What is a pending transaction? Why some payments take days to clear
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
A pending transaction is a payment that has been approved but not yet finally settled. The money is set aside from your available balance, but the payment has not fully gone through.
Why card payments show as pending
- At the till, the shop asks the card issuer to approve the payment.
- The issuer approves it and holds that amount on the account.
- Later, the shop sends the final amount to be settled.
- The pending item is replaced by the final, posted transaction.
Authorisation holds
Hotels, car hire firms and some petrol stations often hold a larger amount than you finally pay, to cover extras or an unknown final bill. The difference is released once the final amount is settled or the hold expires.
How long pending lasts
Most card payments settle within a few days. If a hold is never settled, it usually drops off after a set number of days that depends on the card issuer and the type of merchant. A refund of a pending payment may simply appear as the hold disappearing.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms can issue branded Visa cards to your customers, powered by licensed partners, with transactions shown in your own app. SendPay tells you in writing which licences apply to your platform before you pay.
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This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.