You tried to cancel the payment.
The system won’t let you.
You requested a refund.
Support says they can’t process it.
The charge isn’t completed.
But it isn’t gone either.
Your payment is stuck in “Pending” — and that status blocks both cancellation and refunds.
Why Pending Payments Can’t Be Refunded or Canceled
- The transaction hasn’t settled yet
- The merchant hasn’t captured the payment
- The bank still holds the authorization
- The billing system can’t reverse an unfinished charge
Until the payment moves forward or disappears, no action can be taken.
What “Pending” Actually Means Financially
- Your card balance is temporarily held
- The merchant hasn’t received the money
- The payment network is verifying the transaction
- The charge can still auto-cancel
This is a verification stage — not a completed payment.
How Long You’re Stuck in This State
- Most pending payments clear within 1–5 business days
- International charges can take 7–10 days
- High-risk or flagged transactions may take longer
During this time, refunds and cancellations remain locked.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Wait for the pending charge to settle or expire
- Avoid retrying the same payment repeatedly
- Monitor your card authorization holds
- Contact your bank if the hold exceeds 10 business days
No refund is possible until the payment leaves the pending stage.
When You Should Escalate
- The pending charge lasts over 10 business days
- The merchant claims the payment was never received
- The hold amount affects your card limit
At that point, your bank — not the service — controls the release.