This article explains pre-authorisations—temporary holds merchants place on your funds—and why the pending amount may differ from the final charge. It includes examples from common services like ride-sharing, hotels, and food delivery, and clarifies why some merchant types (e.g. fuel pumps, car rentals) are restricted.
If you’ve ever seen a transaction marked as “Pending”, then noticed the final amount change—what you’re seeing is a pre-authorisation in action.
This is a standard payment process used by many businesses to temporarily hold funds before finalising the exact charge.
💡 What Is a Pre-Authorisation?
A pre-authorisation is a temporary hold placed on your Gnosis Pay Card by a merchant to:
Confirm your card is active
Reserve funds for an expected charge
Complete payment after the service or purchase is final
🟡 It’s not a charge until the merchant clears it.
The final amount may differ from the initial hold.
📌 Common Examples of Pre-Authorisations
| Use Case | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Ride-Sharing & Food Delivery (e.g. Uber, Deliveroo) | An estimated amount is held when you book/order. The final total (e.g. tip) is charged after. |
| Hotels | A hold is placed at check-in to cover the stay + possible incidentals. The final charge is made at checkout. |
🚫 Unsupported Pre-Auth Merchants
Certain industries use unpredictable or long-term holds that are not supported by Gnosis Pay due to how self-custodial wallets work.
| Merchant Type | Why It’s Restricted |
|---|---|
| Car Rentals | May place extended or large hold amounts |
| Automated Fuel Dispensers (Pay-at-Pump) | Often authorise more than the purchase amount or hold funds for several days |
🔗 For a full list, see: Card Limitations and Restrictions
❓ See a Final Charge You Don’t Recognise?
If a final cleared charge seems higher than expected, or you don’t recognise it:
🔗 What To Do About Duplicate or Unrecognised Transactions