BajaNomad

credit card gas san quintin and guerrero negro

bajasusan/a - 12-22-2015 at 01:49 PM

anyone know if i can use my american express at the pemex stations in san q. and gn? if not, are USDollars ok? and since i haven't seen the question here yet, does anyone know if pemex prices will rise on jan. 1st?

bajaguy - 12-22-2015 at 01:58 PM

The only place I would feel safe using a credit card is at the PEMEX in El Rosario.

It's probably a good idea to stop at a bank and use your ATM/debit card to withdraw pesos for use in Baja. With the current exchange rate hovering around 17pesos to 1USD you will be better off using pesos

YMMV

bajasusan/a - 12-22-2015 at 02:01 PM

i sure would be better off! but i would also be better off if i had my atm card, which was stolen last week and which i cant replace (nor have access to my bank account) for 2 weeks for a variety of reasons. hence my question about using the credit card, hoping to save cash...thanks, though!

[Edited on 12-22-2015 by bajasusan/a]

David K - 12-22-2015 at 02:32 PM

*Use money not plastic in Baja.
*All places accept U.S. dollars.
*You could get a better value as well as have less trouble at purchases if you exchange dollars for pesos before crossing the border, however.

4x4abc - 12-22-2015 at 03:58 PM

have been using the gas station in Guerrero Negro across from Caracol hotel
for years with American Express

gas station at Los Pinos (just south of San Quintin) is good for credit cards as well

most gas stations in Baja accept credit and debit cards now - however, some don't take US issued cards, but will take EU cards

bajasusan/a - 12-22-2015 at 06:15 PM

CASE CLOSED, and thanks for all the suggestions. Especially the one below, cuz if I had had better options I would have used them...
Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
have been using the gas station in Guerrero Negro across from Caracol hotel
for years with American Express

gas station at Los Pinos (just south of San Quintin) is good for credit cards as well

most gas stations in Baja accept credit and debit cards now - however, some don't take US issued cards, but will take EU cards

Gulliver - 12-24-2015 at 12:00 AM

Dunno about AMEX but when I was coming down to Mulege in October I used my VISA card in Ensenada, San Quentin, El Rosario, Guerro Negro and San Ignatio. I did, however, call my credit union and have then suspend my fraud protection for the Winter. If I don't, they go berserk and shut off my card. You're think I was charging stuff from Nigeria!

Mulege is currently a problem with a card. Pesos only. But I live here and carry pesos.

Lee - 12-24-2015 at 04:52 AM

Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.

bajasusan/a - 12-24-2015 at 07:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.


oh well, if we were all as intelligent as you clearly are, sir, who would you have to feel superior to?

Gulliver - 12-24-2015 at 08:13 AM

My personal experience has been that I've not been cheated once over the years. A few gas station exercises where the pump readings were hilarious high but little else.

Just last week we had some tacos in Loreto and in the confusion we walked away without paying. Fortunately we will be back there next week again and can straighten it out! Most embarrassing.

Twenty-five years ago I was fulling a jerry can at Turtle Bay and the kid managed to get seven gallons in a six gallon can. I asked, "How did you get so much in there?" His response was, "How did you get it so empty?"

Such boldness deserves a reward. I laughed and payed up.

This does not include a few minor niggles with local law enforcement where the holidays were approaching and their funds were running low. The total of these sums over 46 years runs around fifty bucks.

The most recent of them was in Old Cabo a few years ago where they had me dead to rights. No helmet and no registration. Guilty as hell. But the hint was that the court was not open on a Monday and they might have to impound my bike. I went into my pleasantly stupid gringo act, fumbled with my money and paid them half of what he had quoted. I saw them several times later that day (we had our helmets on and had retrieved the registration from our tow rig) and they were full of smiles. I suspect we could have gotten away with pretty much anything then. Cost? $20.

At no time have I ever felt personally threatened down here except for some reckless driving on Rt.1. I have been broken down and/or lost many times and whom every I asked for help, either uniformed or not, went out of their way to help me in spite of my fecklessness and poor Spanish.

I know. Living in a fool's paradise.

[Edited on 12-24-2015 by Gulliver]

Lee - 12-24-2015 at 10:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajasusan/a  
Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
Obviously you're willing to risk fraud considering the majority here stating you should NOT use plastic at PEMEX. Your call.


oh well, if we were all as intelligent as you clearly are, sir, who would you have to feel superior to?


Clearly, you do not know those nomads posting here who think plastic is a mistake, nor do you know Baja to be asking your questions. No sweat off my brow if you get ripped by Pemex.

Sorry to read you're striking out with stolen ATM card and lack of available funds. Sounds stressful.

A bit of helpful advice: reread DavidK's post and take it to heart.

Bajakiter - 12-28-2015 at 12:00 PM

4x4abc is spot on. Both stations (South SQ and GN) except CC. The one by Los Pinos is owned by them and in my opinion is the best full service 24 hour gas station in all of Baja hands down.

