French petrol stations...the plain facts please

[Rod2240]

There is also a card you can get from Credit Agriclole mainly for Brit property owners in France and is called " BRITLINE" which gives you a French bank account and consequently use of the fabled Sunday afternoon unmanned petrol pump.

http://britline.com

Rod

 

[thornley]

Automatic pumps do not take English cards. You will always be able to use your English card on the Autoroutes, day or night, 7 days per week.

Off Autoroute very few petrol stations are open on Sundays.


Buy your Euros now. Rate is as high as 1.48 this week, cant last.

Remember this exchange rate back in 2007. Go back to page 1 on this thread

 

[madman]

There is also a card you can get from Credit Agriclole mainly for Brit property owners in France and is called " BRITLINE" which gives you a French bank account and consequently use of the fabled Sunday afternoon unmanned petrol pump.

http://britline.com

Rod

I had a Credit Agricole card for the first 3 years after I moved here. It would not work in motorway peages nor in some petrol stations. When it won't work I use my Nationwide debit card instead.
CA have now given me a different card that seems to work everywhere. Still use the Nationwide sometimes though.

 

[Riders Rest]

Okay...

I Live in the Correze I have never had a problem with any of my cards (UK and French Banks) across France since 2007 - ...

I have and do use my Nat-West Maestro card in the petrol stations either with the teller or in the 24/7 card slots at places such as "Super-U" Intermarche" and Airies along the A roads - I and the Mrs also do our shopping using our Nat-West Maestro cards, We also use the MBNA Visa card in the same way, most places use Chip N Pin - I did have problems in 2006 but since Sep 2007 the Sofware in most pumping stations have been upgraded to conform with EU Laws and will take most cards, they will even speak to you in the language of the country the card is issued in You might have a problem in some of the small independant pumps in some small places but bye and large France has it all sorted out...

Personally I would not use a card of any kind on the CB lane at the Paege whilst riding my bike - WHY? because they charge you the same cost as a Car so why get ripped off when you can get it cheaper at the booth

So more interestingly it would be worth while knowing first hand who has had a problem and with which cards ?

 

[thornley]

Since my last post in January 2007 most garages have now upgraded their machines to take all European cards. You might find the odd independent garage that is using the old system. Even the little garage in Buis has now updated and will accept all cards as of September last year.
Shame it's still not 1.48 to the £ tho'!!

 

[John Armstrong]

Personally I would not use a card of any kind on the CB lane at the Paege whilst riding my bike - WHY? because they charge you the same cost as a Car so why get ripped off when you can get it cheaper at the booth

What's the difference, as most times the card lane is the clearest one?

Which sort of begs the question, do the French dislike paying by plastic?

 

[ONYERBIKE]

I never have a problem using my UK cards to buy petrol on the autoroutes, at the supermarkets with the guy sitting behind the counter is another thing.
At both Leclerc and Auchan I have had my car "impounded" and marched off to the store by security to either take money out of the cash machine or pay at one of the tills instore, why the card won't work on the forecourt but will work in the shop is anyones guess.
What happens quite alot here is if you carry cash and go to a supermarket petrol station when it is closed, it won't be long before one of the natives comes along, lets you use their card and relieves you of your cash. Quite a friendly bunch the french .

On the autoroute on my bike, especially at the unmanned rural peages, the bike has not been heavy enough to trigger the machine, so you can't pay even if you want to, twice I've found a way around the barrier, kept me money and nothing has ever happened, my bikes are on french plates as well.
I tried me hardest to pay, honestly

 

[thornley]

Not heavy enough to trip the machines BUT light enough to lift over!! I want one of these bikes!!!

 

[Riders Rest]

What's the difference, as most times the card lane is the clearest one?

Which sort of begs the question, do the French dislike paying by plastic?

you will notice that the CB lanes have gateways with chaines hanging down to check the height of the vehicle this is to restrict it to cars and exempt the Campervan, lorry types the card machine is calibrated to take a payment dependant on the code on your ticket to calculate the tarrif against a Car only.

If you use the CB lane on a bike it is unable to to charge any thing other than for a car... so you get charged as if you were a car...

I use it when towing a trailer get it cheaper but occassionally have been told off for doing so.

You are not charged anymore if you use this lane in a car than you would be in you went trhough the kiosk lane and paid cash...


The French other than Paris have not taken to Plastic whole heartedly and still live by the cheque which it is an offence if you bounce one...

 

[Ross Dean]

Most English plastic DOES NOT WORK in the automatic pumps that are quite common over there.

I've been stranded at 4 in the morning with only cash to pay.....three hours later a nice French lady used her card for us in exchange for the cash.

What can I say? My HSBC Maestro and credit card always worked all over France in the automatic pumps even at remote garages on side roads in the Pyrenees (France and Spain). I cannot recall if I ever had to abandon my Maestro card in favour of the Master Card but I certainly could always use the pumps. Filling up on a Sunday or even during everyday lunch hours was never an issue (I rode for weeks there during 2007 and 2008) ... but, this still leaves me amazed, where does the population of France go between 12.00 and 15.00?

