HOW CARD AUTHORISATION & CAPTURE WORKS

A quick guide to our “hold now, charge later” payment process

At a glance

When you pay by card through Stripe, we place a temporary hold (authorisation) on the amount at checkout.
No money leaves your account until we ship your order or make your digital item available for download.

The four stages

Checkout – Authorisation placed
• Your bank earmarks the amount and marks it “pending” or “authorisation”.
• Your available balance/credit drops, but the funds stay in your account.
Hold period
• The hold guarantees the money is there while we prepare your order.
• If anything changes, we can adjust or cancel the hold.
Order ships – Capture
• We capture (charge) the payment the moment your items leave our warehouse or your digital product is released.
• You receive an email confirming the charge.
Hold released (if cancelled)
• If we cancel your order, the hold disappears automatically—no refund is needed because no debit ever occurred.
• Most banks release holds within 1–3 business days (some debit cards can take up to 7).

Need the details?

What is a “hold”?
It’s a bank-level reservation of funds, not a withdrawal. Think of it as putting the amount in an envelope with your name on it.
When does the money actually move?
Only after we dispatch your order. That’s when Stripe captures the payment and sends it to us.
What if my order changes?
Add an accessory or upgrade? We’ll update the hold and confirm with you first. Remove something? We’ll capture less than the original hold.
What if the hold expires?
Stripe automatically releases uncaptured holds after seven days. We would then re-authorise your card before shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

I see two lines on my statement—have I been charged twice?
No. The first line is the temporary authorisation. It converts to—or is replaced by—the final charge once we capture.

How long does the hold last if my order is cancelled?
Your bank drops it automatically, usually within 1–3 business days (up to 7 for some debit cards).

Will the final charge ever differ from the hold?
Only if you add items, upgrades, or tips before shipping. We’ll always email you first.

Why did my debit-card balance drop immediately?
Debit holds reduce your spendable balance straight away even though the money hasn’t left your account. The balance returns when the hold is released.

Can you split the capture into parts?
Yes. If we ship part of your order, we can capture only that portion and release or adjust the remainder.