Understanding payment holds

What you’ll need 

• A WiFi or mobile data connection 

•  Your MyAccount login information 

•  The same payment method used at checkout 

•  A smartphone, tablet, or desktop device 

What’s a hold? 

A hold (also called a pending transaction, pre-authorization, or reserve) is a temporary check your card issuer places on your account when you make a purchase. 

• It verifies that funds are available. 

• It’s not an actual charge yet. 

• The amount may appear as “pending” or “processing” on your statement. 

• It automatically expires after 5 days if the plan is not activated. 

Common terms you may see from your bank: 

• Pending charge 

• Payment authorization 

• Temporary hold 

• Card verification hold 

What’s a charge? 

A charge (also called a posted transaction or commit) is the confirmed payment for your plan. It appears on your card statement once your plan is activated. 

• It appears as a completed or posted transaction on your card statement. 

• The hold is officially converted to a charge once your plan is activated. 

• You’ll receive an email confirmation once the charge has been processed. 

What happens if I don’t activate my plan? 

If your plan isn’t activated within 5 days: 

• The hold automatically expires. 

• Your card issuer releases the funds (no action needed). 

• You’ll see the pending transaction disappear from your account shortly after. 

Note: Some card issuer may take a few additional days to release the funds, depending on their policies. 

Example

You purchase a $25 plan on the Monday, but don’t activate your service. You’ll see a $25 “pending” or “authorization” amount on your card. If you don’t activate by Saturday, the hold will automatically disappear, and no charge will be made. 

Tip: To ensure your service starts without delay, activate your plan as soon as you receive your SIM or eSIM. Once activated, the hold becomes a confirmed charge and your first month of service begins.