Why is my payment stuck in pending?

Asked by: Prof. Cathrine Hintz MD  |  Last update: April 30, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (56 votes)

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.

How long will a payment be pending?

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.

How long does it take for a pending payment to be cleared?

Generally, pending transactions clear within one to five business days, but the exact timing depends on the type of transaction, the payment network, and the bank or credit card issuer.

How long does processed pending payment take?

Pending transactions are charges that have been initiated but not yet fully processed or settled. They can take anywhere from a few hours to five business days to clear, depending on the charge. Restaurants, hotels, and car rental companies often initially list charges as pending until the payment is fully processed.

Why is it taking so long for my pending transactions to go through?

When a credit card is paid, both the retailer's and the cardholder's banks need to verify the transaction. Thus, additional delays could be brought on by weekends, holidays, and international transfers until final approval and settlement are completed and funds are secured in pending status.

Why your transaction may be pending

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What's the longest a transaction can be pending?

Usually, a pending charge will show on your account until the transaction is processed and the funds are transferred to the merchant. This could typically take up to three days but may stretch longer depending on the merchant and the type of transaction.

Why is my payment not going through but pending?

Pending transactions haven't been fully processed by your bank or credit card company, while posted transactions have. Whether money is withdrawn from or deposited into your account, both types of transactions will start as pending until they are fully processed and posted.

Can a pending payment be cancelled?

Unfortunately, canceling a pending transaction isn't always simple. If you're trying to remove a hold or a pending transaction before it posts, you'll need to contact the merchant and ask them to remove the authorization. Once your transaction is finalized, however, you have more power in reversing the charge.

How long can a debit transaction stay pending?

Pending transactions are debits or credits that have been authorized but not yet processed. These placeholders affect the amount of money available in the account. Pending transactions typically take between one and five business days to process.

Does "pending" mean "approved"?

A pending transaction is a credit or debit on your credit card or bank account that has been approved but not yet processed.

Will a pending transaction definitely go through?

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.

Can a pending transaction be declined?

Can a pending transaction be declined? Your bank or credit card issuer can decline a pending transaction if it exceeds your available funds.

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.

What happens if a payment is pending for too long?

If a transaction remains pending longer than normal, it may be from a technical issue or a delay from the merchant's end. Likewise, a quick phone call to the company may resolve it.

Does pending mean the money is in your account?

A pending transaction on your bank account means your bank is processing a purchase you made, a bill you paid, or a deposit that's heading your way, but it hasn't been completed yet. Either the payment hasn't been sent to the vendor yet or the incoming funds haven't cleared, although they are in process.

Why do payments say pending?

What does 'pending transaction' mean? A pending transaction is a credit card transaction that is authorised but not yet processed. Your bank has approved the charge, but the transaction still needs to be processed by the merchant.

What is the maximum time for a pending transaction?

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.

Why is a charge pending for so long?

A pending charge, also known as a 'hold', is an approved transaction that your issuer has yet to post to your account balance. This may be because a merchant wants to check you have enough funds available or you made the transaction outside of your issuer's business hours.

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.

How do I get rid of a pending payment?

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. If you suspect fraud, skip the merchant and call your bank or card issuer first.

What happens if a pending transaction doesn't go through?

What happens if a pending transaction doesn't go through? Your bank may remove a pending transaction from your account summary if it hasn't cleared after a certain time. In this case, it'll no longer appear in your list of pending payments and shouldn't affect your available balance.

Do pending transactions go through on weekends?

Many transactions will show as pending over non-working days, meaning transactions may show as pending over weekends and holidays. Typical processing times for different transaction types are as follows: Cash and direct deposits are usually cleared by the following business day.

Can I reverse a pending transaction?

Once a transaction appears as pending on your account, you're unable to stop or cancel the transaction until it's complete.

Why do transactions stay pending?

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.

Why hasn t my pending transaction gone through?

Some retailers don't process payments straight away so these will not appear in your pending transactions. The payment will appear when the retailer processes it, usually within a couple of days. Examples of offline payments include payments made on flights, parking, toll roads and market stalls.