Authorization · decode any status
"Pre-Authorization"
The merchant asked your bank to confirm funds are available and reserve them, but has not actually charged the card yet. Common pattern — the real charge follows when the service is delivered.
Where you see this phrase
Car rentals, hotels, gas stations, subscription trials, ride-share final-fare adjustments.
What you can do
Track whether the merchant captures the auth into a real charge. If not captured, the hold expires.
Other authorization phrases
A hold is placed; no money has moved yet.
“Authorization Hold”
Your bank set aside the funds for a charge that has not actually been completed yet. The money still belongs to you — it just cannot be spent elsewhere until the hold drops off (typically 1–7 days) or the merchant captures it.
“Authorized”
Your issuer (the bank that issued the card) approved the request. Money has not moved yet — the merchant still has to "capture" the auth to actually receive the funds.
Other stages of the payment lifecycle
The same transaction passes through several stages — each with its own phrase library.