When you complete a booking with AFerry or Ferrysavers, your bank places a temporary payment authorisation hold on your account. This may appear as a "pending" or "reserved" charge on your bank or card statement — even if your booking is still being processed or was not completed.
What is a payment authorisation hold?
A payment authorisation hold (sometimes called a "pending transaction") is a temporary reservation of funds by your bank. It is not the same as a confirmed charge — no money has been permanently taken from your account at this stage.
Why does this happen?
When you submit a booking, AFerry contacts your bank to verify that sufficient funds are available. Your bank places a hold on that amount while the booking is processed. This is a standard step in online payment processing and does not mean a charge has been taken.
How long will the pending payment take to clear?
If your booking was confirmed: the hold converts to a settled charge. This typically appears on your statement within 3–8 business days.
If your booking was not completed or failed: the hold will be automatically released by your bank — usually within 3–8 business days, though some banks may take up to 10 business days.
The exact release time depends on your bank's own processing times and policies.
How do I know if my booking was confirmed?
If your booking was confirmed, you will have received a booking confirmation email containing your booking reference number. You can also check your booking status by logging in to My Account or using Manage My Booking.
I see two pending amounts — is this a double charge?
Some customers notice two pending entries on their bank statement. This can occur when an initial authorisation is placed during payment, followed by a second entry when payment is confirmed. Only one charge will ever settle on your account. If both entries remain as settled charges (not pending) after 10 business days, please contact us.
The pending payment hasn't been released after 10 business days
If the authorisation hold has not cleared after 10 business days, contact your bank in the first instance — they can confirm the status and provide an exact release date. If you believe a charge has been taken in error, contact us with your booking reference number and we will investigate.
AFerry does not hold or capture funds for bookings that were not completed. If your booking failed or was not confirmed, the pending amount on your statement will release automatically — you do not need to raise a dispute with your bank.