Last time I wanted to fill up a car with when visiting the USA, the petrol(gas!) pump would ask me to insert my credit card and enter my zip code.
As, being a UK resident I don't have a zip code, I could never do this, and I used to have to give my card to the attendant and ask them to release the pump.
Is there any other way to bypass this problem, given that I want to pay by a UK credit (or debit) card?
Use 20500-0001
I lived in the US for 30 years until November 2010, and never found this, despite travelling to many States, so it must be something new. I would suggest contacting some of the major suppliers and asking them, to see if they have any suggestions. Maybe it's just one or two suppliers, or possibly a local thing. Good luck. These things have a way of being "beyond our control", especially to the guy behind the window.
I would imagine the reason for asking is an anti-fraud measure ... I've had some web payment gateways check me by asking for *my* postcode, and the postcode the card bills get sent to. I suspect an incorrect answer would lead to the card being declined.
Sadly a lot of USians just forget about the other 95% of the world when it comes to a lot of things. Even if you can find a US company that ships overseas (in itself a rarity) it's not uncommon to discover their web forms don't have a "Country" option.
What's even more common is US companies - and some so called UK ones using US software - demanding a county as part of the address. Which is irrelevant for much of the UK.
Its all about tracking and they will tell you security, but who knows. Brian
Come on, it's worse when UK companies demand "state".
you can also tell if it's US software by the word "Expiration". We tend to say "Expiry".
I notice that the software used by DPD and Interlink is probably US- derived.
My package spent part of last night at their "sortation facility". You wonder if GW Bush was involved.
Quite - although it's obvious when it's simply changed to county.
Get those London centric blinkers off again Dave.
Most of the UK *is* in a County. What is more annoying is asking for a "state" or "City". B-)
Pissed?
Speak for yourself! :-)
Or when UK companies ask for your country and United Kingdom is right at the bottom of the drop-down list. It wouldn't take much to put it at the top.
Or when a DVD offers you a language menu, and it's on the last of about five pages.
I had this a few times when on holiday last year in CA but it was no problem. The attendant always sorted it out. They are starting to believe that there is life outside of the US of A
24Hr places usually have a pump that accepts notes.
Most of London is in a county too.
They are buggered when they come over here with unchipped cards.
no they aren't, they just sign - as we used to.
Comes from starting with "U"!
(as a shortcut, just click the dropdown, then hit U a few times until its selected (it will cycle thorough all the "U"s in sequence))
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