Debit Card Pending Transactions - Especially Contactless

RandomUser923759

One of my biggest annoyances is the fact that some transactions show as pending from your available bank balance and some don't.

I especially find that most contactless debit card payments do not pend - the merely clear 2-3 days later.

Does anyone know why some pend and some do not. The worst offenders for not pending are Tesco and Boots for me.

I want to know my true available balance. Anyone know why?

(Also - it is not a case of me being unable to track my spending - I keep a spreadsheet of all of my spending so that I can reconcile my bank - main purpose is BECAUSE of transactions that do not pend - I would love to rely less on this and have a true figure on my bank - it is 2015 after all and some can and some can't do it)

Hazzanet

>>> Contactless Payments do not show in Available Balance

jonesMUFCforever

Stop using your card for purchases - take the money out in cash from an ATM - when its gone your available balance is nil.

alanq

mrchrisbrogan wrote: »

The worst offenders for not pending are Tesco and Boots for me.

My two contactless transactions at Boots today are showing as pending on my prepayment card.

[Deleted User]

alanq wrote: »

My two contactless transactions at Boots today are showing as pending on my prepayment card.

Prepaid cards always show transactions in real time, because of the need to perform online authorisation even for a 1p spend.

Some retailers have a floor limit, whereby they don't check with the bank every time for transactions under a certain amount, and then batch up the transactions and send them once a night.

This is the cause for the delay.

RandomUser923759

Not exactly a helpful response, personally I tend to spend more if for example I take 10 out for a 3 quid lunch the other 7 tends to get wasted whereas that wouldnt happen if it remained in the bank,

System

Get an online debit card from your bank then.

mrchrisbrogan wrote: »

Not exactly a helpful response, personally I tend to spend more if for example I take 10 out for a 3 quid lunch the other 7 tends to get wasted whereas that wouldnt happen if it remained in the bank,

isaisababy-

ASDA fuel do this too! Take the 1p out of your account and doesn't earmark off the account at all. The first time I started using ASDA fuel, I didn't know about this and assumed the money must have debited (stupid mistake!), then it came out 3 days later.

The only good point about this, is if i'm struggling one month and need some diesel close to payday, I can get it if I go a few days before as long as I have the 1p in the account!

Gromitt

mrchrisbrogan wrote: »

Not exactly a helpful response, personally I tend to spend more if for example I take 10 out for a 3 quid lunch the other 7 tends to get wasted whereas that wouldnt happen if it remained in the bank,

Whats the difference between being able to spend the cash or use a contactless debit card? If you want the buy something £7 then surely it doesn't matter how you spend it.

Personally I'm normally always carrying between £40 and £100 and I don't have an impulse to spend it all. Stop blaming the bank and manage your money better.