 

[thornley]

What can I say? My HSBC Maestro and credit card always worked all over France in the automatic pumps even at remote garages on side roads in the Pyrenees (France and Spain). I cannot recall if I ever had to abandon my Maestro card in favour of the Master Card but I certainly could always use the pumps. Filling up on a Sunday or even during everyday lunch hours was never an issue (I rode for weeks there during 2007 and 2008) ... but, this still leaves me amazed, where does the population of France go between 12.00 and 15.00?

We eat! It's still the tradition and culture to eat together at mid day. Changing rapidly in the major towns but in my village in Provence its still the same. When the paysanne works he starts at 7.00 works to 12.00 takes two or three hours depending on the season then works until the light fades. Superb way of life

 

[Ross Dean]

We eat! It's still the tradition and culture to eat together at mid day. Changing rapidly in the major towns but in my village in Provence its still the same. When the paysanne works he starts at 7.00 works to 12.00 takes two or three hours depending on the season then works until the light fades. Superb way of life

I remember riding through a French village somewhere on the back roads between Geneva and Calais (sorry - my memory for locational detail is pretty bad) and seeing a family of at least six people on their raised patio sitting down to a large meal as I passed on my 1100GS ... I was envious and gladdened by the sight. It was a hot, sunny day. Later I was passed by a frantic driver or two speeding back to work after (perhaps) spending a little too long eating at home. Brilliant memories - thanks for the reminder

 

[ONYERBIKE]

What can I say? My HSBC Maestro and credit card always worked all over France in the automatic pumps even at remote garages on side roads in the Pyrenees (France and Spain). I cannot recall if I ever had to abandon my Maestro card in favour of the Master Card but I certainly could always use the pumps. Filling up on a Sunday or even during everyday lunch hours was never an issue (I rode for weeks there during 2007 and 2008) ... but, this still leaves me amazed, where does the population of France go between 12.00 and 15.00?

Food and Family, the two most important things to the French nation, followed closely by kissing, petting, cuddles and SEX

 

[tuckerhauser]

I got myself a Euro Debit Card from these chaps: http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/

Load the card before you go (using your current account debit card) and you can check your balance / top up using a mobile phone. Worked a dream in Ireland, Italy and France at the pre-pay petrol stations.

I've just applied for one of these... might be surplus to requirements now, but it all seems simple enough.

any joy with this card did it work with unmaned stations in the middle of nowhere?

had the petrol problem in france in 2006
planning on going back this summer on a aprillia and the tank range isnt the greatest bit better than the duc monster mentioned earlier in this thread

cheers

 

[ChasMill]

any joy with this card did it work with unmaned stations in the middle of nowhere?

Simple answer - yes. Sunday evening in the middle of Northern France, about an hour and a half from Le Mans. Pulled in to an unmanned petrol station, registered card, filled up, rode away.

One point to note is that the card is "virtually" charged for €130 before you start filling (similar to pay at the pump machines here). If you don't have a credit balance of €130 it won't work.

 

[Wapping]

The 'charge card' ChasMill referes to is good, for sure, providing you have sufficient charge on it to trigger the pump's minimum limit.

One regular trips to France I have noticed that many of the pumps are now not only converted to accept conventional UK credit cards, many now have an option to have the instructions in English.

This option only flashes up once you have been through a small bit of simple French, usualy telling the customer to insert the card into the slot.....

 

[tuckerhauser]

thanks for the replies
think ill order one for emergency use

i emailed Caxton card last nite and received this reply


Dear Mr. hauser,

Automated French petrol stations will generally take an initial authorisation for a maximum amount of fuel, (approx €120), and then settle for the amount of fuel actually purchased. However this can sometimes take a few days which means you can have no access to the authorised amount for a few days. For this reason many UK card providers and banks have blocked the use of their cards in these systems.

We have not blocked the use meaning that you will be able to use the Caxton card in these terminals. Providing that you are aware of this system, you should have no problems.

 

[LiquidLAN]

any joy with this card did it work with unmaned stations in the middle of nowhere?

had the petrol problem in france in 2006
planning on going back this summer on a aprillia and the tank range isnt the greatest bit better than the duc monster mentioned earlier in this thread

cheers

Not had a chance to try it out yet, will report when I do...

heading down to the Portugese WSB later in the year so got it in prep for that really.


nice one tuckerhauser good to get a definative answer

 

[pugster]

Just a quick thought, I use a prepay mastercard when abroad because:

A: had the card not authourised bit a few times with me other cards
B: You get a better rate of exchange

I use the FairFx mastercard which is actually in euros and it's great other than it needs charging so you can't overspend - oh sorry I forgot in the current climate that's a goood thing, well according to Mr Brown anyway.

Website is www.fairfx.com

They are a British comapany too and they also have a dollar card.

Going to the alps next week so charging my card up as we speak!!!

 

[yamonda1]

just got back ...

Super U is becoming like Tesco Metro here .. they're everywhere so there's never a problem filling up using Mastercard or Visa at the auto pumps ...

be prepared for euro 1.39/ltr though in the sticks ...