What do I do when a card pre-authorization is declined?

Last updated: Dec 17, 2025, 11:20 AM

Question

  • What do I do when a card pre-authorization is declined?
  • Why does my pre-authorization fail the day after the tab is opened?

Answer

A pre-authorization places a temporary hold on funds and is valid for 24 hours. To complete the transaction, the final payment must be captured within this window. If the 24-hour period passes, the authorization expires.

 

To proceed, you will need to obtain the guest's payment information again to run the charge.