Hurdles remain for new AAFES gas card in Germany

[unhappycamper]

Hurdles remain for new AAFES gas card in Germany
By Mark Abramson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is still ironing some of the kinks of its transition to a new prepaid gas card with less than a month to go before fuel-ration coupons expire.

The coupons will be honored on bases around Germany even after the expiration dates until the transition to the new gas cards is completed, but at this point, people will not be able to use the coupons off base as of Oct. 1, AAFES spokesman Lt. Col. David Konop said. The transition to the cards started in July and is expected to be completed by Dec. 15.

Konop said AAFES is still talking to Esso about off-base usage of expired coupons. "We understand that is an issue between now and December, and we are definitely working on the off-base issue," he said.

The coupons allow users to fill up at U.S. prices by avoiding the costly German taxes. About 95 percent of the coupon users are limited to 400 liters of gasoline, or 105.7 gallons, a month, but the rationed amount depends on what kind of vehicle a person drives, Konop said.

Coupon holders can get reimbursed for coupons up to a year after they expire, Konop said. And people can request the cards early if needed, he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57159



uhc comment: Great systems testing, guys. Not.