Gas station trick

[kalnel#WN]

I've been trying unsuccessfully to use the gas station trick for months, and I finally got it to work today at a Shell station in Maryland.

I tried the "Lowe's workaround," where you let SP time out and reactivate it from the screen before you use it. As soon as I reactivated it, I stuck my driver's license in the slot, held the phone at a slight angle to the card reader (almost parallel to it, rather than aimed at it), and pulled the license out as normal. I didn't move the phone until I saw "approved" come up on the screen.

I'd be curious if anyone else has noticed that this re-start helps, or if this was just a fluke. (I won't need gas for a while, so I can't re-test this right away. )

 

[jrf1025]

Thanks for sharing Kalnel. After several failed attempts at the gas pump trick, I finally got it to work at a Speedway in FL with my Gear S3. I'll give the "Lowe's workaround" a try next time I go to the stations where the trick failed (7-11 and Cumberland). But might as well stick to what works for now (Speedway)! It's nice to earn some Speedy Rewards PLUS get the trick to work flawlessly I'm also curious to know if the workaround helps anyone else attempting the pump trick.

 

[Scott Currence]

7-11 used to need to be ran as credit, but I noticed lately it will work as debit as well now.

 

[kalnel#WN]

At the pump?

 

[Scott Currence]

Yes, at least at the one by my house. I used to need to make sure the button for "pay here credit" was pushed before the trick was used or it would come back declined. Now it seems that it doesn't matter.

 

[kalnel#WN]

Wow, last time I went to 7-11, I couldn't use Samsung Pay at all, even in the store.

 

[jrf1025]

Hey guys I tried the trick today at 7-11 but like previous visits, it asks for a pin (although I'm using credit card) and transaction just cancels itself out. I did attempt to first select "pay here credit" but makes no difference. I then tried the Lowe's "retry" workaround, but unfortunately same result. I've just never had success at any 7-11 pumps. Since it always seems to be running as debit (asking for a pin), perhaps the solution is simply use my debit card instead?

 

[kalnel#WN]

No advice for you on this one. I tried it again at Shell, and it worked again. Since then, I've mainly been using the Exxon Speedpass app, which has Samsung Pay integrated into it. Not quite as quick as swiping a card, but safer (from skimmers) and easier than the gas-station trick.

 

[jrf1025]

Thanks. I'll be sure to give Shell a shot and may try debit next time at 7-11. Otherwise Speedway worked great for me once. How do you like the Exxon Speedpass app overall? Looks like mixed reviews on the Play Store. One review did say that it worked well with his Gear S3 (only Samsung Pay capable device I have).

 

[kalnel#WN]

I use the Speedpass app with my S6, and it seems to work well -- no failures or glitches that I've found. You pull up to an Exxon or Mobil station, open the app, chose your pump number, and authorize Samsung Pay. Once it authorizes, you have 30 seconds to pick the gas and start pumping. When you're done, drive away.

It's slightly more time-consuming than just waving a phone or fob past the terminal, but after you use it a few times, it's fast enough. Plus, you get some options you wouldn't have with a fob, such as the ability to choose which card you want to use or what kind of receipt you want (paper, email, both/none). And, you can do everything while sitting in your car, so you're not standing in the cold or rain. I also like having the ability to send a receipt from the app to Evernote, Dropbox, etc., if I want.

The only annoying thing I've found is that the receipt does not indicate which credit card you've used in Samsung Pay. Also, the app does not work for food or other purchases at the station, so that's an area they should work on.

I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

 

[jrf1025]

Hey guys just wanted to let you know I finally got it to work at 7-11 with my Gear S3 (after several failed attempts at different 7-11 stations). I recently read somewhere that it's best to use a business card to trigger the pump (or any other card just as long as it doesn't have a mag stripe). Previously, I always used my driver's license (has mag stripe) and even inserting it upside down resulted in running as debit and declining. I've learned that some pumps can still read a mag stripe upside down, which may explain the previous issues. Anyway, using a business card this time, it worked like a charm! For whatever reason I had to select "outside credit" twice, then entered the zip and that's it. Hope this helps those of you attempting the trick.

 

[kalnel#WN]

Good tip. My license doesn't have a magnetic strip, so I guess it doesn't trigger the machine. I haven't tried the trick again in a few months. the Speedpass+ app works well -- and Exxon is the closest station to my house -- so it has been a great solution. I wish other stations would offer something similar (or NFC at the pump). You'd think the skimmer problems would encourage them!

 

[Scott Currence]

Good tip. My license doesn't have a magnetic strip, so I guess it doesn't trigger the machine. I haven't tried the trick again in a few months. the Speedpass+ app works well -- and Exxon is the closest station to my house -- so it has been a great solution. I wish other stations would offer something similar (or NFC at the pump). You'd think the skimmer problems would encourage them!

My local sheetz store just installed nfc at the pumps. Super excited! They said they are rolling them out to all of their stores. But I just used the speed pass with Samsung pay and it does work slick.

 

[kalnel#WN]

My local sheetz store just installed nfc at the pumps. Super excited! They said they are rolling them out to all of their stores. But I just used the speed pass with Samsung pay and it does work slick. //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/af1accbbbdb714c765fc4b9a45f11117.jpg

I'm jealous. No Sheetz stations in my area. :-(

 

[jrf1025]

Same here...Scott's lucky! No Sheetz down in FL...or any other NFC capable pump. Kalnel, do you find Speedpass to not work at times? I haven't tried it myself yet, just going by reviews in the Play Store.

 

[kalnel#WN]

Same here...Scott's lucky! No Sheetz down in FL...or any other NFC capable pump. Kalnel, do you find Speedpass to not work at times? I haven't tried it myself yet, just going by reviews in the Play Store.

Zero problems. I've used it 11 times since March, and it has worked flawlessly every time at three different stations (2 Exxons, 1 Mobil). It felt like it took a lot longer than swiping a card when I first started using it (opening the app, clicking a few options, etc.) but once I used it a few times, it became quick and easy.

I just took a look at the Play Store comments, and I wonder how many of them relate to using a credit card with the app, as opposed to using Samsung Pay with it. In my experience, the charge authorizes very quickly, just as it does with any SP purchase.

 

[jrf1025]

Thanks, will give it a try. Although you make an interesting point using Speedpass with SP vs a CC. Since I just have a Gear S3 and not an SP-capable phone, I'd probably need to go the CC route for now when using Speedpass (I hope to get an SP phone later this year).

 

[kalnel#WN]

Thanks, will give it a try. Although you make an interesting point using Speedpass with SP vs a CC. Since I just have a Gear S3 and not an SP-capable phone, I'd probably need to go the CC route for now when using Speedpass (I hope to get an SP phone later this year).

A day or two after I wrote the post about Speedpass+, I rolled into my local Exxon and got a message that the station was having problems and couldn't connect. I had some other errands to run, so I tried another Exxon a few hours later, and I went through fine.

So, in all fairness, it's no longer flawless.

Good luck with the gas-station trick. Please report back!

 

[phreddie04]

Is y'all's Samsung pay still working with the speedpass+ app? it was working beautifully for the first month or so, but had all of a sudden stopped. When I click "authorize pump" and use my fingerprint or pin to authorize Samsung pay, it just jumps back to the authorize pump screen.

If I select a different form of payment (regular credit card added to the app) it works fine. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app, logging out, restarting phone, nothing seems to make the Samsung pay portion work.

it's a huge disappointment when I drive out of my way specifically so I can use this and then it doesn't work!

 

[kalnel#WN]

I haven't used it in about 10 days, but I haven't had any problems. I've used it at five or six different stations.