What a card hold means for the guest

When a bar tab opens, the guest's card is pre-authorised: an amount is reserved on it, but not taken. Guests sometimes see this reserved amount in their banking app and think they have been charged twice. This article explains what happens, so staff can answer the question and guests know what to expect.

What happens when the tab opens

• The guest taps or inserts their card on the reader.
• An amount is held on the card. The business sets this amount; it is 50 by default in the business's currency.
• Nothing is charged yet. The POS shows "Card pre-authorised · nothing charged yet".

In most banking apps the hold shows as a pending or reserved amount. It reduces the money available on the card while the tab is open.

During the evening

If the bill grows past most of the held amount, the hold is raised automatically to cover the bill plus the original pre-authorisation. The guest may see the reserved amount change. Again, nothing is charged at this point.

If the bank does not allow a higher hold, staff are told and may ask for another card or for payment before more rounds.

When the tab closes

• The card is charged once, for the final bill plus any tip the guest chose.
• Only that amount is taken. The rest of the hold is released.
• If the bill is higher than the hold, the card is asked for the difference at closing. If the bank refuses, staff take the payment another way.

If the guest pays another way instead, for example in cash, the hold on the card is released once the order is paid.

If nothing was ordered

Staff release the tab. The hold is cancelled and nothing is charged.

If the guest leaves without closing

The tab is charged automatically before the hold runs out, at the latest after the time limit the business has set (12 hours by default). The business may add an automatic tip on tabs that close this way.

How long until the reserved amount disappears

Verimly releases the unused part of the hold straight away when the tab is closed or released. How quickly the guest's banking app shows the change depends on their bank. If a guest still sees the reserved amount after some days, they should ask their bank.

Common questions

Was I charged twice?

No. One amount is a hold, the other the final charge. The hold drops off once the bank processes the release.

Can the guest close their own tab?

No. Staff close it on the POS. The guest chooses the tip there or tells the staff member.

Why does the receipt amount differ from the hold?

The receipt shows what was charged: the bill plus tip. The hold was only a reservation.

See also Open and run a bar tab and A bar tab can't be opened, raised or charged.