Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Coast?
Coast is a new solution for managing your fleet’s expenses, and a smart Visa fleet and fuel card. Our mission is to help businesses save time and money, so business owners can focus on what matters. Fleet cards and spend management are a tool to help your business do that. Our easy-to-use software lets you set rules that work for your business and track fleet spending so you don’t miss a thing. You can get visibility on risky transactions so you can set rules and stop abuse and fraud before it can impact your business. Your drivers can fuel up anywhere Visa can be used instead of searching for an “in-network” gas station. And we offer simple, low pricing that’s easy to understand, plus 2¢ off per gallon on your statement.
What businesses does Coast work for?
Coast is designed for businesses in the United States that operate vehicle fleets. It works both for the 5-vehicle delivery fleet and for the 100-vehicle HVAC installation company. Your business must be organized as a corporation, LLC or partnership and we can’t approve sole proprietorships at this time. Approval is subject to a fast and convenient online application process and evaluation.
If you’re unsure about whether Coast is right for you, please email us at info@coastpay.com or give us a call at 833-COAST01.
Where can I use Coast?
Coast cardholders can use their card in the United States for fuel, fleet and business expenses anywhere Visa is accepted. You control where, when, and what your drivers buy.
Coast supports fuel purchases only at gas retailers, but also additional purchase categories such as car washes or maintenance, giving you more flexible control over how the program is used.
What are your fees and why are they fair?
We operate on a simple pricing structure. We charge $4 per month per card with one or more complete transactions within the month (active card). This fee gets you access to the Coast expense management platform which includes the Coast Visa fleet card, smart controls and great rewards. Card printing and delivery are free unless you want expedited shipping or more cards than your free allotment. If we do not receive the current amount due by your due date, you will be charged the greater of $35 or 1% of the amount past due. If any past due amount remains unpaid 31 days after your initial payment due date, an additional $35 or 5% of the full overdue balance will be charged. Returned payments are subject to a flat $35 fee.
We don’t charge per-gallon administration fees, per-transaction fees, electronic payments fees, check processing fees, low gas price surcharges, reporting fees, or portal access fees. These fees don’t serve the long-term needs of growing businesses and their workforces. So we’ve done away with them at Coast.
What type of reporting will I receive?
Coast provides transaction-level details through our dashboard, reports, and alerts, allowing you to easily track purchases by driver and vehicle. You can log in from your desktop or mobile device at any time to your fleet portal to see recent activity on your Coast cards.
What makes Coast different from my regular business credit card or other offerings?
Coast offers a sophisticated expense management platform and the Coast Visa fleet card, both of which provide richer controls and reporting than many regular business credit cards. For example, with Coast you can see the grade of gas purchased and the number of gallons.
You can set policies to control purchases specific to individual drivers or fleet vehicles. We’ve built Coast to help business owners save time and money using our enhanced controls and reporting so they can manage their businesses better. Coast gives you full control and visibility over your fleet’s spending. Coast is accepted anywhere that takes Visa, our pricing is fair and transparent, we don’t require a personal guarantee from owners of the business, and we’re building solutions to integrate into your business data through your accounting software and your vehicle data through your telematics provider and fleet management software.
How does Coast make money?
We primarily earn money in two ways. We charge a flat monthly fee for each card with a completed transaction within the month. We also earn a fee from merchants when you use your Coast card to make purchases.
Does Coast report to business credit bureaus?
Yes, Coast reports monthly to the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE®). SBFE Certified Vendors include Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax.
Learn more here: https://coastpay.com/build-your-business-credit/
The Coast Application
Does Coast require a personal guarantee?
No. Coast does not require owners to personally guarantee your company’s expenses.
Will my personal credit be affected if I apply for Coast?
No. Applying for Coast will never affect your personal credit score.
What information do you collect as part of the application for Coast?
When you apply, we will ask you to provide your personal identifying information as well as basic information about your business, including, any individuals who are beneficial owners of 25% or more of the business and a single individual with significant responsibility to control, manage or direct the business. In some cases, we may ask you to provide additional documentation such as, for example, government-issued identification documents, financial documents such as bank statements or accounting records, or utility bills to verify the information you provide in the application.
How long does it take to process my Coast application?
We offer a fast, simple, online application. In some cases, your application can be approved in minutes. In some cases we may need to review more information or documents from you, which may add time to the application process.. Once your application is complete (which means you’ve provided us with any information and documents we request), we will get back to you by email within 3 to 5 business days (but we may get back to you within 1 business day). You can add support@coastpay.com and noreply@coastypay.com to your trusted contacts so the email does not end up in your spam.
If you haven’t heard back within 5 business days, please contact support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01.
Why do you ask for Social Security numbers?
We need to collect Social Security numbers to comply with applicable laws and regulations, to help us to verify the identity of individuals associated with your business and, where applicable, to help us access consumer credit reports. Applying for Coast will not affect your consumer credit score and Coast does not require you to provide a personal guarantee.
Why are you requesting various documents (e.g., utility bill) from me?
