Don't forget that, when all else fails and you're stuck in some god-forsaken deserted petrol station at one in the morning kicking a pump that refuses your English card, out of the darkness will come a petite blonde local angel on her somewhat noisy moped also looking to tank up. She WILL have a French card, will be delighted to accept your hastily profferred french cash, will insist on helping you fill up, and will then categorically refuse any gesture of thanks (such as a contribution to her own petrol) you may suggest. After all, to her it will be much the same as asking for cash-back while buying something with a card at the supermarket.
As I have a nasty and as yet uncontrolled urge to run the car as near to empty as possible (someone once convinced my frugal mind that the lighter a car is, the more mpg it attains), I have been in such a position three times in as many months. I have yet to be disappointed by the next driver who turns up. Even a good command of French is not essential when gestures will suffice.
As well as getting you out of a hole, it will restore your faith in humanity and in the "entente cordiale". Just be a bit wary if it's a coachful of football fans the night that France got knocked out of the World Cup...
Cards at fuel stations
in Driving in France
Posted
Paul,
Don't forget that, when all else fails and you're stuck in some god-forsaken deserted petrol station at one in the morning kicking a pump that refuses your English card, out of the darkness will come a petite blonde local angel on her somewhat noisy moped also looking to tank up. She WILL have a French card, will be delighted to accept your hastily profferred french cash, will insist on helping you fill up, and will then categorically refuse any gesture of thanks (such as a contribution to her own petrol) you may suggest. After all, to her it will be much the same as asking for cash-back while buying something with a card at the supermarket.
As I have a nasty and as yet uncontrolled urge to run the car as near to empty as possible (someone once convinced my frugal mind that the lighter a car is, the more mpg it attains), I have been in such a position three times in as many months. I have yet to be disappointed by the next driver who turns up. Even a good command of French is not essential when gestures will suffice.
As well as getting you out of a hole, it will restore your faith in humanity and in the "entente cordiale". Just be a bit wary if it's a coachful of football fans the night that France got knocked out of the World Cup...