Four of the UK’s major supermarket chains have been forced to clarify how motorists pay for their fuel at petrol stations.
After reports this week claimed that Asda was the latest supermarket to bring in the controversial new £99 deposit rule for people using ‘Pay at Pump’ services, which sees it following in the footsteps of Tesco and Sainsbury’s, it’s sparked its fair share of backlash from motorists condemning its introduction, and many confused as to what it actually is.
If you’re unfamiliar with the situation that’s been unfolding since last summer and the changes that have been made, then it basically refers to the deposit amount which is taken when using ‘Pay at Pump’ facilities.
Previously, all ‘Pay at Pump’ transactions were authorised by simply requesting a £1 transaction from your card issuer, before taking payment for the value of the fuel one to three days later, but back in June 2021, new rules imposed by Visa and Mastercard saw that pre-authorisation amount rise up to £99 at some retailers.
This means your bank may create a temporary hold of up to £99 while you fill up.
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On completing the transaction, the actual amount is deducted immediately from your account, and the pre-authorised amount is immediately cancelled.
Previously, all ‘Pay at Pump’ transactions were authorised by requesting a £1 transaction from your card issuer / Credit: Pixabay
Mastercard explained in a statement shared to its website last year: “The way you pay for your fuel at an automated fuel pump in the UK is changing.
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“Your card issuer/bank will temporarily reserve up to £99 of your available balance while you fill up [and] then when you have completed fuelling, you’ll be charged for the correct amount of fuel you have used and the remainder of any reserved funds will be released back to your available balance.”
While some supermarkets immediately rolled out this update to pre-authorisation payments, others have just started to trial the process.
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Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons were the three supermarket chains to announce the changes to the pre-authorisation amounts for ‘Pay at Pump’ facilites last year, with Asda – which was said to have already been forced to suspend a similar scheme three years ago after complaints from motorists – reported to be bringing the change in this year.
But now, each of those retailers have had their say to confirm the latest.
As per widespread reports this week, which have already garnered backlash from motorists confused at the situation and demanding explanation, Asda is currently in the process of changing its pre-authorisation rules to raise the deposit amount, but it has clarified how this will work in a statement.
The supermarket said: “On completing the transaction, the actual amount is deducted immediately from your account and the pre-authorised amount is immediately cancelled.
“The solution makes it easier for you to keep control of your finances when you pay for your petrol at the pump, however, if an issue does arise you should first contact the bank that issued your card.”
Morrisons
Out of the initial three supermarkets to implement the new rule, Morrisons was the last to introduce it, having only officially adopted the hiked pre-authorisation charge back in November 2021.
Explaining more about the process in a statement at the time, Morrisons said: “Under new rules, implemented by Mastercard and Visa, we must now request authorisation from your card issuer for up to £100.
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“Once you’ve finished filling up, the final transaction amount is sent to your card issuer.
New rules may mean your bank creates a temporary hold of up to £99 while you fill up your vehicle / Credit: Marco Verch (via Flickr)
Tesco
Tesco is currently in the process of trialling the £99 pre-authorisation payment rule.
After announcing the trial back in June 2021, and coming up against a significant amount of consumer backlash, the supermarket explained in a statement: “We are currently trialling this change in selected locations, so you may find this payment change happens at one petrol station but not at another.
“If you have a problem with a payment, please contact your bank that issued the card, as this new payment rule is not under our control.”
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They added: “There may be a small number of occasions where your card issuer doesn’t update your balance in real-time [but] we’ll only ever charge you for the value of the fuel you’ve purchased.”
Sainsbury’s
It’s been reported that around 60 ‘Pay at Pump’ facilites at Sainsbury’s stores across the UK currently request a pre-authorisation amount of £100, before starting the fuel-filling process, with the supermarket’s website explaining that: “Under new industry requirements mandated by Visa and MasterCard, self-service pumps at Sainsbury’s Petrol Forecourts will request a £100 pre-authorisation amount before starting the fuelling process.
“This is to ensure that customers have sufficient funds to cover the cost of fuel dispensed.
“When the transaction has completed, the Pay at Pump terminal will send a message to your bank with the actual transaction amount which will be charged to the customer; the pre-authorisation amount will be almost immediately released back to the customer’s account.
“The introduction of this change means that the customer will almost immediately see the actual value of fuel dispensed in their bank account.”