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S. federal law requires that financial institutions obtain, verify, and record information identifying business customers and their beneficial owners including a control person. We may require that you provide certain documentary information to validate your identity and the information you provided in your application, if we are not able to verify it through other means.
Why does Coast need to collect my consumer credit report?
Coast may ask you to authorize a “soft pull” of your consumer credit history to evaluate your creditworthiness. There is no personal guarantee required to use Coast, and this credit check will not affect your consumer credit score.
Terms and Payments
What is my credit limit?
Your available credit is visible in the homepage of your company’s Coast portal.
Can I carry a balance past my due date?
Your Coast bill is due in full on its due date, which means you cannot carry a balance.
How do I pay my bill?
You have the option to (1) connect your business bank account to be automatically debited on your due date, (2) use that bank account to make a one-time payment, or (3) manually schedule an ACH or wire payment from any business bank account using the instructions provided in the Settings page. You can connect a business bank account to your Coast client portal in the “Account Settings” section under “Payment Methods” to make direct debit payments. Please ensure that the company’s Coast Account ID number is provided with any ACH or wire payment to avoid processing delays in posting the payment to your Coast account. The Coast account number can be found in the “Account Settings” section under “Payment Methods” by clicking the link that says “Pay by ACH Credit or Wire.”
How do I ensure my payment is on time?
The easiest way to ensure your payment is on time is by enrolling in automatic payment – we will debit your business bank account for your full balance on each due date. If you are making a payment from a bank account linked in Coast’s portal: If you initiate a payment in Coast’s portal using a connected and verified bank account, your payment will be on time so long as you authorize the payment on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on your due date. If you are directing your bank to send an ACH credit or wire to Coast: If you make an ACH credit or wire payment to Coast initiated outside of Coast’s portal, Coast must receive your payment prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date to be on time (or, if your due date is not a business day, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the preceding business day).
How long is my statement period?
Statements are weekly, bi-weekly (every two weeks) or monthly, as shown in your Coast portal. The length of your statement period is determined by Coast at the time of your application and from time to time thereafter. Payment due date for your statement is also shown in the Coast portal.
Coast will regularly monitor your credit and your payment behavior over time to determine if you qualify for a longer statement period. If you do, we will notify you that you are eligible to change your statement period to semi-monthly or monthly, as applicable. Currently, business applicants in the over-the-road trucking sector are not eligible to increase their statement period from seven days.
How do I increase my business’s credit limit with Coast?
In setting your business’s credit limit, and considering any request to increase it, Coast considers various factors including your creditworthiness. Please contact us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01 if you would like to request a credit limit increase. Please note: Your Coast account must have been opened at least 3 months ago and be in good standing for us to consider your request.
What should I do if I think I will exceed my credit limit?
If you are nearing your credit limit and would like to permit additional spending, you have the option to pay all or a portion of your outstanding balance before the due date. There is no prepayment fee. Your available credit will be increased by the amount of your payment when Coast processes it. Please note that if your spending has reached your credit limit, you will not be able to make any further transactions with Coast. Wire transfers are the fastest way to make a payment as ACH payments may take a few days to be processed and posted to your account.
If you have any questions, please contact support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01.
Spend and Card Controls
What controls can I set? What can be purchased with Coast?
Coast is designed to give business owners significant control over how the card is used. A number of controls are currently available, including number of transactions or total spend by day, week, or month, a requirement to provide odometer readings, among several others.
Can I use my Coast card to make cash withdrawals?
We do not currently support cash withdrawals.
Are cards issued in the name of specific drivers or team member?
All Coast Visa cards are printed with the name of your company and a unique six-character Card ID. Cards are not issued in the name of specific vehicles or drivers. Each card you receive can be used by any team member while driving any vehicle. Coast’s software allows you to control and have visibility on spend regardless of which card your team members use.
How can I control and track spending for my team member and vehicles?
Coast cards are interchangeable. When you receive Coast cards, you can assign Coast cards to specific drivers and vehicles in our online portal. You may also allow your drivers to check into cards and vehicles by text message using their mobile phones.
Rewards and Offers
What rewards do you have?
We offer 2¢ off per gallon anywhere you purchase gas with no tiers or excluded stations to provide a simple, better, experience. You will also get 1% cashback on every purchase at merchants other than gas stations. All new Coast customers will receive a statement credit for signing up and meeting requirements including minimum spend and maintaining your account in good standing. Please see the fee schedule for additional detail.
How does your 1% cashback work?
You will get 1% cashback on every purchase at merchants other than gas stations, with no tiers and no caps. The reward is automatically applied as you spend with any of your Coast cards, with no tiers or caps.
Your reward will be applied on the last day of each statement period in the form of a statement credit. You won’t need to redeem your offer. Qualifying non-fuel purchases must be made at merchants other than gas stations. To receive the statement credit, your Coast Account must be active and in good standing at the time the statement credit is posted. Reward amounts you receive in respect of purchases that are refunded or reversed in a subsequent statement period will be deducted from your account in such later period. Eligible purchases can be made by any card user on a single Coast account.
