Rainbow Market

Rainbow Market located at 7590 Colbert Drive in Reno, Nevada 89511 advertises that their gas prices are; $2.259 per gallon for cash, and $2.319 per gallon for credit cards. I prepaid in the store for my gas with my debit card and as I was pumping my gas I noticed I was charged the credit card price. I went back inside the store and told the cashier I was charged the credit card price when I used my debit card, and her response was, " I pushed debit, that's just how the system is." I explained to her a debit card is the same as cash but she just repeated that's just how the system is.Product_Or_Service: GasolineAccount_Number: 01/29/16 16:34:49 STDesired SettlementI pumped 16.816 gallons and Rainbow Market owes me $1.01. I realize this isn't a lot of money for just one person, but if they're over charging everyone who uses their debit card with their false advertising, that's a lot of money.Business Response My name is [redacted]. I am the owner of the five Rainbow Markets in the Reno/Sparks area. I am sorry for the misunderstanding, and the response from our employee. We have undergone some necessary turnover at the Colbert Drive location, and we obviously have some more training to do. That being said, I disagree with the assertion that customers are being overcharged. Debit is not the same as cash for one reason:Debit transactions are subject to a "line charge" from the processing company. The customer no doubt has noticed that at some of our competitors that line charge is paid by the customer, for instance, [redacted] assesses $.45 for debit transactions and does not do credit.At Rainbow Markets we absorb the line charges. The customer is right in that the charges add up. At last check, line charges for card based purchases come out to about $100 thousand annually per store, and card based purchases are on the rise as customers prefer them over cash.The difference in our cash vs. card price is not an extra charge. It is a discount offered to customers whose method of payment does not subject the store to additional charges.Line charges have been a major issue in this industry, where profit margins are notoriously low. When a customer buys an item for around $1.00, for instance, and pays with a debit card, the store is actually losing money on the sale.If the customer cares to check, she will find at all of our stores a decal on every pump that states:NOTICEDue to the rising processing charges for debit and credit transactions:There is now a discounted fuel price for customers paying cash.- in red underlined.Please be sure to check the posted cash prices before fueling.I take personally the claim that we are "false advertising." It is easy to hurl insults in this electronic age and not see the damage they do to businesses and reputations.I hope the customer will read these comments and check the facts independently.For our part, I am willing to refund her $1.01, out of my own pocket, due to our clerk's poor response. She can make arrangements by contacting me, the owner, at my office number which is posted in the window of every store: (775) 355-8290.Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)

I attempted to use my [redacted] debit card to purchase gas at Rainbow Market gas station, 1225 Commerce st in Sparks Nv. When I swiped my card through the machine, a message stated that I needed to please see cashier inside. When I spoke to the cashier, she informed me that there was only $1.98 on the card, and that there was nothing that could be done. I then went home and accessed my debit card account which showed that there were two holds, in the amount of $75.00 each, on the card which brought the balance down to zero. I called [redacted], and asked why this happened, the representative informed me that merchants do this to insure the transaction is completed before the funds are released. The problem with that is that there was no transaction pending; There was never a service rendered, which was $20.00 in gas. Now, in addition to leaving me no money on the card account, I was informed that it could take up to 5 business days to refund the $150.00 back to the card. In addition to the transaction complaint, I am filing a complaint concerning the manager of the Rainbow Market who informed me that I could not get gas. In my judgment, she didnt attempt at all to resolve the problem, attributing the problem back to my ignorance concerning the capability of using an [redacted] card outside, which apparently cant be done. Also, here is a question that I have for the What legal grounds does a merchant have to hold up to $150.00 worth of consumers debit card funds where there wasnt even a service rendered? I would like justice to be done in this situation, as it has made worse an already bad financial hardship. If there are such legal grounds, I would like to see it in writing. If it isnt documented anywhere, than I have no choice but to conclude that it is not legal, and that such practices should be prevented in the future. Thank you for your consideration and time extended on this issue. Sincerely, [redacted]Product_Or_Service: gasDesired SettlementImmediate refund of the $150.00 that was held on my cardBusiness Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted]Contact Phone: [redacted]I am sympathetic to the customer. They are being mistreated by their financial institution, and when confronted they are passing the buck with a lie. We are a small company with five stores. I can assure the customer we do not have the sophistication nor the will to execute such financial manipulations. This issue has come up before, usually the bank is [redacted]. We have researched it through our processing company. They have assured us that the hold is placed by the bank, who apparently instructs their employees to spread misinformation (lie) to their customers and put it back on the retailer. By the time the customer can fully research the issue, the matter is resolved. I would echo the customer's sentiments, What right does a financial institution have to hold funds that do not belong to them when no transaction took place?The only help I can offer is to tell the customer that this hold takes place when a pump is activated with no set amount. the bank places a $75 hold as a standard amount of a fill-up. The pump will also cut off at $75 and not allow more than that to be pumped. This certainly is not an advantage to the store, and should serve as proof as to who is at fault. The store is already absorbing any line charges for debit or credit sales. Limiting sales amounts also limits the store's attempts to make profits. To avoid this issue the customer can choose a set dollar amount to pump, and the card will be charged only for that amount.If there was any issue as to the conduct of my employees, or if the customer does not feel like they were treated with respect, please call me at my office number (which is posted on the front of the store), [redacted].I hope the customer has gotten their money back, and I sincerely wish for their situation to improve.