Pre-auth is a process where we place a temporary hold on a guest’s credit/debit card before the transaction is finalized to verify that the card is valid and has sufficient funds or credit to spend. Read this guide for more information about Pre-authorization including how it works and what messaging you can share with your guests.
You’re processing on Arryved Pay.
Depending on the guest’s bank, the Pre-auth hold and release may look different on your guests’ bank statements.
Your Pre-auth amount is initially set to $20. Meaning, when a tab is opened with a card-on-file, a $20 hold is placed on the card to ensure there’s a sufficient balance of at least $20 to spend at your establishment.
If $20 doesn’t work for you, contact Arryved Support to change your Pre-auth amount.
If the final bill is more than the Pre-auth amount, we run an additional authorization when closing the tab, to charge for the difference.
Example:
A guest opens a tab → We pre-authorize $20.
Their final bill is $50 → We authorize the remaining $30 when they close out.
The pre-authed hold will be released once the final payment is processed and any unused funds will be automatically reversed after a couple of days (dependent on the issuing bank).
Pre-auth helps you reduce chargebacks and failed payments due to insufficient funds, ultimately saving you money!
Pre-auth uses card data for authorization and creates a more secure transaction.
Are you uncomfortable with the $20 amount? Think it might be too high or too low for your type of crowd? No problem, you can decide the perfect Pre-auth amount for your business between $1.00 and $30.00. Contact Arryved Support to make an update. Keep in mind, that the lower you go, the higher the risk for insufficient funds.
"Hey there! You might notice a temporary charge when you start a tab—that’s a pre-authorization. It’s just a quick card check to make sure everything runs smoothly when it’s time to close out. Don’t worry, it’s not an extra charge! This is a common practice at bars, restaurants, hotels, and gas stations to ensure the card is valid and to help streamline the close-out process. Once your tab is finalized, the correct amount will go through, and your bank will drop the hold in a few days."
"We totally get it—seeing an unexpected charge can be confusing. But don’t worry, we aren’t charging you twice! What you’re seeing is just a temporary hold, not an extra charge. Once your tab is closed, the final total replaces the hold, and any difference disappears within a few days, depending on your bank."
"You might not have seen this before, but pre-authorizing cards is actually a super common practice at bars, restaurants, and hotels. It just helps us make sure your card is good to go and speeds up closing out your tab. Nothing’s changing with what you’re paying—just a little behind-the-scenes magic to keep things running smoothly!"
"We hear you—no one likes surprise holds on their card. The good news? This is just a temporary thing. Your bank will drop the hold in a few days, and you’ll only be charged for what you actually spent. If it’s still showing after a few days, a quick call to your bank should clear it up!"
“When we open a tab for you, we place a temporary hold of $20 to verify your card. If your final bill is higher, we run an additional authorization for the remaining amount.
For example,
You start a tab, and we authorize $20. If your final bill is $50, we authorize an additional $30 when you close out.
No extra charges! You’re only charged for what you actually spend, and any unused holds disappear within a few days (timing depends on your bank).
This is a common practice at bars, restaurants, and hotels to ensure smoother transactions and prevent declined payments.”