Preauthorization FAQs

In this article, you can find answers to the following frequently asked questions:

• What is the best practice to charge a preauthorization?
• Can I configure a payment policy to automatically charge a preauthorization to a card?
• Can I change the expiry date after taking a preauthorization?
• Why can't Amex increase the preauthorized amount?
• Does updating the preauthorization amount change the preauthorization expiry date or affect how the charged balance is released?
• Where can I update the amount?
• What does the guest see on their credit card statement?
• Why is there a pending amount in the notes of the preauthorization?

 

What is the best practice to charge a preauthorization?

It is best practice to charge a preauthorization when the guest is present at a hotel for check in or at check out. If the guest leaves the hotel, Mews recommends that you notify the guest about the reason for the incidental charges to avoid any confusion.

 

Can I configure a payment policy to automatically charge a preauthorization to a card?

No, you can configure a payment policy to automatically create a preauthorization, but this does not charge the card. Your property needs to manually charge the preauthorization balance to the card to capture the payment in Mews Operations. Mews is working to add support for automatic preauthorization balance charging.

 

Can I change the expiry date after taking a preauthorization?

No, it is no possible change the expiration date on a preauthorization.

 

Why can't Amex increase the preauthorized amount?

Amex does not support preauthorization increases. You need to create an additional preuathoization in order to increase the preauthorization balance for a customer with an existing preauthorization on an Amex card. You can learn more in Amex’s documentation here.

 

Does updating the preauthorization amount change the preauthorization expiry date or affect how the charged balance is released?

No, updating the preauthorization balance does not change the preauthorization expiry date or affect the release of the charged balance. The update only changes the preauthorization amount.

 

Where can I update the amount?

You can update the amount in the guest or company profile in the Overview tab and under Preauthorizations. You can learn more in our help article How to update a card preauthorization amount.

 

What does the guest see on their credit card statement?

Before charging, each new authorization appears on the guest's credit card statement as an additional pending charge. After charging, the pending authorizations disappear and the total amount appears as one. Note: The updated amount appears as Pending on cardholder statements for up to 14 days, then disappears. This depends on the issuing banks or card brands.

 

Why is there a pending amount in the notes of the preauthorization?

The Mews Terminal waits for a few moments until it receives a successful notification from the issuer before processing. This does not affect the initial preauthorization.

 

You can learn more about preauthorization in our help article How to preauthorize a credit card in Mews Operations.