Featured Image – iStockphoto
News
Fundraiser set up for surviving taxi passengers involved in fatal Bolton crash last weekend
Emily Sergeant
A fundraiser has been set up for the surviving taxi passengers involved in a devastating and fatal head-on collision in Bolton last weekend.
At around 12:45am last weekend (Sunday 11 January), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports of a collision on Wigan Road in Bolton, where a Seat Leon was travelling down the road and collided with a Citroen C4 Picasso – which was a taxi.
The driver of the Seat, and two passengers – who were all aged between 18 and 19 – have died following the collision.
The driver of the Citroen was also sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The three teenagers have been named by GMP as Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel, and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, all from Bolton, while the taxi driver was named as Masrob Ali from Blackburn.
Police are appealing after a serious crash between a car and a taxi in Bolton leaves four dead and five others injured.
Funerals have already taken place for each of the deceased and a number of fundrasiers have previously been set up in memory of Masrob – who was a father of four – for his grieving family, which you can donate to here.
Two of the victims have been named as Tom and George Daniels, aged 29 and 28, while the identities of the other two have been withheld in order to protect and respect their privacy, although it has been confirmed by GMP that they are a 29-year-old female and a 30-year-old male.
According to the GoFundMe page, set up for the four victims by close friends Lucie Wilson and Jake Regan, the injuries sustained by the four passengers vary in severity from serious internal injuries, injuries to the brain, and ‘unimaginable trauma’.
Tom and George Daniels, two of the survivors of a fatal crash in Bolton last weekend / Credit: GoFundMe
“The road ahead for all of them is long, uncertain, and deeply challenging, requiring extensive medical care, time, and support,” Lucie explained on the GoFundMe page.
The funds raised will be shared between all survivors in the taxi.
The description on the GoFundMe page reads: “The money raised is intended to support immediate expenses not covered by insurance. This is to help relieve some of the additional pressure on their families, allowing them to focus entirely on healing.”
Any contribution, no matter the size, is said to go towards making a ‘meaningful difference’ as the survivors begin to navigate their lives ahead.
The families of the survivors have also kindly asked that any ‘anger or frustration felt is directed not towards blame or hate, but towards hope, healing, and recover’.
More than £26,000 has already been raised (at the time of writing), with donations rising by the minute, and if you would like to contribute, you can do so here.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) is still appealing for information and witnesses, and are urging anyone that may be able to help to come forward. This includes anyone who saw the vehicle driving before the collision, witnessed the incident itself, or has dashcam / CCTV footage.
Can you help? Anyone with any information is urged to contact the SCIU directly on 0161 856 4741, quoting log 111 of 11/01/2025.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In yet more huge sporting news for Greater Manchester, the 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to 0161 later this year.
We’ve had plenty of big peaks of late, but things seem to just keep going up and up.
Set to host the global event for the first time in our history, Manchester will welcome the World Climbing Series (WCS), which is set to include both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines ahead of the next Summer Games in 2028.
2027 will mark the 38th edition of the series, which will also be one of only a handful to be held in the North – it’s just down to our city to make it the best.
Officially announced on Friday, 16 January, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) confirmed the return to the UK.
Founded back in 1989, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is coming up on four decades since the competition first began – Leeds being chosen as the inaugural hosts – the event has come a long way since then.
The IFSC’s rebranding of the annual bouldering, lead and speed trials to the modern WSC, which began last year, was initially revealed back in 2023.
Welcoming continental talent right down to the youth level, the upcoming 2026 World Climbing Series is taking place in the summer and will be hosted by the city of Innsbruck in Austria.
As for the WSC’s Manchester debut, which is being organised in collaboration with the City Council, Manchester Accommodation BID, MCR Active and the National Lottery via UK Sport investment.
It’s not the only big sporting celebration that the Council will be supporting in 2027.
Paul Ratcliffe, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, said in an official statement: “It’s exciting to be able to confirm that a World Series climbing event will return to the UK in 2027 as part of the BMC’s major event programme.
“Hosting a competition of this scale in Manchester is a strong statement about the UK’s place on the international climbing stage and a great opportunity for our athletes, fans, the climbing community and the wider public to experience the sport at the very highest level.
“Our ‘Route to Adventure’ strategy sets out how we will build on moments like this to support people into climbing and help them progress, whatever their starting point. Using major events to inspire participation, strengthen pathways and reinforce our commitment to inclusion is central to our long-term approach.”
Scheduled to take place in June, you can find out more information about the 2027 World Climbing Series in Manchester by signing up for the official event mailing list HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
15th February 2022 
