What is an authorization hold?

What is an authorization hold?

Once you place an order, you may have a pending authorization on your debit or credit card account in the amount of the estimated order total. While authorization holds are not actual charges, they allow your bank to reserve funds so the order can be processed. Authorization holds are temporary and only remain in effect until they expire, the card issuer removes the hold, or the authorization is settled. Once an item has shipped, the authorization hold is removed and charges will post to your debit or credit card account. Depending on your financial institution, the authorization hold could take a few days before being removed.

It’s possible that you may have multiple authorizations and/or charges on your account for an order. Authorization holds may be requested for individual items if your order ships in multiple shipments or via different delivery methods (e.g., Same Day Delivery, Ship to Home, Drive and / or Order Pickup). You may also have any combination of the following:
  • An authorization hold in the amount of the estimated order total.
  • Posted charge(s) for shipped item(s).
  • New authorization holds for remaining items that haven't shipped.
  • Individual authorizations and/or charges when your order includes a combination of items sold by Target and Target Plus™ Partners.

PayPal® authorization holds can be extended up to 365 days, renewing every 30 days.

For Same Day Delivery orders, the authorization hold may exceed the subtotal to account for substitutions and for special requests. Your card will be changed only for items received upon delivery.

If at any point an authorization hold request fails, Target automatically cancels the order. If you need help requesting the removal of an authorization hold, contact your card issuing bank.


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