Do pending transactions sometimes not go through?

Asked by: Dr. Catharine Corwin  |  Last update: June 17, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (40 votes)

Can pending transactions be declined? Banks and credit card issuers might decline pending transactions, especially if the transaction amount exceeds your available funds. That's why it's good to keep track of your account activity to avoid overdraft fees and penalties—if your bank still charges them.

Why hasn t my pending transaction gone through?

Pending transactions are authorizations. The payment must be captured/processed by the merchant for it to post/clear. Sometimes there is a delay in that step and the pending will disappear for a bit before the posted transaction appears.

Why is my payment not going through but pending?

Either way, the word 'pending' shows that the payment is still being processed by the retailer and is waiting to leave your account. It means your bank has approved the payment, but the retailer needs to finish collecting it. Once that happens, the pending transaction becomes a completed transaction.

Can a transaction be stopped while pending?

Yes. To cancel a pending credit card transaction before it's complete, start by calling the merchant directly. Ask the merchant or retailer to reverse the charge, cancel the sale or release the hold for the confirmed amount. The sooner you contact the merchant, the more likely the pending transaction can be canceled.

Do pending transactions get declined?

Yes, pending payments can indeed be declined, even after they initially appear on your account.

How long do Pending transactions take to clear?

30 related questions found

Can pending transactions not go through?

A pending transaction is a recent card transaction that has not yet been fully processed by the merchant. If the merchant doesn't take the funds from your account, in most cases it will drop back into the account after 7 days.

Can pending transactions drop off?

Yes, pending transactions can be declined even after they initially appear on your account as pending. This may occur for a variety of reasons: There are insufficient funds to cover the charge. Your bank has flagged the transaction as fraudulent.

How long until a pending transaction goes through?

How long do pending transactions take? Generally, it takes up to five business days for transactions to post. But in some cases, it can take up to 14 days. However, that time frame can depend on the payment network, bank or credit card issuer—and the type of transaction.

Can a pending transaction be dropped?

They show up almost immediately after a purchase is made, but they haven't fully "posted" to your account until the merchant processes them on their end. For this reason, pending transactions can change or even be removed before they post, depending on how the merchant handles the final billing.

Can banks override pending transactions?

If the vendor takes too long to accept the money, the bank can cancel the transfer. If that happens, the pending transaction will vanish from your account, along with the charge against your balance.

Does pending mean it hasn't gone through?

2. What's a pending transaction? Pending transactions are transactions that haven't been fully processed yet. For example, if you make a purchase with a debit card or credit card, it will almost always show as pending immediately when you view your account online or in a mobile banking app.

Should I be worried about pending transactions?

You can expect a pending transaction to put a hold on your credit limit or account balance until it gets processed. While you may still use your credit card or bank account, the pending transaction will affect the funds available to you.

How long can a payment sit in pending?

A pending transaction is a recent authorised card transaction that is waiting to be processed by the merchant and can take up to 28 days but normally takes 2/3 days to clear onto your balance. Once a pending transaction has cleared, it will appear below in your list of cleared transactions.

Can a pending transaction stay forever?

Key takeaways. Pending charges on credit cards are temporary holds to ensure payment for potential damages or incidental expenses. Pending charges typically take up to three days to clear with the merchant, but can take longer.

Why is my payment stuck in pending?

When a payment is marked as “pending” it means that the payment process still needs to be completed. In most cases, this simply means that you need to wait for this to happen. In some cases, however, the merchant may need to take action.

What happens if a pending charge never posts?

Sometimes, a pending transaction will never post. A common example of this scenario is canceled and/or voided transactions. When this happens, your available balance is restored and your list of transactions will not include that specific transaction.

Can pending transactions fail?

What happens when a pending transaction disappears? Sometimes pending transactions may disappear from your transaction history and the amount is returned to your available balance. This means the transaction has expired and at this stage has not been processed by the merchant.

How long does a merchant have to finalize a transaction?

Generally speaking, credit card issuers don't have a time limit for charging a customer's credit card. The issuing banks, however, will often impose a limit on merchants for charging. These limits can range anywhere from three to 30 days.

Why would a pending transaction disappear?

It's important to note that the duration of pending transactions can vary, and they typically disappear once the final transaction is settled. During the pending period, the funds associated with the transaction may be reserved but are not yet withdrawn from your account.

Can a pending transaction be declined?

A pending credit card purchase might be declined if another merchant has placed a hold on your credit card. A pending purchase made with your bank account or credit card could be declined if your account doesn't have enough funds or the merchant won't accept payment from your bank.

Can I spend money that is pending?

Debit card purchases will immediately deduct from your balance to help prevent overspending. A pending debit is not part of your available balance and scheduled debit payments will deduct on the date they're expected to post.

Can banks stop a pending transaction?

Unfortunately, it's not very easy to do—your card issuer cannot cancel or otherwise alter the transaction until it's been finalized. Skip contacting your card issuer and go straight to the merchant instead.

How do I stop a pending transaction going through?

If you are unable to work with a merchant to cancel a pending charge, you may be able to contact your credit card issuer or bank once the amount posts and dispute the charge. Situations where it's best to contact your credit card or bank include: There's a transaction you don't recognize.

What time do pending transactions clear?

Pending transactions are payments that would normally go into or out of your account within 7 days. When you use a debit card to pay for something, it reduces the available balance in your current account. Similarly, when you use a credit card to pay for something, it increases your available balance.

What time of day do pending transactions post?

Most transactions post at the end of each business day but posting order and times can vary. Business days for banks are generally Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding federal holidays. Transactions received outside of these hours, including on weekends, are usually posted on the next business day.