What is a pending card payment?

A pending card payment is a card payment that has been authorised, but not yet cleared. Payments are usually authorised as soon as you make them, and you will see your available balance deducted.

Most payments clear within 1-3 business days, but it can take longer. Payments made as ‘pre-authorisations’ (for example, when checking into a hotel or using a car rental service), are designed to give the merchant more time to charge you, so they can sometimes take up to 31 days to clear.