Esso ration cardholders will need to verify if stations accept their Army and Air Force Exchange Service fuel cards before pumping due to the rebranding of 223 gas stations across Germany, AAFES said Tuesday. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — Service members in Germany may want to have a translation app handy the next time they pay for gas at an unfamiliar Esso station.
EG Group, the company that owns and operates Esso in the country, is rebranding 223 OMV stations it purchased in 2022, meaning that participants in the military’s Esso card program will eventually have greater access to discounted gas at prices comparable to the United States.
However, many of those stations will be delayed in accepting the card, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service said in a social media post Tuesday.
Esso cardholders, which include active-duty personnel, civilians and family members, should ask first if a station accepts the fuel card payment before pumping, or they may end up paying full price, which is nearly double the military rate. Many station attendants do speak English, though it’s not a given. Alternatively, waving an Esso card in the air might sufficiently resolve a communications barrier.
Col. Kevin Poole, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, said in a video posted to the command’s Facebook page Tuesday that the Esso transition is already happening.
“We know of seven gas stations that have currently already been converted,” Poole said. “What I don’t want is an unnecessary shock to the wallet when you go in, and the attendant tells you they don’t accept the card.”
The command wasn’t immediately able to say Wednesday whether they were aware of any customers who have been caught off-guard by this transition.
The AAFES Germany fuel program’s frequently asked questions webpage states that a customer can request partial reimbursement at an Exchange customer service desk, in the event an approved Esso station’s card system wasn’t working, and the customer had enough fuel ration and prepaid balance to cover the transaction.
But customers who paid full price at a newly branded station prior to Tuesday’s announcement appear to be out of luck.
“The Status of Forces Agreement with the host nation inhibits reimbursement from Esso stations that are not accepting Exchange Esso fuel ration cards,” AAFES said in a statement Wednesday, following a Stars and Stripes query.
EG Group acquired 285 OMV fuel service stations two years ago, according to company statements.
Most of the stations being rebranded are in Bavaria. It will bring the total number of Esso stations in Germany to more than 1,200, the AAFES post said.
Existing Esso stations in Germany won’t be affected by the rebranding and will continue to accept the Exchange Esso fuel ration cards, according to AAFES.
