Penfed platinum card, 5% discount on fuel at pump, funded monthly. That's about .17 per gal currently. Any station.
Would that be off the "credit" price for diesel at truck stops? The Prevost Fuel Discount is ten cents off the cash price at Love's, and the cash price is typically about five cents less than the credit price.
The Love's I've been to the cash price is usually .10 less than the credit price.
see ya
ken
All, we just spent a long weekend with both Jon and Tom (Prevost Community and the PC fuel card) and wanted to let you all know how much they welcome Foretravel owners. Jon said he was very pleased to see so many FT owners sign up!
The more we all use the card, the bigger discount they can negotiate.
Again just wanted to let you all know how much they appreciate all the FT owners!
I tried the PC fuel discount program but I found that many stations aren't in the network; although, I always had good success with Loves. Also, often I want to preserve my cash reserves in my ACH account while traveling and prefer to defer payment via a cc if possible. The PenFed card fixes these two issues and gives a greater discount, especially after the annual PC fee.
David,
There are 5000 truck stops in the EFS fueling network. I have found rural truck stops with two truck pumps that take the EFS card. If it does not have truck pumps it will not be in the network so Walmart, Kroger and all car travel stops are instances that are not.
I use EFS locator to see what prices are available at truck pumps near me. If the least expensive location is credit and cash same price, I too delay the disbursal of funds by using my credit card.
Glad you have the PenFed option.
Hi Rudy,
There may be 5000 stations in the EFS network but the PC program doesn't give a discount at all them; it only guarantees the cash price and for this privilege you're charged a $1.75 fee. According to the fine print on PC, unless it's recently changed, only 68 "Designated Locations" provide a discount and that's only 5 cents off the gallon. If you want 10 cents then you have to stick with Loves. Also if you pump less than 100 gallons you pay a $1.00 fee whether at Loves or at non-love's EFS network stations.
So, for fuel usage so far this year I pumped four times. Here are the results
Cash price before discount: $2219.24
Discount: $42.12
Fees (including $25 annual renewal): 27.75
For an overall discount of 0.65%, 2 1/2 cents a gallon off the cash price.
This is for four fuel stops including a very heavily traveled FlyingJ in Carlisle PA which turned out not to be a participating "Discount Network" station. At that location I pumped $595.00 worth of fuel expecting a good discount. Instead I got zero plus a $1.75 transaction fee. :(
David,
Aren't you charged the credit price with the PenFed card?
Yes, with PenFed the discount is off the CC price per gallon. So, for my year-to-date's fuel usage, the CC price would be $2253.89. If I bought all that fuel via PenFed my discount would be 5% or $112.69. Take away the cash price delta plus discounts offered by the PC program and I'm still ahead of the game by $56.20, and I've deferred payment for 30 days. In my opinion, it's the fees charged and the lack of participating EFS stations that detract from the program, and remember you are paying cash with the PC program. It's an ACH transfer coming right out of your discretionary account. You may as well use your debit card.
i too use my pen fed card cheaper that way especially as the price goes up.
David,
Thanks for the info. Was unaware of only 68 locations since I use Loves when using the EFS card. Learn something every day.
The EFS locator shows the truck stop prices around where I am and many stops are less than Loves or FlyingJ. So using a PenFed card at one of those would really save. I looked today at Carlisle today and found several much less than FlyingJ and the Loves that is at the same exit.
All the best.
on my trip to Nac and now to NM I saw the prices run 20 cents a gallon different from the J and loves.
What is the pay-at-the pump limit on the PenFed card? I don't want to go inside to pay and want a very large limit at the pump.
Saw a Loves between Phoenix and Tucson, with discount, @ $3.35. Cheapest I have seen anywhere since leaving the Pacific Northwest. (at about $4.00)
I have not hit the limit by the card. Have had stupid 75 buck limits but if I use my loyalty CRS ar the flying j then I can fill up.
Have been enjoying the Fly J card/discount 6 cents/gal, about largest purchase has been in the $450.00 range, no problems, no limits, no run into store, just fill & hit the road.
Using the RV pumps will put you to sleep, so use the truck side.
Been figuring the other cards/discounts/make me rich plans, figure the simple Fly J direct with draw from my bank acct is attractive for my small time purchases.
Do the feel good thing. :)
I use the Costco American Express card. Since I have a business membership, I get a 4% rebate on fuel purchases so long as I don't purchase fuel at markets or Walmart. I have also seen a couple of Costco stores with diesel, and their prices are the best in the area, and that is before taking the rebate into account. Just note that the interest rate is a bit high, so this is one to pay of each month.
What is the "loyalty CRS"? Thanks!
card not CRS auto correct on the iphone
Filled up yesterday at a Flying J in Knoxville using my F J loyalty card and the pump still stopped at $100.
