Do you get a receipt at the gas pump?

[Tiny]

Do you pay at the pump or go in and pay?  Do you get a receipt?   


I haven't gotten a receipt for gas in over a decade.   If you aren't able to expense your gas cost to your employer, do you need a receipt?   Does a receipt for gas serve a useful purpose? 


on a side note:   I noticed that I don't get a receipt at the ATM - I deposited a check and the ATM didn't ask me if I wanted a receipt.   Same thing when I did a withdrawal of cash.       

[msventoux]

I pay at the pump, always. I’ve never paid inside a store. Day to day I don’t bother with a receipt. I input the charge into YNAB on my phone and so far haven’t had any discrepancies. If I’m road tripping I’ll usually get a receipt. Fuel prices here can vary greatly depending on how remote the location is and I find it interesting to compare price per gallon after the end of the trip. 

I’ve also never used an ATM machine. I have cash on me for emergencies that I almost never use.  If I need more cash I’ll stop and go into a teller at a bank sometime.  I shredded the ATM/debit card from my bank years ago and never memorized the PIN. If I did use ATM’s I would want a receipt if that was an option, and would be very unhappy if it wasn’t an option. 

[nidena]

I never pay at the pump.  I've been skimmed twice so I now take the extra step to avoid it happening again.  I do get a receipt but only when I get snacks.  I then upload the receipt to Fetch Rewards.

[NoNamePerson]

I pay inside but because the station where I get gas is the only place I can find a particular candy bar that I like!  Pump doesn’t dispense candy.  Also don’t know if pump will take visa gift cards and I’ve been using visa gift cards for about two years now. 

eta. Sometimes I get receipt. When I used CC I always got receipt. The anal bookkeeper in me rears it’s ugly head. 

[TheOtherMe]

I pay at the pump.  I keep track of the cost.  If the pump doesn't give me a receipt, I leave.  

[daisylu]

Most days I do. I've known people who didn't get a receipt at the pump and drove off - later to be pulled over by police for not paying for gas. Mistaken identity and cleared up quickly, but what a pain. 

[NoNamePerson]

I've actually gotten someone else's receipt because they drove off and left it at the pump. Not that I have any use for it but DUDH!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Yes; that way I know it’s closed out my card.

[NoNamePerson]

Inside the clerk always ask if I want a receipt. Even when paying with Visa gift card. 

[wvugurl26]

I take the receipt to avoid situations like daisy mentioned. If the printer is out of paper, I don't go in to get it for my personal car. If I was traveling for work I would go in and get it. According to travel regulations as long as it's under $75 and not certain things, I don't need a receipt. However, my admins want all receipts. In the days before I had an EZ pass, I was told I should have got a receipt for cash tolls. I thought they were nuts and I wasn't holding up the line to get a receipt. In my area, it's not a secret how much the tolls are up I-95 north between Baltimore and Philly. They could have verified the cost.

I use the ATM at Wawa or Sheetz for no fees. It offers the option of a receipt. We only go in the bank if we need to replenish our small bills. Lobby hours overlap with our working hours so it's not convenient.

[Tiny]

May 18, 2024 7:52:19 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Most days I do. I've known people who didn't get a receipt at the pump and drove off - later to be pulled over by police for not paying for gas. Mistaken identity and cleared up quickly, but what a pain. 

Just a comment:  I don't think being able to pump gas and not pay before hand can happen where I live.   You either have to go into the Little Store and pay (cash or have your credit card accepted) and then the pump you are using will be "turned on" and you can go out and pump gas (if you paid with a $20 bill cash - when the pump dispenses $20 worth of gas it shuts off - you can't pump more than you prepaid for if you used a cc you can fill your tank and your card will be charged)  OR  you tap/insert your card at the pump and wait for it to be accepted.  If it's not accepted - you can't pump gas. 

In the past I've used a "gas branded" gift card at the pump  of the "gas brand" the card was for - and if the pump didn't accept the card - I couldn't pump gas.   If it did accept the card - I could pump gas and the amount I purchased would be taken off the card OR the pump would stop pumping when the card value reached zero.   

[billisonboard]

I use Samsung Wallet which gives me an almost instant receipt. I also always press no to receipt and watch for the pump to reset before I leave it.

[jerseygirl]

Reading this makes me again happy to have a Tesla, so many fewer complications
Also prior to Tesla , I m a Jerseygirl - we don’t pump gas!

[Opti]

May 17, 2024 23:17:30 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Do you pay at the pump or go in and pay?  Do you get a receipt?   


I haven't gotten a receipt for gas in over a decade.   If you aren't able to expense your gas cost to your employer, do you need a receipt?   Does a receipt for gas serve a useful purpose? 


on a side note:   I noticed that I don't get a receipt at the ATM - I deposited a check and the ATM didn't ask me if I wanted a receipt.   Same thing when I did a withdrawal of cash.       

Since I live in NJ you would get a receipt because attendants pump the gas. I'm a bit weirded out by the lack of receipt at the ATM. I thought a receipt was legally required for anything other than just displaying one's balance.

[thyme4change]

I pay via my electric bill - never pump!

I love my EV.

[tractor]

I never get a receipt, doesn't matter what I'm buying, such a waste of paper. I can always show proof of payment via my app, so far I've never had to.

[NastyWoman]

I do. There is the option to get a printed receipt at the pump and I want one, not so much for the amount spend (we are still at or around $5/gallon) but for the date. I try to keep track of how often I need to get gas - turns out that is about every other month. Unless I have visitors and we take a road trip of course.

