Arco Gasoline deceptive ripoff with debit cards San Diego California

I went to an ARCO here in Mesa last night and bought 30.00 of gas. When I checked my bank account today they had put a $100.00 hold on my account and have already taken out the $38.00 also. How is this legal? I never authorized or signed anything giving them permission to do this. And when I contacted my bank they said its on 24 hour hold and there's nothing I can do but stop doing business with the company. Does anyone out there no the legality of this and can the bank refuse to put my money back and told them this wasn't authorized? I've purchased gas from ARCO tons of times and never had this happen before.

The amount "held" on a debit card by ARCO, AM/PM, Circle K, 7/11, etc. is actually determined by the individual owner of that particular location. The ARCOs here are different, they do not put a hold on at all, but wait until the transaction is complete befroe submitting to my bank. I think the most the pump does is a pre-authorization for $1 just to make sure the card is valid.

However, my beef with ARCO is that the pumps will not allow me to use my check card as VISA, and therefore I am hit with the 35 cent transaction fee for debit. Generally though, even with the charge, gas is cheaper at ARCO than just about anywhere else.

I use a debit card and buy 90% of my fuel from ARCO via Sunshine or AM/PM. I've never had this problem and it is probably your bank that puts a hold on funds. ARCO has nothing to do with that.

As purchasing gas is an open debit, if you have only $20 - 30 in the account your bank will deny the transaction. A simple solution is to walk into the store and put a set amount on the pump. $10.00 on #5.