When you use your Float card, you’ll notice that transactions show up as either pending or posted. It’s important to understand the difference between these two statuses, especially when you’re tracking spending or reconciling expenses.
What Is a Pending Charge?
A pending charge is an authorization from a merchant that has not yet been finalized. When a charge is pending:
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The merchant has confirmed your card details and requested to hold the funds.
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Your available balance is reduced by the pending amount.
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The transaction is not yet officially billed to your Float account.
Pending charges are temporary and usually settle or fall off after a few days, depending on the merchant’s process. If a pending charge is persisting for longer than you think it should, see: Understanding Why Transactions Are Stuck in Pending
What Is a Posted Charge?
A posted charge is a finalized transaction that is officially billed to your Float account. When a charge posts:
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The merchant has completed their side of the transaction and submitted the final amount.
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The charge is now fully reflected in your Float transaction history and accounting exports.
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The posted amount may match or differ slightly from the original pending authorization.
Once a charge posts, it’s considered final and will appear on your billing statement.
Key Differences Between Pending and Posted Charges
| Pending Charge | Posted Charge |
|---|---|
| Authorization only | Finalized charge |
| Temporarily reduces available balance | Permanently reduces available balance |
| Can expire without posting | Cannot be changed once posted |
| Amount may change | Amount is final |
How Long Do Charges Stay Pending?
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Most pending charges move to posted within 1 to 7 days.
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Some merchants, like hotels, airlines, and car rental companies, might take up to 30 days to finalize the charge.
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If the merchant does not complete the charge, the pending authorization will automatically expire, and the hold will be released.
- If a pending charge is persisting for longer than you think it should, see: Understanding Why Transactions Are Stuck in Pending
Why Would a Pending Amount Be Different From the Final Charge?
Some merchants authorize a different amount than the final charge. For example:
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Hotels might hold a higher amount to cover possible room service or other extras.
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Gas stations often place a flat authorization (like $150) before adjusting it based on how much fuel you pumped.
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Car rental companies place a large hold at the start of the rental, which gets updated after you return the vehicle.
These differences are normal. The posted amount will always reflect the final amount you owe.
What Should I Do If a Pending Transaction Looks Incorrect?
In most cases, pending charges will settle correctly without any action.
However, if you notice a transaction that:
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Stays pending for more than 30 days, or
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Posts for a different amount than you expected,
you can reach out to our Support team at support@floatfinancial.com with the transaction details (merchant name, amount, and date) and we'll help you investigate.