Hotel payment (via debit card) not taken or pending

l3mmmy · 12 August 2017 at 2:16PM

Hey guys!

Just after a little advice.

We went to Sweden for 4 nights on Sunday (arrived back Thursday) and paid for our hotel via debit card on arrival using chip and pin. The money was debited from my account immediately for sure as we were using the same account for our spending money and it was clear that £500 had been taken as we only took £1,000 in total. Anyway, on the morning of the check out I checked my bank just to see what money we had left to use to get some lunch etc before getting to the airport and I had noticed my balance had increased by about £500. I scrolled through my statement but no payment had come in, and also there was no trace of the hotel payment we made on Sunday (including in pending payments and pending transactions). Very odd. We went down to reception 10 mins later to check out half expecting them to say or payment hasn't gone through or something but they just printed me my receipt for the room which states I paid by visa and that the balance was paid in full on the Sunday. I keep checking my account and the money is still there, and there still aren't any pending payments or transactions showing.

Anyone got any ideas what's happened here? I called Halifax and they said no payments are pending either.

l3mmmy · 12 August 2017 at 2:17PM

When I say balance I mean available balance btw :-)

stclair · 12 August 2017 at 3:04PM

It'll probably Debit at a later date.

wizzywig27 · 12 August 2017 at 3:06PM

They will take to eventually :-)

l3mmmy · 12 August 2017 at 3:13PM

These are our thoughts too but doesn't explain why/how the funds were taken then put back in my account?

wizzywig27 · 12 August 2017 at 3:21PM

It was a pre auth to see if you had the money, the company didn't claim it before it dropped off your account. They can and (probably) will go back in for it so ensure the money is available or you may get charges if you go overdrawn

agrinnall · 12 August 2017 at 4:09PM

Yes, the money was never actually taken, it was just reserved against your available balance. When they didn't take the money within a few days the reservation dropped off and your available balance increased again. This is perfectly normal and could happen with any transaction that you do. The chances are that within the next few days the full amount will be debited so whatever you do don't think it's available to spend a second time, at least until 6 months have passed (after which they should, in theory at least, ask you before making the debit).