Postcode when buying petrol

[jingles]

Last time when i was travelling through the USA i would swipe my American express card at the fuel bowser and it wuld ask for my postcode, as i have an AU postcide it would not accept it, nor would it accept it if i added a 0 to the beginning or end.

As i will be travelling back to the states soon i would like to know of anyone knows of a generic code which can be used for non USA credit cards?


Cheers

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Last time when i was travelling through the USA i would swipe my American express card at the fuel bowser and it wuld ask for my postcode, as i have an AU postcide it would not accept it, nor would it accept it if i added a 0 to the beginning or end.

As i will be travelling back to the states soon i would like to know of anyone knows of a generic code which can be used for non USA credit cards?

Cheers

Depends on the card issuer / petrol station. Some (e.g. Citibank) will happily work with no number at all. The bowser gives a warning about "can't verify details" and then happily let you select your fuel type. I previously had an AMEX Corporate Card which worked fine in the US with "00000" as the Zip code. I can state that Shell and 76 in Northern Cal both work fine with foreign cards. Though to be fair, I haven't used my Aust card since March (when I got my US one).

All I can suggest is to give Amex Aust a call and ask them if they can enable the card to be used at the bowser.

mt

 

[Optics]

Last time when i was travelling through the USA i would swipe my American express card at the fuel bowser and it wuld ask for my postcode, as i have an AU postcide it would not accept it, nor would it accept it if i added a 0 to the beginning or end.

As i will be travelling back to the states soon i would like to know of anyone knows of a generic code which can be used for non USA credit cards?


Cheers

I always just went to the cashier prior to filling and they usually just swiped my cc and then entered the amount upon completion of the filling. It would be easier if there was a generic code you could use though.

 

[Maca44]

I regularly travel to a small town 90 mins east of Seattle and when I get fuel there using my amex I used the zip for that town and did not have a problem.

 

[Febs]

Had success about 70% of the time entering a 0 on the end of my Australian postcode (or was it the start?) on a recent US trip.

Found this was only a problem in California though. The other 12 states we visisted didn't require postcodes.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[oz_mark]

Had success about 70% of the time entering a 0 on the end of my Australian postcode (or was it the start?) on a recent US trip.

Found this was only a problem in California though. The other 12 states we visisted didn't require postcodes

Makes me wonder what the point is. Or is it only checked if you have a US card?

 

[drron]

I'ved used 10017-midtown east Manhattan and never been knocked back.Seems a pointless security check.

 

[egoode]

Makes me wonder what the point is. Or is it only checked if you have a US card?

At lot of stores in the US ask you for your zip code and when I once asked the assistant why she said it was for statistic purposes and also with the longer 9 or 10 digit code they sometimes use it to send you special offers.

It had nothing to do with verifying the credit card I was using was mine. Generally I use the zip code of the place I'm staying in.

 

[Shano]

I tried to use my AMEX at a service station near LAX in September. Same problem - asked for the postcode but did not like the 3xx_ code I entered. Pity I did not know about the options listed above.....

 

[jingles]

All I can suggest is to give Amex Aust a call and ask them if they can enable the card to be used at the bowser.

Called amex teice and none of them have had any idea, one guy i spoke to did call the USA fort me however couldnt get any information.

Last time i was there i tried a 0 at the beginning and end which didnt work however when i go back shortly i will try 00000 (although i think i tried it), as i will be there for 8 weeks i hope i will find something that works...

 

[straitman]

Called amex teice and none of them have had any idea, one guy i spoke to did call the USA fort me however couldnt get any information.

Last time i was there i tried a 0 at the beginning and end which didnt work however when i go back shortly i will try 00000 (although i think i tried it), as i will be there for 8 weeks i hope i will find something that works...

I had this problem last year at a Walmart. The young girl who was serving just couldn't believe that someone didn't have a US zip code and was not going to let us purchase until I tried putting a zero ahead of my Oz PC, at which point it worked fine. This was in Lafayette Louisiana which could possibly explain things a little :!:

In this case they said it was purely for statistical purposes to work out where they may need new stores. They still haven't opened one down my way yet.

Funny about that :!: :shock:

 

[dot]

Anyone try '90210'?

Seriously, I have had zero sucess with either Corp Amex or my own Visa card when swiping at the bowser (never been asked for a zip code at a service station either) - I have always needed to go inside. I figure it has to do with foreign cards. This has been my experience at a variety of service station brands in North Carolina, Texas, Nevada and California.

When at a ToysRus, KMart, Food Lion, Oshkosh etc and they ask for a zip code, I explain that it wouldnt help their marketing since I am from Oz, they normally say not to worry about it. I have no idea what the shop assistant then puts in on their screen.

 

[NM]

I have never been asked for a zip code when using my Corp Diners Club card to purchase gas in the LOTFAP.

 

[oz_mark]

I had this problem last year at a Walmart. The young girl who was serving just couldn't believe that someone didn't have a US zip code and was not going to let us purchase until I tried putting a zero ahead of my Oz PC, at which point it worked fine. This was in Lafayette Louisiana which could possibly explain things a little :!:

In this case they said it was purely for statistical purposes to work out where they may need new stores. They still haven't opened one down my way yet.

Funny about that :!: :shock:

cause your messing their statistics up!

 

[GDSman]

Anyone try '90210'?

Silly as it sounds I always use 90210 as a generic code when faced with a person/system that absolutely must have something - and it's always worked.....

 

[drron]

I had this problem last year at a Walmart. The young girl who was serving just couldn't believe that someone didn't have a US zip code and was not going to let us purchase until I tried putting a zero ahead of my Oz PC, at which point it worked fine. This was in Lafayette Louisiana which could possibly explain things a little :!:

In this case they said it was purely for statistical purposes to work out where they may need new stores. They still haven't opened one down my way yet.

Funny about that :!: :shock:

Now this one i knew about so I definitely tell them 10017 because NYC wont let them in.

 

[stryker]

I just put a zero in front of my Aussie postcode (NSW). Works 95% of the time.

Makes the zip code somewhere in Massachusetts (02...). Walmart has probably built several stores there by now, based on my responses.

 

[ric_melb]

Have used 92101 - San Diego, when ordering over the internet, and that code worked for me

 

[adrian]

Silly as it sounds I always use 90210 as a generic code when faced with a person/system that absolutely must have something - and it's always worked.....

Same here - i always use 90210 - it is the only one I can remember!

 

[straitman]

cause your messing their statistics up!

Success at last :!: