Garage card advice.

Park@82

Park@82

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I need to get a garage card, I am currently with ABSA. As far as I understand it, I can get it linked to my cheque account or to my credit card account or I can get a separate account for it. But I am not sure what would be the best option and what the interest implications would be. I am unsure about how exactly garage cards work (interest, payments periods etc.) so any advice would be appreciated greatly.

Thanks.:)
 
Garage card to cheque account - pay a small fee for each transaction - like R2.
Money comes off your cheque account.
Garage card to credit account - pay a small fee for each transaction - like R2.
But here u pay interest on the money u take out, even if u settle your account each month.
I queried this, they say that any money taken out of your account as cash or petrol transactions will always accrue ineterest irrespective if u decide to settle each month.
But interest is not much (i guess depends on how much you fill).
 
Mine is just linked to my cheque account and when I fill up with my garage card it goes off that account. Not sure if you can link it to a credit account.
 
Also with ABSA and linked it to my cheque account.
Have the Platinum package so pay no extra charges.

I paid for my fuel at a BP garage using my Credit card by mistake and didn't get charged extra.

Yes a normal credit card - at the BP in Monte Vista..
 
Just use your credit card -- no need to get a separate garage/petrol card. Unless there's a specific reason?
 
Thanks for the replies guys!

texo said:
Just use your credit card -- no need to get a separate garage/petrol card. Unless there's a specific reason?
Click to expand...

Can I use a credit card at any petrol station? And what about toll gates?
 
Yes, credit cards are required to be accepted at all petrol stations. I've used my credit card at toll gates without a problem, too.
 
The law has changed and you can use the credit card to buy petrol, but not all service stations support it yet. so just enquire before filling.
 
texo said:
Yes, credit cards are required to be accepted at all petrol stations. I've used my credit card at toll gates without a problem, too.
Click to expand...
And yet they're not so I'd also enquire first.
 
using my FNB garage card was R150 annual fee and R3.75 per swipe. Using it for 10 toll swipes JHB -DUR-JHB cost R37.50. Did away with garage card, use my credit card for everything now and all swipes are free.

Between a debit and a credit card, I see no need for more plastic of a garge card in my wallet.
 
Thanks again guys. Just out of interest, does a credit card work at the self-help kiosks at tollgate plazas?
 
alf101 said:
There are some small towns that don't take them yet, or debit cards.
Just cash and a garage card.
Click to expand...
I've seen plenty of forecourt signs written along the lines of "we do not accept creditcards" here in PE . . . but then you covered that. :D
 
bwana said:
And yet they're not so I'd also enquire first.
Click to expand...

That's because there is a 5% comission on credit card payments (but not on garage cards), so there are quite a lot of garages that for this reason don't accept credit cards.
 
Garage cards are a uniquely SA oddity. Came about as a way for banks to sell fuel on credit when Government said fuel could not be bought on credit. So banks "advanced" you the money on a garage card (therefore the interest charge). But i undersand with theexpected influx of overseas tourists for WC government changed law so credit cards could be used.
 
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