Why do charges stay pending?
Asked by: Berniece Ferry | Last update: February 9, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (72 votes)
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 charge stay 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 a payment be pending for?
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. Once a pending transaction has cleared, it will appear below in your list of cleared transactions.
Why are my pending transactions taking 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 I spend money that is pending?
A pending transaction can place a hold on your account balance and count toward your credit limit until it is processed. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't use your credit card or bank account. But it can affect your available balance—or the funds you're able to access.
Why do pending charges take so long?
Does a pending charge mean it went through?
A pending transaction on your bank account means your bank is processing a purchase you made, a bill you paid, or a deposit that's heading your way, but it hasn't been completed yet. Either the payment hasn't been sent to the vendor yet or the incoming funds haven't cleared, although they are in process.
How do I get rid of pending money?
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.
Why is my payment stuck in pending?
When a payment is marked as “pending” it means that the payment process still needs to be completed. In most cases, this simply means that you need to wait for this to happen. In some cases, however, the merchant may need to take action.
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.
Why is my transaction 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.
Why do some payments stay pending?
It's also common to see this when online shopping, as some merchants may hold off on processing the payment until your order has shipped. This includes international purchases too. Essentially, pending transactions mean the money has been committed to a specific purchase, but it's still moving between accounts.
What happens if a pending transaction never goes through?
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.
What does "pending charges" mean?
A pending charge means that the person who has been arrested for an alleged crime is still having their case reviewed by the prosecutor. Prosecutors are responsible for deciding the charges a person might face and do not always have to follow through with the charges referred by the police.
How long can you be held on pending charges?
Most states allow prosecutors up to 72 hours after an arrest to file charges, although some states, like California, allow only 48 hours. If the prosecutor fails to bring charges within this time limit, the court has to release you.
Can a pending transaction 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.
Can a pending charge fall off?
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.
What happens if a charge is pending for too long?
What should I do if a transaction remains pending for too long? Contact your bank or the merchant to inquire about the delay. It could be due to a processing error or a hold. Pending transactions can impact the balance of credit card accounts and may require contacting the bank or merchant for resolution.
Why can't you cancel a pending payment?
It can be difficult to cancel a pending transaction once it's listed in your account summary. That's because both you and your bank have approved the payment. And you may have received the goods or services already. You might be able to contact the retailer and chat through potential options.
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.
Can a transaction be pending forever?
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.
Does "pending" mean "approved"?
A pending transaction is an approved transaction that has not posted to your account.
Why is it stuck on pending?
Check your internet connection
Your download/update issue might be as simple as a bad internet connection. Make sure that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network or a mobile internet connection. If you're using Wi-Fi, open a website in a web browser on another device to make sure the connection is working.
How long does money stay in pending?
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. Similarly, when you use a credit card to pay for something, it increases your available balance.
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."
How do I fix a pending transaction?
How do I stop a pending debit transaction? You can stop a pending debit card transaction by contacting the merchant and canceling the purchase. Or you can try contacting your bank if you don't recognize the transaction, you suspect fraud is involved, or the merchant is unresponsive.