Pending payment - not available?

HannahSmith91

Hi all!
Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on my query or had the same experience, as my bank don’t have a clue. :think: Great!

So I’ve had £89 taken from my bank that i haven’t authorised and is currently a pending transaction. On my online banking it says “£89 pending - not available card ending ****” whereas the other transactions I’ve personally made or my dd’s that are pending say
£XX amount contactless pending - card ending ****
I’ve called Halifax twice now to stop the money leaving but they can’t do anything to claim it back until it leaves and they don’t know what not available means?! :wall: nor can they tell me if the money will leave for definite but is has been taken from my available balance.

So has anyone else had this or knows what it means?
Thanks for reading

JuicyJesus

What is the name of the company of the transaction?

In short though what Halifax are saying is correct, they can't refund you (or do anything else) until it's actually taken as a payment, and they won't put it back on your available balance because even if they do it could still be taken from you.

Terry_Towelling

I'm guessing the merchant name is not available which is why those words are held within the pending transaction message.

As JuicyJesus says, it is not possible for a card issuer to stop a card transaction from coming through to your account.

The money hasn't left your account, it has just been 'ring-fenced' by your issuer in response to an Authorisation request from a retailer to cover a transaction that may or may not be cleared in due course.

Yes it is odd that no retailer name is present in the message and also a bit worrying that you don't recognise the transaction amount. Unfortunately, there is little you can do at the moment. If a transaction comes in it should have a retailer name. If that doesn't help and you are certain you didn't make it, you will be able to dispute it then.

HannahSmith91

Thank you for your replies! They’ve taken the money this morning and it’s showing a company name that I’ve never used, so now I’m having to go down the dispute road ��

Terry_Towelling

HannahSmith91 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies! They’ve taken the money this morning and it’s showing a company name that I’ve never used, so now I’m having to go down the dispute road ��

What is the name? Is it in the UK? Someone on the forum might have knowledge of it.

I just hope this doesn't turn out to be one of those cases where it is an online purchase made from a device that is yours and where you believe no one else has had access to it. So, be prepared for some questioning from your card issuer and have a hard think about any other people who might have had access to your devices/possessions.

Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.