One of the perks of credit cards? You don’t pay immediately. But in that waiting game between clicking “Pay Now” and your bank actually processing the charge, something called a pending transaction appears.

In Singapore, you’ll spot these in your banking app (think DBS, OCBC, UOB). They're listed as “pending” because the charge hasn’t been finalised. It hasn’t hit your bill yet, but it does nibble at your credit limit.

Can you cancel it before it's locked in? Sometimes, yes — but it depends on the situation, and usually, the ball’s in the merchant's court. Let’s break down when and how you can take action.

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Think of pending transactions as recent purchases that are still being processed. You've paid, and the money is set aside, but the store or company hasn't finalised the charge yet.

When you use your card, your bank checks if you have enough money and puts that amount on hold. This shows up as 'pending' until the merchant completes the transaction. Then, it becomes a regular charge on your statement, and your balance is updated.

Pending charges can be confusing because they don't disappear right away. Most clear within 3-5 days, but some can take up to 10 days. It really depends on the store and the banks involved.

Common examples:

• You got charged twice.

• The discount code didn’t apply.

• You clicked "checkout" twice while your Wi-Fi hiccupped.

What to do:

Head straight to the merchant first. According to DBS, banks typically can’t cancel pending charges unless the merchant confirms cancellation.

Always note down who you spoke with, the date, and their response. If you need to dispute the charge later, this info helps.

Let’s say you accidentally bought three humidifiers instead of one. If the order hasn’t shipped, contact the seller immediately. Most platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Qoo10 allow cancellations before dispatch.

If the transaction is still pending, the merchant can stop it from posting. If not, fall back on their return policy (fingers crossed).

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Let’s say you’ve received a broken or wrong item, or worse, it never showed up! In this case, you can’t dispute a pending charge. You’ll need to wait for it to post.

Then:

• Submit a dispute form through your bank.

• Attach proof: chat logs with the merchant, refund requests, delivery issues.

Just note: Initiating a dispute doesn’t guarantee success. Merchants can challenge it too.

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If you notice a suspicious pending charge that you or any authorised user didn’t make, don’t wait, contact your bank immediately. Most banks provide 24/7 fraud reporting hotlines and mobile app features to freeze your card instantly.

Hotlines to save:

• DBS: 1800 111 1111

• UOB: 6255 0160

• OCBC: 6535 7677

• Citi: 6337 5519

• SCB: 6747 7000

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Not all pending transactions are actual purchases; some are simply temporary holds. These are pre-authorised sums charged to your card to guarantee you have enough credit to cover a bill, even if the total amount is undetermined.

While the charge continues to be processed, the holding amount will be deducted from your available credit. When the merchant confirms the final total, the hold will be lifted; however, depending on the merchant and your bank, this can take anywhere from 1 to 10 working days.

Common credit card holds in Singapore:

• Hotels: Many local hotels (e.g., Marina Bay Sands) place a deposit of $200 per night to cover incidentals like minibar use or late check-outs.

• Car rentals: Companies like Avis typically place a hold of $300 or more as a security deposit — released 7–10 days after the vehicle is returned.

• Petrol kiosks: Pay-at-the-pump services (e.g., Esso) place a $150 hold, regardless of how much fuel you pump. The exact amount used is charged later, and the rest is returned.

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Ever see a random $1 pending charge from Grab, Netflix, or ShopeePay? That’s just a test. These micro-charges are anti-fraud preauthorisations to verify your card. They usually vanish in 3-5 days. No need to call your bank unless they linger longer than a week.

Trying to cancel a pending transaction? Here’s what WON’T help:

• Cancelling your credit card: The transaction may still go through.

• Locking your card in the app: Stops new charges, but not pending ones.

If all cancellation efforts fail, let the transaction post and get your bank’s dispute team to take it from there.