Authorized One Amount — But Charged Another? Here’s Why Settlement Differs

You checked your payment notification and saw one amount authorized. Later, your bank statement showed a different charge.

This difference often causes panic — but in most cases, it’s not a billing error.

Authorization and settlement are processed separately, which is why the final charged amount can change.


Why Authorized and Charged Amounts Can Differ

  • Taxes or VAT added during settlement
  • Currency conversion finalized after authorization
  • Discounts applied or removed at final billing
  • Partial refunds processed before settlement

Authorization vs Settlement — The Key Difference

  • Authorization: Temporary hold placed by the bank
  • Settlement: Final amount captured by the merchant
  • Holds may expire or adjust before completion
  • The settled charge reflects the actual processed cost

How to Verify the Correct Charge

  • Compare invoice vs bank settlement record
  • Check currency conversion rates
  • Review applied taxes and regional fees
  • Confirm final billed amount inside your account

When authorization and settlement amounts differ, the final settled charge is the official payment — not the initial hold.