French Self Service Petrol Stations - which credit card?

early_911 · Post by **early_911** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:28 am

I'm off to Le Mans next month (on my little and old Honda CBR 600 - couldn't think where else to ask this). I'm taking the back roads and have a limited tank range.

Some of the backwater stations (out of hours) don't accept UK credit/debit cards.

Anyone know of a card that uses the French chip&pin system?

I've found this: www.caxtonfxcard.com but having spoken with them they said my other cards should work fine (as long as I tell them beforehand - which I don't think is right).

Phil

23e Heure · Post by **23e Heure** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:52 am

Phil, familiar with that problem myself - many Sunday afternoons spent with fuel gauge reading empty, driving around tumbleweed strewn SuperU carparks
getting upset looking for a pump that will accept a UK card.

The good news is that SuperU and Leclerc have made changes to their selfpay pumps.
Most (if not all) now not only accept UK Visa cards, but even give you payment instructions in English.

I was actually in Le Mans on Monday, and drove back to Calais on the N138.
I refueled twice at village supermarkets (closed for Easter Monday) using my Visa Debit without breaking a sweat.
I did not inform my bank in advance that I would be abroad.

As a just in case, carry a reserve of Euros - I once resorted to waiting for a local to arrive to refuel, then gave them cash in return for them adding credit at my pump.

Are you going to LM for the 24 in June, or is it an 'off season' visit?
We will be at LM in June - with Defender47 and Monkeyboy. If you're there, take a walk to Houx at some point and we'll offer you a glass of wine.

Bertroex · Post by **Bertroex** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:31 am

Same here: maestro is accepted in most petrol stations now and I also carry a reserve of euros to ask locals.

I'm sorry but I trew out all my credit cards.

Bert

early_911 · Post by **early_911** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:10 pm

How about a Credit Agrigole bank account, anyone tried this?

http://www.britline.com/currentaccount/applying/

Phil

EDIT:
Actually . . . this looks like a bit of a pain.

Surely someone's come up with some kind of fuel card that can be used in France (admittedly only in those remote, out of hours, old style, self service stations)

Is a Maestro card more likely to work than a Visa or Master card?

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:17 pm

Bertroex wrote:Same here: maestro is accepted in most petrol stations now and I also carry a reserve of euros to ask locals.

I'm sorry but I trew out all my credit cards.

Bert

I use Maestro too and it seems to work in most places.

johndglynn · Post by **johndglynn** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:38 pm

My Smile/Co Op Bank and A&L Visa debit cards worked everywhere I tried last year. My Amex worked in the auto machines at Citi Europe last time I tried it, but that was '07.

We've been in France most Bastille days in the last four/five years and were once almost stranded: only non-operational UK and Eire cards and no pay booths open. Took us ages to find a cashier and it was a proper skin of the teeth thing. Sometimes even cash can't get you out of it!