When you use your card, the merchant asks us to approve the amount first. The charge shows as pending until the merchant completes it. A pending charge reduces your available credit until it completes or drops off. You don't pay interest on a charge while it's pending.
How long a charge stays pending
Most pending charges complete or drop off within a few days.
Hotels and car rental companies often place a hold when you check in or pick up the car. If they don't complete it, the hold can stay pending for up to 31 days. After that, it drops off on its own.
Why the amount can change
The final charge can be lower or higher than the hold, for example if the hold included a deposit or extra costs.
Sometimes a hotel takes its final payment as a separate charge. You may see that charge and the original hold at the same time until the hold drops off. The hold itself isn't charged unless the merchant completes it.
A merchant can still send the final charge after a hold has dropped off, most often with car rentals. It then shows as a new charge.
Getting a hold released sooner
Ask the merchant to release the hold. Merchants can release a hold before it drops off.
Disputing a pending charge
A pending charge can't be disputed until it has completed. If it completes and the merchant won't correct it, you can raise a dispute then.