> ## Knowledge Base Index
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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# What does an Authorized purchase mean?

Every card payment happens in two stages: the merchant **Authorizes** the purchase to reserve the funds, then **Completes** it to actually claim them. This is why a transaction's amount or status can change shortly after you pay.

###### **Authorized (Pending) - Funds are HELD**

When you make a purchase, the merchant places a hold on the purchase amount via your card. This transaction shows as **Authorized** in your dashboard, but no money has moved — the funds stay in your Halocard account, reserved against your available balance.

The hold can be for $0 (the merchant is checking your card is valid), a partial amount like a deposit (e.g. hotels, car rentals, fuel pumps), or the full purchase amount (most everyday purchases). While a transaction is **Authorized**, it cannot be cancelled or [disputed](https://support.halocard.co/en/article/how-can-i-dispute-a-transaction-and-request-a-chargeback-dqmc7m/) and only the merchant can release the hold.

###### **Pending Refunds also show at Authorized**

Refunds may initially **appear as charges that are equal or less than your original purchase amount** with the status **Authorized**. This is normal and you will need to wait 1 - 3 business days for the transactions to settle via Visa in order for the refund to show as a credit on your account. See the article: [How do refunds work on Halocard?](https://support.halocard.co/en/article/how-do-refunds-work-on-halocard-5q6tlc/)

###### **Completed (Settled) - Funds are WITHDRAWN**

When the merchant claims the funds (usually within 3 business days or up to 7 for hotels, rentals, and pre-orders), the transaction moves to **Completed** and the funds are taken from your balance by Visa to pay the merchant. This is known as settlement.

###### **Why the amount can change**

It's normal for the Completed amount to differ from the Authorized amount:

| Scenario | What happens |
| ---- |
| Restaurants, salons | Authorized for the bill, Completed with tip added |
| Fuel pumps | A $1 or $100 hold is replaced by the actual fuel amount |
| Hotels, car rentals | The pre-authorization is replaced by the final cost |
| Foreign currency | Exchange rate shifts slightly between the two stages |
| Partial fulfilment | The merchant only charges for items that shipped |
| Refund | Refunds initially appear as charges and then show as credits after settlement |

In each case, the Authorized hold is released and the Completed amount is the true charge.

###### **If a transaction stays Authorized**

If the merchant never claims the funds, the hold expires automatically and the money returns to your available balance, usually within 7 days, but sometimes up to 30. To speed things up, contact the merchant and ask them to void the authorization.