Why Did Love’s Charge Me $175? An Explanation

Discovering an unfamiliar charge on your financial statement, especially from a merchant like Love’s Travel Stops, can be confusing. Understanding the nature of these charges is the first step toward clarifying any discrepancies and managing your financial records.

Understanding Common Charges from Love’s

Love’s Travel Stops offer various services, primarily fuel sales, especially for commercial vehicles. A common reason for a $175 charge is a fuel pre-authorization. Gas stations, including Love’s, use this amount to ensure sufficient funds are available to cover a full tank, especially given varying vehicle capacities. Payment networks like Visa and Mastercard have increased their standard pre-authorization hold amounts for fuel purchases at the pump to $175. This practice protects the merchant from potential losses if a customer fills a large tank and lacks funds to complete the purchase.

Beyond fuel, Love’s offers other services and merchandise that could result in charges. These may include truck parking fees, purchases from convenience stores, or specific automotive services.

Distinguishing Pre-Authorizations from Final Charges

A pre-authorization is a temporary hold placed on a portion of your credit or debit card’s available balance. This process reserves funds for a purchase without immediately deducting money from your account. Merchants use pre-authorizations when the final transaction amount is unknown at the time of the initial card swipe, such as at a gas pump where the exact fuel quantity is determined after pumping.

While a pre-authorization appears on your statement as a pending charge, it is not the final charge. This temporary hold reduces your available credit or funds, but the actual transaction amount is processed later, and the initial hold is then released. Holds can last from a few hours to several business days, often up to 72 hours for gas stations, depending on the merchant’s policy and your bank’s processing times.

Investigating a Specific Charge

If you notice a $175 charge from Love’s, first review your bank or credit card statement for transaction details. Look for the date, time, and specific merchant name associated with the charge. It is important to differentiate between a “pending” charge, which indicates a pre-authorization, and a “posted” charge, which is a finalized transaction. Pending charges will typically disappear once the actual transaction amount is settled.

Next, cross-reference the charge with your own records, such as receipts or travel logs, to determine if it aligns with a purchase you made. If the charge remains unclear, contacting Love’s customer service or the specific store location is advisable. When you call, be prepared to provide details such as the date and approximate time of the transaction, and the last four digits of the card used. This information will assist them in locating the transaction and providing clarification.

Resolving Discrepancies or Unrecognized Charges

If, after your investigation, the charge remains unrecognized, incorrect, or appears to be an error, initiating a dispute with your financial institution is the next step. For credit card transactions, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) provides consumer protections. Under this federal law, you have 60 days from the date your statement was issued to dispute a billing error. The card issuer must acknowledge your complaint within 30 days and has up to 90 days to investigate the claim.

For debit card transactions, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) governs dispute resolution. You should notify your bank within 60 days of the statement date on which the error first appeared. Your bank is required to investigate the issue within 10 business days, though this period can extend to 45 days if they provide a provisional credit to your account. It is often beneficial to attempt to resolve the issue directly with the merchant before disputing with your bank, but if that is unsuccessful, your financial institution can guide you through the formal dispute process.