What are temporary authorizations and what types of merchants generally use them?
A temporary authorization occurs when a merchant tests to confirm that your credit card account is valid and/or has sufficient Available Credit. Gas stations, restaurants, hotels, car rental agencies, and airlines commonly use temporary authorizations because the card information is often provided before the final transaction amount is known. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive; temporary authorizations are a common merchant practice. Examples include $1.00 for gasoline “Pay at the Pump” purchases and hotel reservation amounts.
