Pilot Travel Center faces two potential class action lawsuits stemming over allegations that the gas and convenient store chain engages in a credit card scheme by placing authorization “holds” on fuel purchases that are significantly greater than the actual cost.
Lead plaintiffs Laurie Anderson and Chase Mosely both of Tennessee filed separate, but nearly identical Pilot Flying J class action lawsuits yesterday, claiming that Pilot intentionally conceals its credit card “holds” from paying customers.
Anderson and Mosely say they used a “pay-at-the-pump” machine to purchase gas at different Tennessee Pilot Travel Center locations only to discover that the company placed a hold on their credit card that caused a portion of the plaintiffs’ credit line to be artificially frozen for several days after.
The Pilot class action lawsuit states that while a typical credit card hold is $75 for a passenger vehicle, Pilot routinely holds onto $500 for semi-truck customers who who use their stations to fill-up.
According to the lawsuit, Pilot does not warn its customers of the impending holds on their credit cards despite the ample opportunity to do so. The plaintiffs point to the actual fuel pumps which are “littered” with signs, stickers and video screens which advertise various products. They believe Pilot could have used those machines to inform customers of its “hold” practices, but they do not.
“Little does the average customer know, however, that behind the scenes, as he or she stares at the ‘authorizing’ message on the card-reader on the pay-at-the-pump machine, computers are already imposing a ‘block’ or a ‘hold’ on their credit accounts – reserving a substantially larger portion of their available credit card balances than necessary to complete their fuel purchases,” the Pilot class action lawsuit states.
Anderson and Mosely accuse Pilot of fraudulent concealment stating that the gas station chain has a duty to inform customers of its credit card hold policy because the details are only known to them. The plaintiffs also bring claims of breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
If approved, Anderson seeks to represent a Class of Tennessee Pilot Flying J customers who purchased fuel using a Visa or MasterCard who were not informed that Pilot would require a preauthorization hold in an amount greater than the actual purchase of fuel. Mosely also wants to represent a Class of Tennessee residents who used an American Express credit card at Tennessee Pilot locations.
Both Anderson and Mosely are represented by Gordon Ball of Gordon Ball, PLLC; Thomas C. Jessee of Jessee & Jessee; and Lance K. Baker of The Baker Law Firm.
The Pilot Flying J Excessive Credit Card Holds Class Action Lawsuits are Laurie Anderson, et al. v. Pilot Corporation, et al., Case No. 24663 in the Circuit Court for Jefferson County, Tennessee and Chase Mosely, et al. v. Pilot Corporation, et al., Case No. 16-cv-137 in the Circuity Court for Sevier County, Tennessee.
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61 thoughts onPilot Travel Center Faces Credit Card ‘Hold’ Class Action Lawsuits
Just filled my tank on Friday at a PILOT along my route to work, it’s not a place I usually stop at but I was running low and with a long commute and frequent traffic, I thought I might as well. This was Friday morning around 8AM, it’s now Tuesday afternoon at 1:43PM and I STILL have a pending withdrawn of $151.00 on my account that I can’t use. I did some research today and found multiple articles saying the same thing and it’s partially because I bank with a small banking institution. RIDICULOUS!!!! Never again!!
A new pilot station has just opened along I-15 in Northen AZ 100 miles from las Vegas I was looking forward to buying gas there but scene hearing about this I will not be purchasing gas from Any pilot location.
Since this article was published in March, 2016, it looks like nothing will change.
I was checking my charges from my trip home from Texas to Virginia this week. I have exactly the same situation as others have posted: a charge for under $25 incurred on 4/28 that cleared my bank the next day with a still-pending charge of $151 today (May 2). Guess I won’t be stopping at Pilot again.
A new pilot station has opened along 1-15 in AZ. I was looking forward to buy gas there but since earning of this I will not be stopping at any pilot station.
Just happen to us in Tehachapi, CA.
I guess this is really a BAD practice. A big truck CANNOT pump gas at the pump a fueled to. Still I got my charge of less than $17 AND another pre-authorization charge of $151. Not a big problem if they would let you know that both would show up.
It cost me some time to log in cancel the card. call the Credit Card Company to make sure , wait for a new card for a few days.
I have fueled on this month long trip to quite a few gas stations (mostly LOVE) and the pre-authorization was ONLY $1 (yes, one dollar).
I guess I will bypass PILOT if I can.
Same story at Pilot/Flying J #752 at 1530 Rest Church Road, Winchester, VA. When I called to see what was going on, I spoke with Gregory, who belligerently told me this excessive amount of money was to cover any drive-off theft I might commit while filling my 16.6 gallon tank.
Because of this draconian policy, the assumption that I am a thief, and the rudeness of this particular employee, I am complaining to the corporate headquarters, canceling my loyalty card, and telling them I want all personal user information expunged from their computers.
My real complaint is that they are not treating me with the respect that customers, as human beings, deserve. I don’t see any way that legal action can remedy that. In addition,the anti-consumer bias of the current administration and Supreme Court lead me to believe that legal action will fail to stop this absurd practice.
This just happened to my wife and I while traveling through Ocala Florida (4032 W. Hwy 326). When she attempted to pay at the pump she was instructed to see the cashier. She prepaid $20 on her card and was never told about the fee/hold nor did she authorize it. She got $18 in fuel but was still charged $20. The gas station then charged $151. Our bank later called us to report fraudulent activity so we cancelled the card. Now we’re on vacation without access to our bank card. I contacted the store and the Co-Manager April told us that their site and all Pilot and Flying-J stations do it to their customers. Will NEVER do business with them again and will tell everyone I know about this scheme.
Here in Va
Me too last week.. $26 purchase and are holding $151.00. Will lose my business
Here in Va
The same thing has happened to me at the Pilot in Valdosta, GA. I used my VISA debit card as a credit card at the pump. I received a text message alerting me to a charge of $151.00. I nearly had a heart attack. My vehicle won’t even hold that much gas.
It just happened to me. How long do they hold it?