Your funds may be temporarily reserved due to a authorisation. Here's everything you need to know.
What is a authorisation?
A authorisation (pre-auth) is a temporary hold a merchant places on funds in your account. The money is not charged — it's simply reserved while the merchant confirms or completes the transaction.
Why are my funds blocked? Who does this?
Merchants place a hold to ensure funds are available before finalising a charge. Common examples include:
🏨 Hotels and car rentals holding a security deposit
⛽ Fuel stations reserving an estimated amount before you fill up
🛍️ Online stores reserving funds before shipping an order
🔄 Subscription services verifying there are sufficient funds
Will the money actually be taken from my account?
Not right away. During the pre-auth period, the funds are reserved (reducing your available balance) but not yet charged. The charge only goes through if the merchant finalises the transaction.
How long will my funds be blocked?
It depends on what the merchant does next:
✅ If the merchant completes the transaction, the amount is charged and the hold is released.
❌ If the merchant cancels or doesn't finalise, the hold expires automatically — usually within 30 days.
Can you unblock my funds?
No. Only the merchant who placed the hold can cancel a pre-authorisation, we are unable to remove it, even if it appears duplicated or incorrect.
⚠️ Please contact the merchant directly and ask them to cancel the authorisation on their end.