Tools and Tips
How does my team use the Coast card when they need to make purchases?
1. For a driver to start using a Coast card, they should text the Card ID on the front of the Coast card to 1-833-955-2727. If at any time your drivers are unsure of what to do or have issues using a card, we recommend this step. 2. Please advise your drivers, if a transaction is declined, to check and see if Coast sent a text message to the driver. Either follow the instructions in the text message or complete Step 1 by having the driver text the Card ID to Coast. Drivers can always text “HELP” to 1-833-955-2727 or by calling 1-833-COAST01 (1-833-262-7801) which is conveniently printed on the back of each card.
Does Coast have a driver’s guide?
Yes! We recommend viewing the Coast Driver Guide available here.
Does Coast have a guide for administrators and fleet managers?
We do and recommend all fleet managers and admins review the Coast Fleet Manager and Admin Onboarding Guide available here.
How do I add, remove, or change administrators on my company’s Coast account?
Administrators can be added by the account owner or other administrators via the Coast portal by selecting the People page, hitting “Add a Person,” and choosing “Admin” for the Role. Administrators can be removed by the account owner or other administrators by either deactivating an admin under the People page or by changing their role to “Employee.” Other employees can be turned into administrators by editing their profile and changing their Role from “Employee” to “Admin.”
My transaction was declined incorrectly. What should I do?
Please advise your drivers, if a transaction is declined, to check and see if Coast sent a text message to the driver. Either follow the instructions in the text message or, if there is no message, text the Card ID on the front of the Coast card to 1-833-955-2727. If at any time your drivers are unsure of what to do or have issues using a card, we recommend this step. Additionally, we always recommend dipping your card to use the chip instead of tapping or swiping. Generally, Coast declines a transaction if it violates your policies set up in the Coast portal (for instance, maximum number of transactions, or a requirement to first text an odometer reading to Coast before using the card), if the transaction would cause you to exceed your company’s credit limit with Coast, or if we think the transaction is potentially fraudulent.
If you think your transaction was declined incorrectly, please email us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01.
What should I do if a Coast card is lost or stolen?
Any administrator can log into your Coast portal to immediately lock any lost or stolen card via the Cards page. No transactions will be permitted on the card once you lock it. Alternatively, please email us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01 if you would like to lock the card.
How do I change a phone number, email address, or mailing address associated with my account?
An administrator can change the contact information for other users and administrators in the Coast online portal. To change the phone number or email address of an account owner or mailing address of the company, please email us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01.
How do I dispute a transaction or report a fraudulent transaction?
Please first contact the merchant that charged the transaction to resolve the dispute or to get more information. If the merchant is unable to resolve your dispute or you believe the charge is unauthorized, please email us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01 to dispute the transaction no later than 60 days following the date we issued you a periodic statement reflecting the charge being disputed. Depending on the circumstances, we may request documentation to prove the transaction was fraudulent or unauthorized.
Please refer to Coast’s platform agreement https://coastpay.com/legal/platform-terms/ to read about your responsibility for transactions made with Coast.
Other
Why did you decline my application?
We review your application to evaluate your credit, ensure you meet Coast’s eligibility criteria, and verify your identity as required by law. If your application is declined, Coast will send you an email that tells you how to learn more about the reasons for our decision.
If you did not receive the email, please email us at support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01.
I don’t have a mobile phone that can receive SMS. Can I open a Coast account?
To use our service, you and each user and administrator of your Coast account must have a mobile phone with the ability to receive and send SMS text messages.
Whom should I contact if I have questions?
Email us anytime at info@coastpay.com or give us a call at 833-COAST01. We’re here to help.
How do I close my account?
Please email us as support@coastpay.com or call us at 833-COAST01 for any account closure related questions or requests. Please make sure you have paid any outstanding balance with Coast, as payment in full is required to close your account.
How does Coast keep my information safe and secure?
Coast employs numerous technical and procedural security practices as part of its commitment to information security, privacy and reliability. If you encounter any security issue or have any questions, please reach out to us at security@coastpay.com. Some of the measures that Coast employs to keep your data safe and secure are described below.
Data encryption
All your data is encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption protocols and Coast-managed encryption keys.Infrastructure
Coast’s cloud environments are protected by strict security measures and best practices for guarding information from unauthorized access and data loss.Employee access Roles and responsibilities related to our information security program and the protection of our customers’ data are well defined and documented.
Penetration testing
Coast employs a third-party firm to perform periodic penetration testing of its live environment.Tokenization
In addition to encryption, Coast uses tokenization to protect your sensitive data while transmitting it or when storing it in our systems.External auditing
Coast conducts audits with reputable external firms to ensure we meet and exceed information security and compliance standards.Trusted third parties
When Coast leverages third parties to help us provide services to you, we conduct technical due diligence to ensure acceptable security practices and risk levels.Security awareness training
Our team members are required to go through security awareness training covering industry standard practices and information security topics such as phishing and password management.