Why did my card decline even though I had enough balance?

Some merchants, especially gas stations, hotels, and car rentals, may try to authorize a higher amount than the amount you actually plan to spend.

This is called a pre-authorization or authorization hold. The merchant does this to make sure your card has enough available balance before they complete the final charge.

For example, you may want to fill up with fuel for only €20, but the gas station may charge your card for a €100. Even if your final fuel payment is only €20, your card must have €100 available at the time of the transaction.

In this case, if your card balance is only €20 or less than the amount the merchant is trying to authorize, the transaction will be declined.

This amount is decided by the merchant, not by PlasBit. Gas stations, hotels, and car rentals often do this to protect themselves before they know the final amount you will spend.

If a pre authorization transaction is charged on your card, the merchant will finalize the transaction within a few days and the charge is settled for the actual amount spent.

Any difference is released back to your card balance, usually released within 7 business days, but it can take up to 30 days depending on the merchant and the card network.