---
title: "Why is my card transaction pending? - Payhawk Help Center"
slug: "why-is-my-card-transaction-pending"
description: "Find out why a card payment stays pending, how temporary holds work at hotels, car rentals, and gas stations, and what to do if the transaction doesn't settle."
updated: 2026-10-23T13:46:40Z
published: 2026-10-23T13:46:40Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/why-is-my-card-transaction-pending"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Why is my card transaction pending?

A card payment can remain pending for several days after you make it. This article explains why card transactions stay pending, how temporary holds work, and what to do if a transaction doesn't settle.

## What's a pending card transaction?

Sometimes, you might notice that a card transaction remains pending several days after making the payment.

A pending card transaction is a payment made with a debit or credit card that has been [authorized](/help/authorized-and-settled-transactions) but not yet fully processed or [settled](/help/authorized-and-settled-transactions). When a transaction appears as authorized in Payhawk, this means that the funds have been temporarily reserved by the merchant but haven't yet been deducted from your account and haven’t been transferred to the merchant.

For most merchants, transactions are processed within 3-5 business days, though some may take longer. Since the settlement process is entirely managed by the merchant, you can contact them directly to request a faster resolution.

If the payment is still not settled 30 days after the transaction date, contact Payhawk Support at [support@payhawk.com](mailto:support@payhawk.com).

## Pending card transactions for hotels and car rentals

Merchants like hotels or car rental companies often place a temporary hold, or pre-authorization, on your card to ensure funds are available for your stay and any extra charges, such as room service, mini-bar, or damages. This isn’t an actual charge but a temporary hold on a specific amount. The final charge will only be made once the total amount is confirmed.

When the merchant processes the authorization, the transaction status will update from **Authorized** to **Paid**, the amount will adjust to reflect the actual charge, and the payment status will change from **Pending settlement** to **Settled**.

The merchant is responsible for managing the settlement process. If the merchant releases the full hold, the expense will be removed from your expense list, as expenses cannot be deleted manually. Temporary holds can last anywhere from 30 to 45 days. Payhawk Accountants and Payhawk Administrators can still trace such removed card expenses in the Payhawk Web Portal: open the app switcher in the top-left corner, go to **Spend**, and select **Deleted** in the left pane.

## Pending card transactions at self-service gas stations

When you pay with your card at a self-service gas station, the merchant typically places a hold for the maximum amount at the time of the transaction.

Once the transaction is settled, only the actual purchase amount will be deducted from your card balance, and the remaining funds will be released and made available for you to use.

Settlement usually takes about 3 days for the merchant to complete, though in rare cases, it may take slightly longer.

## Managing pending card transactions

To check whether a pending card transaction has been settled or reverted, monitor your payment summary regularly:

- If the merchant doesn't settle the transaction, the authorization will typically expire after 3 calendar days, and the reserved funds will be automatically returned back to your account.
- If the merchant settles the authorized amount during the pending period, the transaction will be finalized and deducted from your balance.

To address any issues with the settled amount:

- Contact Payhawk Support to initiate a dispute case, if you think that the charge is incorrect.
- Contact the merchant to request a refund or clarification, if you notice a discrepancy between an expected amount and the final settled amount. Be prepared to provide payment confirmations and transaction reference numbers from Payhawk.

## Useful resources

- [My card shows an insufficient funds error despite the balance being sufficient](/help/my-card-shows-an-insufficient-funds-error-despite-the-balance-being-sufficient)
- [My card transaction failed](/help/my-card-transaction-failed)
- [Activating your Payhawk card](/help/activating-your-payhawk-card)