How long do pending charges stay pending?
Asked by: Margarett Bahringer | Last update: January 13, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (40 votes)
Key takeaways. Pending charges on credit cards are temporary holds to ensure payment for potential damages or incidental expenses. Pending charges typically take up to three days to clear with the merchant, but can take longer. Issues with pending charges should be resolved with the merchant, not the card issuer.
How long can a pending charge last?
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 before pending charges drop off?
How long do pending transactions take to clear? Many pending charges disappear in around 5 days or less. Though some institutions may have a longer period. It ultimately depends on the type of transaction, the processor settings for the credit card program, and what's stated in your agreement.
How long can a pending transaction stay pending?
A pending transaction is a recent authorised card transaction that is waiting to be processed by the merchant and can take up to 28 days but normally takes 2/3 days to clear onto your balance.
How long does a pending payment take to expire?
How long will a transaction remain in pending? Generally it takes about 3 to 5 business days to process a transaction, although it can take up to 10 business days or longer.
How Long Do Credit Card Transactions Stay Pending? - CreditGuide360.com
Do pending transactions ever go away?
If the merchant agrees to cancel the charge, the pending transaction should eventually disappear from your account without posting. However, if the transaction posts before the cancellation is processed, you may need to file a dispute with your bank or credit card company to reverse the charge.
How long does it take for a pending transaction to go in?
How long do pending transactions take? Generally, it takes up to five business days for transactions to post. But in some cases, it can take up to 14 days. However, that time frame can depend on the payment network, bank or credit card issuer—and the type of transaction.
Why is my pending transaction still 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.
Can a pending charge be cancelled?
Yes. To cancel a pending credit card transaction before it's complete, start by calling the merchant directly. Ask the merchant or retailer to reverse the charge, cancel the sale or release the hold for the confirmed amount. The sooner you contact the merchant, the more likely the pending transaction can be canceled.
What happens if a pending transaction never goes 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.
Can a pending charge disappear?
Pending transactions affect your available balance and can remain on your account for up to 5 days. When the final purchase is received from the merchant, the transaction moves from pending to posted. Sometimes, a pending transaction will never post.
Can you spend money that is pending?
Debit card purchases will immediately deduct from your balance to help prevent overspending. A pending debit is not part of your available balance and scheduled debit payments will deduct on the date they're expected to post.
Will a pending transaction definitely go through?
Pending transactions are transactions that haven't been fully processed yet. For example, if you make a purchase with a debit card or credit card, it will almost always show as pending immediately when you view your account online or in a mobile banking app.
Can a pending charge be declined?
A pending credit card purchase might be declined if another merchant has placed a hold on your credit card. A pending purchase made with your bank account or credit card could be declined if your account doesn't have enough funds or the merchant won't accept payment from your bank.
Do pending charges go on your record?
A: Pending charges show up on background checks because they are public record. These records are sometimes pulled up as part of a background check because they indicate what point the case is at. Employers and others use it to measure risk, even though a pending charge is neither a conviction nor evidence of guilt.
How long can a pending charge stay pending?
Key takeaways. Pending charges on credit cards are temporary holds to ensure payment for potential damages or incidental expenses. Pending charges typically take up to three days to clear with the merchant, but can take longer. Issues with pending charges should be resolved with the merchant, not the card issuer.
How long before a pending transaction is Cancelled?
Pending transactions are payments that would normally go into or out of your account within 7 days. When you use a debit card to pay for something, it reduces the available balance in your current account.
Can you 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.
Does "pending" mean "approved"?
A pending transaction is an approved transaction that has not posted to your account.
Are pending transactions final?
Though the pending amount may be deducted from your available credit limit, this is not a final charge, so pending transactions don't accrue interest, and they aren't included in your credit card's current balance until they are finalized.
How do I stop a pending transaction?
If you want to eliminate the transaction before it settles, contact the merchant who placed the charge. This is the seller, store, or vendor you purchased from. It's best to do this as soon as possible—within one or two days.
Why is my transaction pending for so long?
Why is my charge pending for so long? Insufficient funds, fraudulent activity, processing errors, merchant delays, and delays due to holidays/weekend processing might result in an extended period of a pending charge.
Can you dispute a pending charge?
You have to wait until it posts. Then federal law gives you the right to challenge the charge. If you have already tried to work out a problem with the merchant and the charge has already been posted, you can dispute the charge in a process the payments industry calls a "chargeback."
Does locking a card stop pending transactions?
In general, locking your debit card won't stop transactions that were made and authorized before you locked it but are still pending. In other words, if you made a purchase that's pending, then locked your debit card before it completed, that transaction should still go through.