Massachusetts Residents Are Paying Extra At The Gas Pump Without Realizing It

Recently, I noticed an unexpected charge on my bank statement after paying for gas at the pump, and I was confused about the reason for it. Credit cards are a popular and convenient method for making payments, including at gas stations. There are advantages to using a credit card at the pump, such as earning bonus points or receiving cash back on fuel purchases.

However, if you're not careful, using a credit card for gas could cost you more money. I learned this from experience and have been cautious ever since.

Massachusetts Residents Charged Extra Fees At The Gas Pump

According to Yahoo! Finance, a similar situation happened in Florida when a gas station was called out for charging an extra dollar for every gallon of gas. What happens is that a consumer swipes their card at the pump to pay for their gas. You pump as much fuel as you want, and then pay what you dispense. Unfortunately, no.

You check your bank account, and suddenly, there's a $100 surcharge when you know for a fact you only paid $50, for example.

Why Are Gas Stations Adding A Surcharge?

Fortunately for Massachusetts residents, the surcharge at most gas stations is only temporary and meant to ensure that transactions are successful, as credit card companies charge a certain percentage that gas stations must pay annually. However, the fine print on many gas pumps that makes this legal is often misinterpreted, causing confusion for consumers. Fortunately, there are other ways to avoid this issue entirely.

Paying in cash is a viable option if you want to avoid overspending on gas. However, if you drive a larger vehicle, it might not always be practical to carry enough cash to fill up your tank. Another option is to use apps like GasBuddy, which allow you to compare gas prices in your area and offer various perks.