Bloody pending money - how long

[StewieGriffinKnowsWhatsUp]

Went to asda at the weekend (Saturday) and did a shop total £112.

Did scan & go (only this time it was less go!)

First payment attempt - declined
Second payment attempt - declined
Third payment attempt - declined
Fourth payment (same account but my card rather than DHs) - accepted.

We’ve now got £336 stuck in pending I can see it in the pending on my online account - the actual processed payment has been and gone. So how long do I wait until my money is released back into my account??

And is there anything I can do to speed it up?!

We then used DHs card in the next shop and it went through just fine so I’ve no idea what happened at Asda!!

Oh and DH kept trying as he knew the funds were in there so just thought it was one of those things that just happens every now and again!

There’s nothing you can do to speed it up, and the time it takes to go back into the account depends on the bank.

Usually 2-3 days but can be up to 10 working days,

Banks have the facility to unblock these payments. Whether they will or not is up to them as if asda claims for it they must pay them as you have authorised all 4 transactions. Usually they will hold it for a certain number days until the chance of asda claiming the money is unlikely. If you phone and explain, and they can see its exactly the same amount they may be willing to unblock the payments early for you.

Thanks for the replies.

I’m off to give them a ring see if it helps! Thanks Brunilde

Hopefully they can sort it for you. If you really need the money you might have to push past the initial 'computer says no' response.

Sorted! They’ve put a claim in and said it should be back within 24 hours! Thanks again Brunilde.

It was more the annoyance of them freezing the money then needing it, (not that I want to throw £300 into frozen money )

Glad it's sorted.

In case you're interested in why, and maybe so you aren't as annoyed, most card transactions are done in 2 parts. The retailer will communicate with the bank to check the card and balance of the account etc. If the bank is okay with the payment it will be authorised and they will set the money aside so you can't spend it again. Then a few days later the retailer will request the actual money to be sent to them and the transaction completes. If the connection is interrupted or something goes wrong after the bank has authorised it, the card will decline but the bank won't know this. So it sits there for a set amount of time until their system assumes no one is going to claim it and they make the money available again. So not actually a bank error although a lot of people do get annoyed with them and assume its theit fault. Mainly as shop assistants don't know the system and blame them.