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When you swipe your credit card to make a purchase, the merchant’s acquiring bank (which handles the payments for the merchant) ensures with your card issuer that you have a valid account with sufficient funds to make the purchase. The funds are deducted from your available credit line as a pending transaction but not yet paid to the merchant.
It is also customary in the hotel industry to place a hold on your credit card when you check in for your stay. That way, the hotel will be covered in case you cause any damage to the room, and also for incidental expenses such as snacks or drinks that you availed of. Car rentals could also place a hold on your card to cover incidental expenses, which would show up as a pending charge.
In the restaurant industry, your final tab will likely include a customary tip and so your initial payment will be a pending payment until the bill is finalized. At gas stations, too, proprietors will likely place a small hold on your card to ensure you have funds.
You may have seen a charge on your credit card account that says “pending” and wondered how long it will stick on your account. And what if you have an issue and want to cancel a charge while it is still pending? Let’s take a look at when a pending charge should clear and what to do if you run into an issue.
When will a pending charge be cleared?
Usually, a pending charge will show on your account until the transaction is processed and the funds are transferred to the merchant. This could typically take up to three days but may stretch longer depending on the merchant and the type of transaction.
In the hotel industry, for instance, a hold for incidentals that appears as a pending charge will be cleared soon after you pay the hotel bill for the charges you actually incurred when you check out. If you use a different payment type such as cash or debit card though (or even a different credit card to pay your bill than the one that has the initial hold on it), it could take a while for the hold to clear with your card issuer.
In the meantime, the pending charges will reduce the amount of credit you have available on your card, so make sure to take that into account when you use your card.
Issue with a pending transaction
What if you have an issue with a pending transaction? In some cases, a merchant may duplicate a charge. For instance, an online merchant could verify your card when you make the purchase and then authorize your card when you are actually due to make the payment (typically after the merchant ships your order). While this sort of hold could appear twice in your pending transactions, you will only be billed once.
Card issuers are not inclined to resolve issues with pending transactions, considering that the amount is not yet finalized and the actual payment due may differ. That’s why you should contact the merchant to sort out any issues you have with pending transactions. If you want to cancel a pending transaction, the merchant would have to contact your card issuer and ask it to cancel the transaction.
And what if the merchant is not willing to sort out an issue with a pending transaction? Perhaps you can’t even reach a representative to sort out your issue. Unfortunately, you can’t dispute a pending transaction with your card issuer. You will have to wait until a transaction actually posts to resolve the matter. You could then avail of the protections that the Fair Credit Billing Act offers to file a dispute about the charge with your card issuer.
The bottom line
Credit card charges typically show up as pending transactions on your account until the transaction is processed or a hold is removed. This could stretch out several days. If you have an issue while a transaction is pending, you will have to resolve it with the merchant. You can’t dispute a pending charge with a card issuer and will have to wait for it to actually post.
FAQs
Usually, a pending charge will show on your account until the transaction is processed and the funds are transferred to the merchant. This could typically take up to three days but may stretch longer depending on the merchant and the type of transaction.
What happens if a charge is pending for too long? ›
If a transaction remains pending longer than normal, it may be from a technical issue or a delay from the merchant's end. Likewise, a quick phone call to the company may resolve it.
How long can a pending transaction last on credit card? ›
How long do pending transactions take to clear? Pending transactions generally take between one and five business days to clear. That time can vary based on the type of transaction, the payment network, and the bank or credit card issuer.
What is the maximum time for a pending transaction? ›
How Long Do Pending Transactions Take to Post? Although pending transactions typically post within two to three business days, they may post immediately in some cases or take up to 30 days in others. It depends on the type of transaction; when it takes place; and the merchant, bank or credit card issuer's policies.
Why is my credit card charge stuck on pending? ›
This happens when the credit card issuer has confirmed that you have the available balance to pay for the purchase but has not fully processed it yet. There are multiple transactions that might appear as pending, such as after using your card to purchase gas at a pump or adding a tip at a restaurant.
Why is my charge still pending after 7 days? ›
The fastest way to resolve this issue is to contact the merchant directly. If they're able to remove the pending transaction, it should be reflected in your account in about 24 hours. If they're not able to help you, pending transactions will fall off automatically after 7 days.
How long can a merchant keep a charge pending? ›
A charge can be pending on your account for up to five days. There are several factors that affect how long a pending charge will appear on your credit card. These include when you made the transaction and how long it takes the merchant to process it. Card pre-authorizations may also show on your account for longer.
How long can money stay in pending transactions? ›
A pending transaction may take a day or two to clear. It should then move from your list of pending payments into your current balance. Sometimes, the process can take a little longer depending on the retailer and transaction type.
Can a merchant charge my card months later? ›
Generally speaking, credit card issuers don't have a time limit for charging a customer's credit card. The issuing banks, however, will often impose a limit on merchants for charging. These limits can range anywhere from three to 30 days.
How long do credit card payments show as pending? ›
Pending card transactions affect your balance
Pending transactions are payments that would normally go into or out of your account within 7 days.
Credit card charges typically show up as pending transactions on your account until the transaction is processed or a hold is removed. This could stretch out several days. If you have an issue while a transaction is pending, you will have to resolve it with the merchant.
How long can an amount be pending? ›
This authorised amount is held and appears as a “pending” transaction for up to 5 days. During this time, the merchant finalises the payment, and the transaction will be fully processed (settled), with the funds being sent to the merchant.
Can a transaction be stopped while pending? ›
Typically you can't cancel a pending transaction. Even if it's fraudulent or the wrong amount, your bank usually needs the transaction to post before it can next steps. That doesn't mean it's impossible to cancel — you can contact the merchant if there is an error and they can usually reverse it.
Can a pending transaction be declined? ›
Yes, a pending transaction can be declined. A pending transaction is a temporary hold placed on funds in an account, typically when a card is used to make a purchase or when a check is deposited. The hold ensures that the funds are available for the merchant to process the transaction.
Why is my payment stuck in pending? ›
The basics of payment processing
Typically, they will mark it as pending payment (or payment pending). This means that they are ringfencing the account holder's funds on the expectation that they will need to make payment later. Once the payment request is presented, the bank will release the funds.
Why is my purchase stuck on pending? ›
“Pending”: The seller hasn't accepted the payment yet. Some sellers wait until you receive the item before they accept the payment. “In Progress”: The seller accepted a partial payment amount. “Complete”: The seller accepted the entire payment amount.
What happens if a pending transaction doesn't go through? ›
What happens if a pending transaction doesn't go through? Your bank may remove a pending transaction from your account summary if it hasn't cleared after a certain time. In this case, it'll no longer appear in your list of pending payments and shouldn't affect your available balance.
What happens when a pending charge expires? ›
Sometimes pending transactions may disappear from your transaction history and the amount is returned to your available balance. This means the transaction has expired and at this stage has not been processed by the merchant. If this happens, your dispute will be closed.
Can a pending charge be stopped? ›
A pending transaction will affect the amount of credit or funds you have available, effectively deducting money from your account. Canceling a pending transaction usually requires contacting the merchant who made the charge. Once a pending transaction has posted, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute it.
How do I fight a pending charge? ›
Only posted transactions can be disputed (pending charges are temporary and may change). If you have any immediate concerns about a pending charge, contact the merchant directly. The merchant's contact information is typically found on your receipt or billing statement.