[Artemis Windsong]

Yes.  The one time H. didn't get a receipt, the price at the pump was not the price he was charged.  He was driving, doing them math when he realized what happened.  It took some calls and some time to get the money back.  A receipt would have cinched it.

[mollyanna58]

I am in NJ where it is illegal to pump your own gas. The attendants usually ask if I was a receipt and I always say yes.

[NoNamePerson]

I’ll try to remember the NJ law about pumping gas if I ever have occasion to drive while there.  If someone approached me at pump I would think I was going to be robbed.     I’ve been pumping own gas since mid to late 70’s. Back then there was a good mix of pump your own and full service stations so personal choice! 

[minnesotapaintlady]

I pay at the pump and never get a receipt.  Just more paper to throw away.  My credit card instantly sends me a text notification of the payment and that's all I need.

[busymom]

I always get a receipt.  There is a problem with people driving off without paying here, and I want proof in case I'm falsely accused of not paying.  

[bean29]

May 18, 2024 1:16:06 GMT -5 nidena said:

I never pay at the pump.  I've been skimmed twice so I now take the extra step to avoid it happening again.  I do get a receipt but only when I get snacks.  I then upload the receipt to Fetch Rewards.

I won’t fill up if they don’t have pay at the pump. I use apple pay. It creates a temporary # for each transaction. You open iit to scan the CC, then just make sure the charge shows in the app before you drive away. Also use apple pay at stores and for fast food.

[nidena]

May 19, 2024 7:42:07 GMT -5 bean29 said:

May 18, 2024 1:16:06 GMT -5 nidena said:

I never pay at the pump.  I've been skimmed twice so I now take the extra step to avoid it happening again.  I do get a receipt but only when I get snacks.  I then upload the receipt to Fetch Rewards.

I won’t fill up if they don’t have pay at the pump. I use apple pay. It creates a temporary # for each transaction. You open iit to scan the CC, then just make sure the charge shows in the app before you drive away. Also use apple pay at stores and for fast food.

I don't use Apple products or do any financial transactions on my phone so your method is useless to me.

[minnesotapaintlady]

May 18, 2024 9:37:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

May 18, 2024 7:52:19 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Most days I do. I've known people who didn't get a receipt at the pump and drove off - later to be pulled over by police for not paying for gas. Mistaken identity and cleared up quickly, but what a pain. 

Just a comment:  I don't think being able to pump gas and not pay before hand can happen where I live.   You either have to go into the Little Store and pay (cash or have your credit card accepted) and then the pump you are using will be "turned on" and you can go out and pump gas (if you paid with a $20 bill cash - when the pump dispenses $20 worth of gas it shuts off - you can't pump more than you prepaid for if you used a cc you can fill your tank and your card will be charged)  OR  you tap/insert your card at the pump and wait for it to be accepted.  If it's not accepted - you can't pump gas. 

In the past I've used a "gas branded" gift card at the pump  of the "gas brand" the card was for - and if the pump didn't accept the card - I couldn't pump gas.   If it did accept the card - I could pump gas and the amount I purchased would be taken off the card OR the pump would stop pumping when the card value reached zero.   

That's how it is here.  You either pay at the pump or pre-pay inside and the pump shuts off at the amount you paid.  Gas drive offs just aren't a thing.

But, like Bean, I won't even go to a station that doesn't have pay at the pump...which is all of them these days.  I fill up at least one of the cars every week and have been doing it for possibly decades now with zero issues never getting a receipt.  These days most of the pumps have Tap and Go as well so you don't even need to insert your card.  I'll use my Google Wallet and get an instant digital transaction record to my phone.

[tallguy]

Even though I no longer track my spending to any real degree, I still want a receipt for all my spending.  With gas purchases in particular, I used to track both price per gallon and miles per gallon over time.  I no longer do that either, but I do have my own little anti-fraud strategy.  Every gas purchase is an even dollar amount.  When the pump shuts off I push it to the next even dollar.  If there is ever a charge on my statement that is not an even dollar I will know that it is fraudulent.  Has never happened yet, but I'll know if it does.  

[Deleted]

No receipt for me. I do check my credit card statement often enough online to catch anything. (I hope.)

[seriousthistime]

I've tried to get a receipt when I pay at the pump.  To me, it shows the transaction is complete and no one can come up behind me and start filling their car on my dime.   I bet that once you put the pump handle back in place, that ends the transaction but I liked that peace of mind.  I'm weird. 

[susana1954]

I do get a receipt only so I can enter the amount in my online register when I get home.  I have a 2015 copy of Quicken so I don't have to pay monthly, but I have to enter transactions manually.  Not a big deal.  

The ATM at my bank sends email receipts (if you select that option), which I really like.  That's the only ATM I use.

[souldoubt]

When I use my card for gas I pay at the pump and get a receipt.  I've heard enough stories over the years about people getting charged more than they should have one of which involved seriousthistime's concern as the person working there went out and topped off their tank because the transaction wasn't completed.  When I use my card somewhere I don't normally go if the charge is over a certain amount I'll get a receipt to ensure the proper amount clears.  For places I regularly go to I usually pass on the receipt and know the amount (pending until it clears) + any tip to enter into my excel workbook.  That said I know I'm OCD when it comes to tracking my finances and spending to a level 99% of people aren't.