A pending transaction occurs when a transaction (usually using a credit or debit card) has been recorded, but has not yet been processed. Your financial institution will report this on your account, but it may take up to seven days to clear. Pending transactions do not always result in a cleared transaction. For example, a hotel may put a 50-dollar or greater hold on your account in anticipation of room expenses, but if those expenses do not occur, then the hold will disappear. Likewise, if the amount differs from the original hold, such as adding a gratuity to a restaurant bill, then the amount of the cleared transaction may be different from the pending transaction. |