Some drivers are noticing a problem when they fill up their gas tank these days.

The cost of a fill up is draining their bank account, literally.

Gas stations will put a hold on your account, in some cases up to 75 dollars, if you use your *debit* card at the pump.

We talked to a local bank manager to find out why this is happening, and if there's anything you can do about it.

Chris Bunch has seen this happen more than he'd like to see lately to his customers. Gas stations will put a 75 dollar hold against the customer's account.

"The reason they're doing it is at the moment of the purchase, they are making sure you ahve at least this much money to allow you to make the purchase," says Bunch.

That way the gas stations are guaranteed their money.

Here's where the problem comes in. Let's say the customer has a hundred dollars in their checking account. They go to the gas station and buy 20 dollars worth of gas. To them, they now have 80 dollars in their account. Except, the gas station put a hold for 75 dollars on the account, which leaves them an actual account balance of 25 dollars. So let's say they go to the store and buy 30 worth of groceries...now they're overdrawn their account, and have to pay overdraft fees that can't be waived.

Is there anything people can do about this?

"They don't really have any say because it's part of using a debit card. It's like writing a check, only it's done through plastic. Because they're giving you the authorization prior to the actual purchase, they have to make an assumption and set a limit," says Bunch.

Another reason it becomes a problem, gas stations typically total their transactions at the end of the day. That's when your actual amount would show up. But, it takes a couple days to get that information from your account.

"It's okay to use your debit card when you pay at the pump. But what you want to do is push the pay inside button, pump your gas, then go inside and swipe it. When they swipe it inside, it's for the exact amount that you bought," adds Bunch.

Or you can use a credit card, because a hold does not affect credit cards. Some gas stations have signs up to show this to you, others do not. I also found at least one gas station in Quincy that no longer accepts debit cards.

Chris Bunch tells us the hold also happens if you book a hotel or a car rental on line with your debit card.