• Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008

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Gasoline prices aren't just high, they're inconvenient

By Scott Andron | Miami Herald

As if owners of sport utility vehicles didn't have enough trouble, with gas around $4 a gallon, a quirk at the pump is adding a little insult to that injury.

Most pumps won't accept transactions over $75. They just stop. The driver can then restart the pump by swiping the credit card again and starting a new transaction. Or you can avoid the problem altogether by paying at the counter. It's the latest sign of how rising gas prices are having unexpected consequences.

The $75 limit — some places let you go to $100 — is a security feature to protect merchants and consumers from fraud, said Tristan Jordan, a spokesman for MasterCard Worldwide. MasterCard won't hold the merchant accountable for a fraudulent transaction of under $75.

Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com.

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