What Is a Pre-Authorization?

A pre-authorization is a temporary hold placed on your payment method during the UsenetServer subscription process. This is done to verify the validity of your payment method and confirm that sufficient funds are available.

The pre-authorization is NOT a charge and you are not responsible for paying for it.

Instead, it is an authorization request sent to your bank or credit card provider to approve the transaction. The funds may appear as a pending transaction on your statement for a short period. In most cases, the hold is automatically released within a few business days, depending on your financial institution's policies.

Why Does a Pre-Authorization Appear?

Pre-authorizations are used during account creation or when updating payment details to confirm that your account is active and ready for access. Although it may appear similar to a charge, the pre-authorization will not be finalized and will disappear once the bank releases the hold.

If multiple authorization attempts are made—such as during failed transactions or retries—you may notice more than one pending charge. These will also be released automatically and are not permanent.

How Long Does the Hold Last?

The duration of a pre-authorization hold varies depending on the policies of your card issuer or bank. While some institutions release the funds within a day, others may take up to seven business days or more.