Debit Cards + Gas Purchases= Can Equal Trouble

I normally don't rant too much but the issue of debit cards and excessive bank fees has really gotten to me. I just read on Consumerist that gasoline stations are putting holds of up to $100 on checking accounts, for gasoline purchases as low as $10. I've heard of this before and that's why I always press credit, even when I'm using a debit card. It takes a few days for the transaction to go through, but it goes through at the exact amount charged.

As this article illustrates, gasoline stations are making a lot of trouble for people. For example, someone has $100 in their account and buys $20 in gasoline. The bank puts a hold for $75, one may still think they have that $80 available to spend (if they aren't aware of a hold). Then they go along, charging little debits here and there. The bank reads the amount available as $25 and each debit that they approve gets slammed with a $30+ bounce fee.

It is very, very unfair to the consumer. I wrote an article for Dollar Stretcher awhile back on the dangers of debit cards. Read it and be aware of what banks and gas stations are doing!