Roland
yes. Â they have a separate program where the link to your bank account, and take the money out with a draw (or they offer a $1,000 max limit credit facility). Â you get 6% off of cash price, but really it is a draw direct, or at best $1,000 credit on a 30 day net basis.
I think the loyalty card and green cash got very good prices if memory serves me.
I do use gas buddy and call ahead normally
the Fly J credit card, I have had monthly withdraws over $1,350.00, so no idea of limits. Just know their system works for me. A couple pennies a gal does not cause confusion for me.
Why I keep sayin "Do what makes you happy"
Enjoy ;D
Withdraws are day of sale. Another option is monthly statement with monthly bank debit, $1,000 monthly limit, but they can't auto debit each transaction. It is the option I chose. Still no trips inside unless you reach $1,000 in a month.
I have the bank debit withdraw, have been well over the $1,000 ? limit, maybe a different program, no idea, no problem anywhere or anytine, just punch in the code, pump, get ticket & haul butt. Seems easy for me.
Does it take it out at time of purchase? The option I took does not get access to my bank account once a month I get a statement and I have to do the Devon they can't take money from my account. I think I'm your deal there is no limit because they debit the money basically the same day of sale but they have access to your account to draw a debit they don't have that with me. Same company same discount same operationally but they get it for me once a month instead of getting it at point-of-sale directly from your checking account. Just two different ways to get to the same outcome but I don't want them to be able to debit my account so this was the option that they have if you don't want them to auto debit immediately at point-of-sale
I think that is a stations set up. I filled up in AL at exit 104 in bessemer and I took 343 dollars worth.
Hey gang, everytime I visit this site it brings back memories of the good ole days and the 94 U-280 I owned. What a great motorhome and the visits to the factory are a fond memory.
The PC fuel program isn't for everyone and we appreciate all the participation from our Foretravel friends. To set the record straight, Jon and I we have no skin in the fuel program, our goal is to get folks to Profit Tools, the administrator of the program, and hope for further increases in the discount as the numbers grow, benefiting everyone. Some like to use credit cards for fuel purchases, deferring their expense while others like to pay as they go and be done with it. Either way is fine, it's all about personal preference.
I took a look at the Penn Fed card deal and seems pretty good for folks wanting to us the credit card. Looks like you have to have some of their preferred products like checking, money market, etc. to get the 5%, otherwise it's 3% and has the 25.00 annual fee after the first year. The 5% is the way to go if you use their other products and no future annual fee.
So I picked a fuel location for comparison, Anna, TX has both a FlyingJ/Pilot and Loves for purchasing a 100 gallons. The comparison follows and is almost equal:
Loves - PC Program Credit price 3.38, cash price 3.33, less PC .10 discount = 3.23
Flying J - Penn Fed 5% Credit price 3.39, less 5% = 3.22
For me, being able to swipe the card, fuel and pull away without doing the fuel desk dance is a major plus. Don't know if you can do that with the Penn card or maybe you like to get in line for the shower. :P
So thanks for participating if the PC program works for you and hope to see some of you in our travels.
I like the connivence of the program not having to go inside for anything, just fuel and go, easy in and easy out. The price is usually close enough to make the connivence worth while.
As for access to my checking account, the credit union gave me another free account just for the fuel card. So Alicia Allen can debit to her hearts content and there will be nothing there till I transfer money to meet a fuel purchase.
But then I think Alicia is jewel. She sure has been very kind to me.
So thanks to Alicia, Jon and truck4u for the program.
TOm, nice to see you were a FT owner. There are a few FT owners over at PC. I met you at the Pog rally and was parked next to Jon. Learned a lot from him. I have a couple friends who just bought busses and are members too. I think this is a great program but I do have the Pen Fed card at 5% and have been pretty happy with it. If they ever get rid of the 5% I will sign up for the fuel program.
Guess it all depends on what makes you happy. I don't buy fuel at any location that posts cash/credit prices. Patronizing these places is a sure way to pay more for your fuel. The Pen Fed discount (I get 5% with no other financial products) is pay the pump only so pumping limits apply. Don't mind threading the needle with the coach and toad, enjoy the challenge really, but not everyone's cup of tea and the Pilot FJ is great for them that don't.
About the Pen Fed card . I got one . Now the way they explained it to me is this . You only get the 5 % at pumps that you can also get gas from . The quote to me is , "if you go to a truck stop and go thru the truck lanes , no discount " I ask her to tell me this twice , same results . Not what I wanted to hear . Is this how it affects the rest of the world ? Yes I put money in their account to get the 5 % . Brad Metzger
I put my card in at the pump at the truck lane. I will have to look and see if I get the discount still but many times I go thru the RV lanes and I get it there all the time.