The Shell Saver Card is designed for people who want to get a discounted price on gasoline but don’t want the hassle of applying for a credit card. This card does not charge members an enrollment fee or an annual membership fee. Cardholders earn a two cents per gallon discount on gasoline or diesel fuel purchased at Shell. There is no cap on the amount of fuel you may purchase to receive the discount.
The card can be used at any Shell station in the U.S. The Shell Saver Card offers a unique payment option which is directly linked to the card member’s checking account. You simply use the card when filling up and the discounted price is automatically deducted from your bank account. It is not a debit card. Each transaction you make with the card is like an electronic check. The Shell Saver Card, checking account information, and PIN are all validated at the time of purchase by TeleCheck (an account verification provider) and once approved, the transaction amount is withdrawn from your bank account.
The Shell Saver Card can be used for gasoline/diesel purchases as well as products sold at all Shell stations (lottery tickets excluded). However, the two cents discount applies only to fuel purchases.
A definite benefit of the Shell Saver Card is that most people will easily qualify for it. Since it is not a credit card, you only need to have a checking account in good standing according to TeleCheck (a third-party account verification provider). Applications are available online and require the following information:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone Number
- Driver’s License Number
- Check Routing Number
- Checking Account Number
Program terms and Shell’s privacy policy are included on the application page. You must accept these terms to be approved.
The Facts
Below we’ve broken down the specific details of the Shell Saver Card to help you determine if it’s a good choice for you.
The Good:
No frills. No fees:
The Shell Saver Card is a good option for people who want to save money on the gasoline they buy. Card members receive a two cents per gallon discount on all gasoline or diesel fuel purchases made with the card at any Shell station located in the U.S. There is no cap on the amount of fuel you can buy to receive this discount. It is available on every purchase you make.
The Shell Saver Card basically works like an electronic check rather than a debit or credit card. Card members are not charged an enrollment fee or an annual membership fee. There are no interest/finance charges associated with this card since the full purchase amount is withdrawn from your checking account at the time of sale. Cardholders do not earn cash back rewards.
This card gives Shell customers a small discount on fuel purchases but does not offer much more in the way of perks.
Credit score is not a factor:
The Shell Saver Card is not a credit card. It is not necessary to have a certain credit score to be eligible for this card. The only requirement is to have an open checking account in good standing (verifiable through TeleCheck). This is a real benefit for people who have limited or bad credit but still would like to receive discounts on their gasoline purchases.
Easy to use:
The Shell Saver Card is easy to use. The process is:
- Press the debit button at the pump and swipe your card.
- Enter your PIN
- Begin fueling
Card members can use the card for merchandise/products (lottery tickets excluded) sold inside Shell stations also. Cardholders receive no discount on these purchases.
The transaction receipt you receive at the time of sale will show the regular price of the gasoline/diesel fuel you purchased. However, the actual discounted price will be withdrawn from your checking account and this amount will be reflected on your bank statement.
The Bad:
Limited Shell stations:
Anyone considering getting the Shell Saver Card should make sure that Shell stations are available in their area. The value of the two cents discount diminishes if you have to drive for miles to find a Shell station.
Not a credit card:
Payment history and any other activity associated with this card are not reported to any credit bureaus so your usage of the Shell Saver Card has no impact on your credit score- good or bad.
The Ugly:
Limited fraud protection:
Since the Shell Saver Card works like an electronic check, card members do not receive any of the protection benefits generally associated with a credit card. Funds are automatically withdrawn from your checking account at the time of sale. You do have the security of a PIN (which you choose) and TeleCheck approves each transaction but there is no real protection from fraudulent use of the card if it were to occur.
Discounts for fuel only:
The Shell Saver Card offers a two cents per gallon discount of all fuel purchases (gasoline or diesel). Cardholders can use the card to buy products inside of any Shell station but no discount is given for these transactions.