Tesco has clarified why some shoppers may notice a £120 transaction on their bank statements when using the Pay at Pump service at its petrol stations.
Many Tesco stores across the UK have on-site petrol stations, allowing customers to refuel while doing their weekly shopping. When paying at the pump, Tesco places a temporary £120 pre-authorisation hold on the customer's account to verify that sufficient funds are available. This amount is not the final charge.
How Pay at Pump works
Drivers can purchase up to £120 of fuel using Pay at Pump, with payment required by card only, as contactless payment options are not available. Tesco confirms that all UK-registered chip and pin cards work at its Pay at Pump terminals, with the exception of Visa Electron.
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."
What to do if you see the charge
Tesco notes that some card issuers may not allow partial authorisations below £120. In such cases, the company advises customers to try another payment card. While customers should only be charged for the fuel they actually purchase, Tesco acknowledges that occasionally a £120 transaction may appear on statements.
The supermarket added: "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."
