Every kind of hold, explained properly
Hotel holds
Check-in authorizations, incidentals buffers, double-pending after checkout, and the 1–5 business days it really takes to clear.
Travel · DepositsCar rental deposits
Why agencies hold $200–$500 over the rental, what "released at return" really means, and the debit-card small print.
Fuel · $175 ruleFuel & petrol pump holds
The pre-authorization behind pay-at-pump, the 2022 limit raise, UK/EU pump pre-auths, and why debit feels it most.
Dining · Tip toleranceRestaurant & bar holds
Why the pending amount differs from your bill, how bar tabs pre-authorize, and when the batch corrects it.
E-commerce · Auth at checkoutOnline order holds
Authorized at checkout, captured at shipping, plus pre-orders, split shipments and auths that just expire.
Cancelled · Still pendingCancelled but still pending
Reversals vs voids, the 24-hour rule merchants ignore, and the expiry date that ends it no matter what.
Deposits · Real chargesSecurity deposit refunds
When a deposit was actually charged it comes back as a refund, a slower pipeline, with an ARN trick worth knowing.
Cards · LiquidityDebit vs credit holds
Identical network rules, very different consequences, and the travel playbook that keeps your cash liquid.
Action · Scripts includedHow to get a hold released early
The two-call sequence (merchant first, then bank) with the exact words, and the expiry argument that usually settles it.
Basics · Read your statementPending vs posted
What "pending" really means, why amounts change, which pending charges vanish, and when one is actually a problem.
Cheat sheet · AmountsHow much will they hold?
Typical hold sizes for every merchant type, the rules that cap them, and the liquidity math for a week's trip.
Prepaid · Worst casePrepaid card holds
Why prepaid issuers sit on holds until network expiry, and the travel playbook that routes around it.
Country-specific rules (release speed, law, holidays) live on the country pages. How every number is sourced: methodology.