If you notice duplicate pending charges on your transaction history after making a purchase, don’t worry. These duplicate pending charges are usually authorization holds that are still being processed. You are not being double-charged for a single purchase.
What is an authorization hold?
When you pay with a credit card, your issuing bank may place a temporary authorization hold on your account. This hold reserves the funds for your order until the payment is finalized.
Here's what you can expect during checkout:
- You enter your payment information at checkout.
- Your bank places an authorization hold for the full order amount to confirm sufficient funds.
- If approved, your order is processed.
- Once your package ships, your credit card is charged for the cost of the items in that shipment.
- If your order ships in multiple packages, each shipment will be charged separately, up to the amount of the original authorization.
What do I do about duplicate pending charges?
Authorization holds are automatically released once your transaction has been fully processed. This process typically takes 3 to 5 business days, depending entirely on your bank or card issuer's specific timeline.
Important: If your order is canceled or not successfully completed at checkout, the authorization hold is automatically dropped. The exact timeframe to see these pending funds drop off your statement varies depending on your bank or financial institution.