If you can see a pending payment from Buyagift on your bank statement but your order, voucher redemption, or upgrade payment was unsuccessful, don't worry. In most cases, this is a temporary authorisation hold and not a completed charge.
What is a pending payment?
When you make a purchase or pay an upgrade amount on the Buyagift website, your bank may temporarily reserve the funds to confirm they are available. This is known as an authorisation hold or pending transaction.
The payment will appear as pending on your account while the transaction is being processed.
Why is the payment still showing as pending if my transaction failed?
Occasionally, a payment attempt may not complete successfully due to a technical issue, connection timeout, or payment validation error.
When this happens:
- Your bank approves the transaction and reserves the funds.
- The payment does not successfully complete on the Buyagift system.
- Buyagift does not receive or claim the funds.
- Your bank continues to display the transaction as pending until the authorisation expires.
Although the funds may appear unavailable, the payment has not been collected by Buyagift.
Has Buyagift taken my money?
No. If your order, voucher redemption, or upgrade payment was unsuccessful, Buyagift cannot claim the funds.
The pending transaction is simply a temporary hold placed by your bank and will not become a completed payment unless the transaction is successfully processed.
How long will the pending payment remain?
The timeframe for releasing a pending payment is determined by your bank or card provider.
| Card Type | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Debit Card | 1–5 business days |
| Credit Card | 3–7 business days |
| International Cards | Up to 14 business days |
Please note that some banks may take longer to automatically release the funds.
What should I do?
- Check whether you received an order confirmation or voucher redemption confirmation from Buyagift.
- Avoid attempting the payment multiple times, as this may result in additional pending authorisations.
- Allow your bank time to release the pending transaction.
- Keep any error messages, decline notifications, or screenshots for your records.
When should I contact my bank?
If the payment remains pending after 5 business days (or beyond your bank's expected timeframe), we recommend contacting your bank or card provider directly. They can confirm the status of the authorisation and advise when the funds will be released.
If you're unsure whether your order was successful or need assistance with a voucher redemption or upgrade payment, please contact our Customer Experience team. We'll be happy to check the status of your transaction and provide further guidance. Pending payments are usually temporary and will automatically disappear once the authorisation expires. If you have any concerns about a Buyagift transaction, our Customer Experience team is here to help.