Beware of Online Discount Gas Offers

July 11, 2008

By Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.)

As gas prices go up, drivers look for ways to save money. But you could lose money instead, if you're not careful.

Several websites offer rebates or give you pre-paid gas cards, locking-in gas prices.

Sites like gaslockedin.com and gaspumprebates.com both get you into America's Gasoline Relief Program, promising gas for just $2.49 a gallon. But they don't come through.

When we signed up, we only went through a continuous streams of advertisements.

The Better Business Bureau says, gaspumprebates.com is part of a company that's rated unsatisfactory. It received 42 complaints in the last three years -- 5 went unanswered, 4 were unresolved.

Another gas website has been getting a lot of attention lately.

Mygallons.com promises to save you money if you buy a membership for an annual fee of $29.95-$39.95 depending on the plan, locking-in the current gas prices. It sends you a card, similar to a debit card that the company says, you can use at gas stations nationwide. The problem is that the company doesn't have a contract with any company to process the transactions, meaning gas stations can't accept the card. Because of that, the BBB gave mygallons.com an "F" rating.

The Wichita Better Business Bureau tells Eyewitness News, it's aware of the problem. It says, the company has suspended accepting membership fees. Fees customers already paid are now in a non-interest-bearing escrow account.

The BBB says, it will continue to evaluate the company and could change its rating if the problem is resolved.

Wichita Better Business Bureau Website

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