You may notice a pending transaction if you look at your credit card balance immediately after making a purchase. This transaction does not immediately impact your credit balance, but you will soon have to pay off the debt. Understanding pending transactions can help you manage your finances more effectively and stay on top of obligations.
What Are Pending Transactions?
Pending transactions are credit card purchases, money transfers, debit card payments, and other transactions when money swaps hands. Transactions remain pending for a few days for several reasons. Banks will check your balance to ensure you can transfer money or that your card is valid. Pending transactions reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft. Waiting for the transaction to process can be inconvenient, and it adds an extra layer of protection to your finances.
What Causes Pending Transactions?
When you send or receive money, it may turn into a pending transaction. In addition, your transaction can become pending if any of these parameters apply.
Merchant Holds
Merchant holds protect consumers from scams or companies who cannot provide the goods or services. These holds give the merchant enough time to provide the goods or services. Credit card companies may also implement merchant holds if the business has conducted suspicious behavior. Most merchant holds resolve within a few days after the customer receives the good or service.
Bank Holds
Banks monitor your financial transactions and can place holds to protect you and other consumers. Bank holds may occur if the financial institution detects unusual activity in your account. Banks may also place holds on your account to protect merchants. For example, your account may receive a hold if a merchant files a payment dispute.
Falling behind on payments can also trigger a bank hold. Late credit card payments and insufficient balances can also result in holds. These holds can protect you from overdraft fees and get borrowers back to making on-time credit card payments.
Debit Cards
You can’t always provide your PIN for debit card transactions. During these occurrences, your debit card issuer will mark the transaction as pending for 2-4 business days. You can still see the transaction in your dashboard, but you won’t lose funds immediately.
Debit card holders should closely monitor their pending transactions. Since these transactions do not pull funds from your account right away, they can create a false sense of security and lead to an overdraw. So make sure you check your available funds and pending transactions before using your debit card to avoid overspending.
Credit Cards
Credit card transactions clear sooner than debit card transactions. You can expect clearance within 48 hours in most cases. The credit card company verifies that your credit line exists and then approves the transaction.
How Long Can Transactions Be Pending?
Transaction lengths vary, but most transactions are no longer pending within seven business days. Your transaction may get approved quicker if you use a credit card (approval within 48 hours in most cases) or a debit card (approval within 2-4 business days in most cases). Holidays and weekend shopping can slow down transaction approvals since they only take place on business days. More detailed transactions, such as hotel rooms and other traveling expenses, can take longer to clear your account.
Why Some Pending Transactions Take Time to Clear
Every transaction gets reviewed by three entities to protect both parties from fraud and facilitate smooth transfers. Each party’s bank will monitor the transaction. Your bank and the merchant’s bank must provide stamps of approval. The Automated Clearing House (ACH) will also take a look at your transaction before it gets approved. These entities extend the amount of time it takes for transactions to get finalized.
A transaction can remain pending longer if the merchant charges extra expenses. Hotels charge extra fees depending on how guests use the unit and what services they request during their stay. Keeping the transaction pending allows hotels to add the extra expenses to a guest’s final bill instead of asking the consumer to provide their credit card again.
Do Pending Transactions Expire and What Happens Next?
Some pending transactions expire, but almost never because of a glitch. If you receive what you paid for, that transaction will rarely get canceled or expire. A transaction may expire or get canceled because of fraud or insufficient funds. Staying on top of your credit report can help you detect fraudulent activities so pending transactions do not accumulate in your account.
Some online merchants will let you cancel your monthly subscription even after a pending transaction appears in your statement. If you cancel on time and the company accepts your request, this transaction will get canceled.
Can You Cancel Pending Transactions?
Financial transactions can get canceled, but you can’t cancel a transaction alone. Canceling your credit card will not protect you from pending transactions. Credit card issuers require that you settle all pending items before canceling your card. Therefore, canceling your card is not the best approach since that action can hurt your credit score.
The merchant is the best place to start. Consumers can contact the merchant and ask them to cancel the transaction. This quick request is enough to cancel some transactions. Some merchants will work with you and cancel the transaction. These merchants will provide a refund if money has already swapped hands. However, not every merchant will readily work with you to cancel a transaction.
If the merchant does not cooperate with your request, you can file a dispute with your financial institution. Your bank wants you to remain a customer for your entire life. Supporting you during a dispute can help them build goodwill. Not all disputes result in canceled or reversed transactions, but getting your bank involved gives you leverage. Banks can only respond to disputes after they get posted on your account. You should anticipate not having access to the funds in question until the dispute gets resolved, assuming it works in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is a pending transaction taking so long?
A pending transaction can take a while because multiple parties must communicate with each other to facilitate the transaction. The credit card issuer has to process the transaction, and then the merchant must receive the funds. Then, your account balance will be adjusted. Debit card transactions typically stay pending for more time than credit card transactions.
How long can a transaction sit in pending for?
A pending transaction can take up to three business days to go through. However, some pending transactions will not clear for up to five business days. The pending charge will likely disappear from your account within that time.
How long does it take a pending transaction to deposit?
The funds from a pending transaction are typically available within 1-2 business days. Some transactions take longer, but this is rare. Direct deposits usually clear within 1-3 business days. Banks must make funds from an electronic payment available for withdrawal no later than the next business day.
How long can a bank have a pending transaction?
A bank can have a pending transaction for up to seven business days. However, most transactions get cleared within three business days. You can contact your bank about the pending transaction if you want to learn more about its status.
Does a pending transaction mean it went through?
A pending transaction has not yet gone through. While the payment went through and was authorized, you have to wait for the credit card issuer, processor, and merchant to communicate with each other. The entire process usually takes up to three business days.
Will a pending transaction definitely go through?
A pending transaction is highly likely to go through. In most transactions that don’t go through, there is an agreement between the buyer and the seller. If the buyer gets a refund, the pending transaction will not go through. Transactions can also get canceled if you have insufficient funds for the purchase or the transactions are fraudulent.
Can you pay off a pending transaction?
You cannot pay a pending transaction before it is posted to your account. However, you can make a payment for your credit card in advance. That way, you’re covered when the pending transaction gets posted to your account. Paying your credit card before expenses get posted can help you avoid interest and late fees.
