Petrol?
Have you ever notice that everytime that you pump petrol with your debit card, you will be charge RM200 even when you’ve pump lesser amount than that?
For most people (cheapskate like us), they will think why should I pay extra since I can earn interest with the amount?
The deduction is temporary and the balance from the RM200 will be reimburse back to your account after 3-4 days.
But why is the RM200 is deducted when you use debit card to pump petrol?
This deduction is called Pre-Authorization Hold required sort of like authorization to the transaction and the lock up amount is RM200.
It’s used to verify your card whether your card active and also whether it has enough money for your fuel transaction.
The main reason for authorization holds is because there is a two-step process in the payment, consisting of an authorization and a settlement with a time lag in between.
In short, bank is kiasi and want to ensure you got money to pump the petrol
So the question now is that how can we avoid this RM200 pre-authorization hold and how can we only pay what we pump?
The answer is simple.
You can pay the fuel transaction through the cashier/petrol counter instead of the self service payment. When you make payment through the cashier/petrol counter, there is no authorization hold needed. The authorization code will only be made when you use the self service payment at the pump.
Secondly, you can use some debit card that doesn’t have pre-authorization hold. You can try to use Maybank as we have tried to use Maybank Debit Card at the self service payment and seems like there is no RM200 pre-authorization hold. Or you can also try using CIMB where when you pump petrol at Petronas, there is no RM 200 pre-authorization hold.
So how many of you kena before and don’t like it? Tell us your experience.
You can try out the solution above and not charge extra when you’re using the Debit Card.