How To Cancel A Pending Credit Card Transaction

Pending credit card transactions are somewhat of a gray area — they can appear on your statement and temporarily reduce your available credit, but they’re not added to the balance.

It’s possible to cancel a pending credit card transaction, whether you no longer want to make the purchase or suspect fraud. You can also try to cancel a credit card payment altogether.

What is a pending credit card transaction?

A pending credit card transaction is a charge that’s been approved by your card issuer but not yet included in your credit card balance.

Generally, credit card charges can take several days to go through — which is when they’re pending. But merchants may also place “holds” as a type of security deposit. These pending costs can appear when sellers ask for upfront approval of payments to confirm that you have the money to cover the cost.

For example, restaurants may charge you for the bill before you’ve added your tip, and gas stations can charge a temporary amount while you fill up at the pump. Hotels and rental car companies also place holds in case of damage.

While these pending transactions can momentarily reduce your available credit limit, they don’t accrue interest and aren’t included in your credit card’s current balance until they’re finalized — which can take three days or longer. In cases such as the hotel or rental car deposit hold, the charge should simply disappear once your stay or rental is complete.

How to cancel a pending credit card transaction

The sooner you contact the merchant, the more likely the pending transaction can be canceled. Here are a few steps you can take, depending on your situation:

Canceling a pending transaction by phone or online

You can try to cancel a credit card transaction within 24 hours by calling the merchant directly to reverse the charge, cancel the sale or release the hold.

You may also be able to cancel a pending transaction online or from the card issuer’s app.

The window for canceling a hold is often just a few days. If the merchant doesn’t respond in time or isn’t able to remove the pending transaction before it posts to your account balance, you still have the option of disputing the charge with your credit card issuer or bank.

Reporting an unauthorized pending transaction

If you see a pending transaction you know you didn’t make, contact your card issuer immediately. It’s often easier to dispute a posted transaction than a pending one, and credit card issuers are typically more inclined to help cardholders after the charge is posted to your account.

Your issuer’s fraud department will likely take the reins, removing the charge from your statement until a fraud investigation is complete.

If you see evidence of identity theft beyond your credit card statement, you may also want to file a police report. And it doesn’t hurt to alert the three major credit bureaus and consider freezing your credit. When in doubt, it’s best to protect your credit score.

How to cancel a credit card payment

If you’ve just made a payment to your credit card balance and it’s still pending, you can typically cancel it online, by app or by phone. But once your payment goes through, it’s harder to cancel.

But if you suspect fraud or a billing error, you can call the issuer to open a dispute. You’ll likely get a chargeback, which is like a temporary refund from the issuer, until the dispute is resolved.

How to protect yourself from credit card errors and fraud

Take these proactive steps to avoid transaction errors and credit card scams when using your card:

• Shop with secure websites. A secure URL begins with https, which signals the site uses Secure Sockets Layer — or SSL — encryption to protect the information you submit, including financial information. Ensure you’re only shopping on secure and authentic websites.
• Protect your card information. Never respond to a call or email asking for your personal or financial information, like your credit card number. Even if the person reaching out says they’re from your bank, hang up and call your bank or issuer directly to avoid handing your info to a stranger.
• Review your statements. Give your bank and credit card statements a regular review for discrepancies or unknown charges, and call your card issuer immediately if you see anything you don’t recognize.
• Watch for skimmers. Make sure that any ATM or card machine you use is well lit with security monitoring to avoid fraudsters “skimming” your card information.

The bottom line

A credit card charge can take a few days to go through, and it’s normal for it to show up on your statement as a pending transaction. You also might see a pending credit card transaction on your bill after pumping gas or booking a hotel that acts as a hold until the transaction is complete.

If you don’t recognize a pending credit card transaction, contact the merchant. But if you suspect fraud, reach out to your issuer or bank right away to start an investigation.