Tesco has clarified why some customers may spot a £120 transaction on their bank statements after using the supermarket's Pay at Pump service at petrol stations. The temporary pre-authorisation is designed to verify sufficient funds, but the actual amount charged is only for the fuel purchased.
How Pay at Pump Works
Many Tesco branches across the UK operate petrol stations where motorists can refuel before or after shopping. When using the Pay at Pump facility, Tesco applies a temporary £120 pre-authorisation to ensure the card has enough funds. This is not the final amount debited; customers are only charged for the fuel they actually buy, up to a maximum of £120. Payment must be made by card, as contactless options are not available at the pump.
Tesco accepts all UK-registered chip and pin cards, except Visa Electron, at its Pay at Pump facilities.
What Happens If Balance Is Low?
On its website, Tesco explains: "If your account balance is under £120, your card issuer should respond with the lower amount they'll allow, and the fuel pump screen will show the value you can fill up to." However, the company notes that some card issuers may not allow partial authorisations below £120. In such cases, customers are advised to try another payment card.
Why the £120 Charge Appears
While customers should only be billed for their actual fuel purchase, Tesco acknowledges that occasionally a £120 charge may appear on bank statements. The retailer states: "There may be a small number of occasions where your card issuer doesn't update your balance in real time. We'll only ever charge you for the value of the fuel you've purchased, but if you do have concerns, please talk to your bank for further details."
Payment Options at Tesco Petrol Stations
At Tesco petrol station kiosks, contactless payments are accepted for transactions up to £100, but this does not apply to Pay at Pump. Additionally, customers can use fuelGenie, UK Fuels, Keyfuels (purple card only), and Allstar as payment methods at the kiosk.
