It can be confusing if your balance looks wrong or a transaction is missing. In most cases, this is normal and temporary. Understanding how your card works can help you avoid concern and know when to take action.
Pre-authorizations (most common)
Many merchants place a temporary hold (called a pre-authorization) when you make a purchase.
This hold may reduce your available balance right away
It may not appear in your transaction history yet
The final charge may be different or may not complete
Example:
Some retailers (like Amazon) place a hold first, then complete the charge when the item ships.
Declined or incomplete transactions
Sometimes a transaction is not completed, even if funds were held.
A charge may be declined after a pre-authorization
A partial order (missing items) can affect the final total
The held amount may still temporarily reduce your balance
In these cases, the held funds will be returned after the hold clears.
Refunds in progress
Refunds may not show up right away.
Refunds can first enter a pre-auth or pending state (not shown in transaction history).
Your balance may not update immediately
Refunds often only take a few days to appear and be reflected in your balance but some merchants may take up to 30 days for the refund to be processed and reflected in your balance.
When your balance will update
In most cases, your balance will correct itself automatically.
Pre-authorizations typically clear within 5–10 business days
Once cleared, your balance will reflect the correct amount
If a transaction doesn’t complete, the held funds will return to your card after this period.
What to do if something looks wrong
If your balance still doesn’t look right, here’s what you can do:
Check your balance and transaction history regularly.
Wait up to 10 business days for pending items to clear.
Confirm whether the transaction was completed or declined.
If after the 10 business days there is no change, or you are curious to see if a refund may be pending, reach out to support@giftbit.com with your phone number and our team can take a look.