I have been trying to use the Starcash card over the last 3 years and it is a nightmare. The cards aren’t updated regularly and when they are, the balance is quite often wrong. On 2 occasions, the Starcash card wouldn’t allow me to purchase Vortex Diesel, which is the fuel I always use. The Caltex answer was that I must have bought another item from their store, or another previous transaction confused the card??? No, those 2 cards just didn’t work for Vortex Diesel. If you accidentally delete your card, then you lose the remaining balance on that card. It must be an amazing revenue income for Caltex?? The starcash card compared to the Woolworths Caltex card are complete opposites. The Woolworths card has a history of your balances up to date almost immediately. And so easy to load on your phone and use. The Caltex Starcash card is difficult to load and fraught with problems. My advice is to stay away from these hopeless cards.
Woops, meant to add that I have used possibly over 40 Starcash cards over the last 3 years. It is embarrassing when I go to pay and the balance on the card is incorrect and I have to keep people waiting, while I use another card. Hopeless!!
Never having used one, doesn’t the new balance print after you pay? If you have that record on your receipts, or even if you do not but keep full records, you would have cause to make a formal complaint.
Since you seem to have a recurring problem is there some reason you continue to buy them rather than move on to another cash card product?
Thanks The BBG, Yes the balance is printed on the bottom of the receipt, but I file my receipts away every day for taxation. Carrying around several receipts, when I have gone digital doesn’t compute. Why do I still use them??? I wonder why myself. But, because I can buy them through AGL Electricity Rewards at 5% discount and through YouI Insurance at sometimes 10% discount, I am trying to keep costs down. However, at 5-10% discount, I often wonder Why I put up with such a hopeless system. Esp when I use the Woolworths card, again at 5% discount and it works perfectly. Surely, Caltex can update their system? Today, when I contacted them to see if there was an update on their Passes app, that they suggest, I was given the impression that it would work better on an Apple phone??? Yes…Why do I still use them???
That is yet another aspect of the digital generation, and more ‘assurance’ for the push to go cashless and trust the system will always be up and accurate.
To go formal just write down (digitally or otherwise) the balance on your card after the last previous transaction. If it goes wrong you have evidence for a complaint from your filed receipts. A bit of work, yes, but if you are going to continue using the cards possibly worth it if it helps resolution.
This ACCC page might be useful in how little oversight there is, and how much latitude issuers have even after some so-called tightening up.
I looked at the T&C for the card and they seem to reflect the worst cases for expiry and service, but as long as there are willing customers for them the only way it will change is by less happy customers going elsewhere.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck with it, and BTW welcome to the forum.
Cheers,
I wonder if it would meet the requirements as “Fit for purpose”. If it fails then a refund and compensation for costs incurred may be an angle to take with them. Certainly raising a complaint each time it happens with them is a good start as suggested by @PhilT. You can also make a complaint to the ACCC each time it happens and they may eventually take action if they think it is enough of a problem.
I’m not sure how you pay for the Cards when you buy them but if it is by Credit Card another way may be to seek a Chargeback. If the Star Cash Card fails then it wasn’t the goods you expected and you could have a very good case for the Chargeback. You may not even be required to return the Cash Card.
Thanks grahroll and the BBG, I have had a relaxing afternoon on the tractor, where I get to think about everything and work out all the problems in the world??? So, I think I will cease using these Caltex Starcash cards and I really believe that this must be a massive revenue raising scam by Caltex. I am computer and smart phone savvy and if I am having problems with their system, then there must be many others worse off than me. I do use a lot of fuel in my business and want to save costs wherever I can. However, the angst, embarrassment, and extra time in chasing up these problems far outweigh the economics of using them. I will continue to use Woolworths cards at WW Caltex which never fail and are an excellent problem. So, moving on, thanks for your advice. However, Caltex Starcard certainly deserve a SHONKY award and it would be interesting to see just how much they have profited from this scam…Woops system.
Hi @CoffsPete. Another suggestion to consider.
We have the Woolies 4c discount for fuel, but never use it because even with the discount their fuel is more expensive than we get from other independent stations [such as Freedom].
You probably already do, but if not, compare the cost price you actually have to pay for the fuel. The discount are sometimes just marketting to make you think you are getting a good deal.
Some independent servos also have relationships with auto clubs ( eg. RACQ, RACT) and give fuel discounts (4c or more) to members.
Thank you for the reminder @phb. I forget about that.
We live in SE Qld and belong to NRMA, but don’t get the discount from Qld servos, which only apply the discount to RACQ members. 
