What Is a Card Pre-Authorization Charge?
A card pre-authorization charge is a temporary hold placed on a credit or debit card to verify its validity before a transaction is fully processed. It is commonly used by financial platforms, online merchants, hotels, car rental services, and payment processors as a security measure to confirm the cardholder's identity and ensure sufficient funds are available.
Unlike a regular transaction, a pre-authorization does not immediately deduct funds from your account, but temporarily reduces your available balance until the charge is either finalized or released.
Pre-authorization serves several purposes, including:
✅ Fraud Prevention – Confirms that the card belongs to you and is not being used fraudulently.
✅ Deposit Verification – Ensures that the payment method is valid before completing a deposit.
✅ Security Measure – Helps protect both users and financial institutions against unauthorized transactions.
How Long Does a Pre-Authorization Charge Last?
The duration of a pre-authorization hold depends on the card issuer's policies. Typically:
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Most banks release pre-authorized funds within a few minutes.
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Some banks may hold the funds for up to 7–14 days.
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If the transaction is completed, the pre-authorization will turn into a finalized charge.
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If the transaction is not completed, the bank will automatically release the funds.
At SwissBorg, we do not manually control pre-authorization release times, as this is handled by your bank or card issuer.
How to Unlock a Pre-Authorization Charge Faster
If your pre-authorization charge remains locked for longer than expected, here’s what you can do:
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Check Your Bank Statement – Look for the transaction under "Pending" or "Authorized."
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Contact Your Bank or Card Issuer – Ask them to release the hold if the transaction is no longer needed.
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Wait for Automatic Release – Most pre-authorizations are lifted automatically based on your bank’s policies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is a pre-authorization charge a real transaction?
No, a pre-authorization is only a temporary hold and not a completed transaction. It does not permanently deduct funds from your account.
Can I cancel a pre-authorization charge?
Only your bank or card issuer can manually release a pre-authorization charge. If you need it removed sooner, contact them directly.
Will I be charged twice?
No, once a pre-authorization is completed, it either turns into a finalized charge or is released back into your account. You will not be charged twice.
What happens if my pre-authorization charge does not disappear?
If the charge remains after the expected release period, contact your bank or card issuer.
Conclusion
Card pre-authorization charges are a common security measure used across many industries, including financial platforms like SwissBorg. While they are temporary, they can sometimes take longer than expected to clear. Understanding how they work and how to unlock them can help prevent unnecessary stress and delays.
If you're experiencing an issue with a pre-authorization hold, your best course of action is to contact your bank or card issuer directly for faster resolution.
For more information or assistance, reach out to our Support Team.