What is a pre-authorization hold?
A pre-authorization hold is a temporary check placed on your payment card (debit or credit card) to ensure there are sufficient funds available on your account before a charging session begins. Once the session is complete, the hold will be replaced by the actual amount charged during your session.
The duration of the hold is dependent on your card provider; it might take a few days for the finalized charge to be reflected on your card statement.
How will this appear on my card account?
Pre-authorization holds of typically $30 or $50 may appear in a number of ways on your card statement, but the following are the two most common:
- HOLD TEMPORARY
- PENDING
How much is the hold?
For members: If you use the EVCS app to initiate a Pay As You Go charging session (i.e. you are a registered user with EVCS and have a credit-card saved on file), the pre-authorization is $30 per charging session. If you have a Subscription Plan with EVCS, there are no pre-authorization holds.
For non-members: If you don’t use the EVCS app to initiate a charging session from your EVCS account (i.e. you use the card reader machine on the charger, or you scan the QR code on the charger with your phone camera), the pre-authorization will range between $30 and $50. Unfortunately in this case, EVCS has limited control over the hold amount because it is dependent on the card processing vendor.
Can I avoid temp holds if I sign up?
Yes! To minimize the pre-authorization holds, we encourage you to sign up and become an EVCS member.
- Account holders that charge through the EVCS app on a Pay As You Go basis will have their preauth fees reduced to $30
- Account holders who sign up for an EVCS subscription plan and charge through the EVCS app will have preauth fees waived.
You can sign up by visiting evcs.com/account or directly on the EVCS app.
What happens if the hold doesn't drop off after my session is complete?
If the pre-authorization hold is not settled on your account within 5-10 business days, please feel free to contact Customer Support, and we would be happy to assist you.