If you have a look, you will find a previous post that we talked about that has which gas stations are ones to avoid at all costs and ones that have "true" pumps.

bajasusan/a - 12-28-2015 at 12:09 PM

thanks again, all. will let you know how it goes when i hit guerrero negro on thursday

Bajahowodd - 12-28-2015 at 05:56 PM

Credit cards at Pemex is a rather new event. The old argument was whether the pumps were crooked, or they screwed you on exchange if you paid USD.

My experience since 1982 in Baja is that I have never been victimized.

In my opinion, most of the harrowing tales posted on this site are from out of the way areas.

If you are staying on Mex1 there is very little possibility that you will have a problem.

Two stations that wee mentioned earlier that take plastic have no reports of a problem. The Los Pinos station just at the South end of San Quintin is operated by a company that exports tons of produce to the US and operates several hotels in Baja.

The one across from Caracoles is also impeccable.

Only thing is that AMEX is not nearly as widely available than MC and Visa.

4x4abc - 12-28-2015 at 10:34 PM

credit cards at Pemex a rather new event? Wow.

I have been using credit cards at Baja Pemex stations for at least 10 years.
US issued cards are sometimes not accepted. Many times it was simply that the employees did not know that they needed to use a different terminal. Some gas stations do not have the bank service to support US cards. European credit cards have always been accepted. And of course Mex cards easiest. If you are an expat still clinging to your non Mexican cards, you should change that asap.

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2015 at 06:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
credit cards at Pemex a rather new event? Wow.

I have been using credit cards at Baja Pemex stations for at least 10 years.
US issued cards are sometimes not accepted. Many times it was simply that the employees did not know that they needed to use a different terminal. Some gas stations do not have the bank service to support US cards. European credit cards have always been accepted. And of course Mex cards easiest. If you are an expat still clinging to your non Mexican cards, you should change that asap.



To be clear, the proliferation of credit cards at Pemex stations is relatively new. It came with the wave of new Pemex stations that have convenience stores. And that is relatively recent.

Driving Baja in 1988, I do not believe there were any stations accepting plastic at that time.

Gulliver - 12-29-2015 at 08:03 PM

I drove to LaPaz for the solar eclipse in 1991. I used my card pretty much all the way down. I think I got rejected twice which is just about the ratio I get now.

I accept that there have been people cheated both by over reading pump meters, bad change and creative zeroing of the pump. Just not me.

I have had a LOT more trouble with my card provider being a twit about their fraud protection when I'm down here and doing other brain dead things.

I just got a notice that they are going to issue new cards during the first quarter of next year. And how are they planning to get them to me? Mailing them to my address of record which is NOT here. So I either go through some horrendous hoo Haw about getting them securely to me in some as yet unknown way, or starving. We are not amused.

Not everyone in the stinking world is sitting at home watching TV.

ncampion - 12-29-2015 at 09:07 PM

Agree with 4x4, American CCs have been accepted in many (not all)) Pemex stations for at least the past 10 years. I generally prefer to use Pesos at stations to reduce any chance of fraud but have used cards both American and Mexican at many stations in BC and BCS. It adds a few minutes to the fill up procedure so I don't use it in a crowded station, but it is a good way to conserve cash when traveling.

David K - 12-29-2015 at 10:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver  
I drove to LaPaz for the solar eclipse in 1991. I used my card pretty much all the way down. I think I got rejected twice which is just about the ratio I get now.

I accept that there have been people cheated both by over reading pump meters, bad change and creative zeroing of the pump. Just not me.

I have had a LOT more trouble with my card provider being a twit about their fraud protection when I'm down here and doing other brain dead things.

I just got a notice that they are going to issue new cards during the first quarter of next year. And how are they planning to get them to me? Mailing them to my address of record which is NOT here. So I either go through some horrendous hoo Haw about getting them securely to me in some as yet unknown way, or starving. We are not amused.

Not everyone in the stinking world is sitting at home watching TV.


1991 Baja Ecplise web page I made featuring Graham: http://www.vivabaja.com/eclipse/index.html

Lee - 12-30-2015 at 07:29 PM

I'm amazed that anyone anywhere would trust Pemex with a credit card, much less the MX government with their money. Sure some trusting people out there. Are these Canadians?

4x4abc - 12-30-2015 at 10:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
I'm amazed that anyone anywhere would trust Pemex with a credit card, much less the MX government with their money. Sure some trusting people out there. Are these Canadians?


tell us more about your conspiracy theory

Maron - 12-30-2015 at 10:31 PM

No idea where they are from, it must be a bitc# to be so mistrusting, it must be really difficult for you "to get down". How often and where have you been ripped off? Just asking. Have you used plastic anywhere in Mexico. I guess I am an old fool, use my debit card monthly - NO PROBLEMS

Peace