PayPal And Target Authorization Issues

[temp20220220g]

Just a heads up so you can avoid going through the headache I am. Was shopping at Target and had a few hundred bucks worth of stuff. Went to switch from credit card to PayPal payment method. When I did and signed in with my account, Target must've put an authorization hold on the $300+ payment. Never did actually order anything, but the authorization hold remains.

Didn't bother reading Target's policy until after because it is Target and you'd think you can trust a company like this. However, it says, "Adding a payment method to an order may result in an authorization hold on the method of payment equaling the order total, even if the order wasn't submitted".

PayPal can't do anything about it obviously. Target's customer service has been less than helpful. They can't find any order number because there never was an order.  They don't seem to care that this could be someone's remaining grocery, gas, or electrical bill money.

Sadly, sounds like one will have to wait 30 days although a PayPal rep claimed it would release later tonight. We'll see. Don't think Target should put a hold on anything until you've actually clicked on the complete my order button or whatever.

Be careful when shopping at Target using PayPal because Target's website has a problem right now. Says something about card problem when using PayPal and the authorization hold will stay regardless.

[angelleye]

Putting a hold on things during a checkout is standard procedure, but so is voiding that authorization if the order is not completed.  Pretty surprising Target isn't doing that properly, and also surprising they can't find it to Void it for you when you talk to them about it directly.

It really depends on the bank(s) involved when you'll see that hold released.  I know that on the developer side, when integrating a checkout solution like this, it shows that we can use Authorization to guarantee fund availability for 3 days.  Then you can do a Reauthorization for an additional 3 days at a time.  The authorization itself is good for up to 29 days in most cases, but no guarantee the funds would still be there to capture outside of a 3 day re(auth) window.

So based on that info I would say you could see it within just a few days, or depending on the bank they could hold it longer, but it shouldn't be more than 29 days.

I would call Target back and press the issue a bit more.  Be respectful and let them know you understand what happened, and you'd really appreciate it if they would take a moment to find that Authorization in their system and Void it directly.  There should be a number of other ways they can find it without an order number.  If they won't help I guess you'll just have to wait it out.  Sorry you're in that situation!  They simply aren't using Authorization and Capture the way they should be.  😞

[Tinkwva]

Same thing has happened to me. My transaction was 2/23/22 and I’ve tried to get Target to release the transaction to no avail. In March one customer service rep said she saw the transaction but no one else at target has been able to see it. PayPal says it could be a year before they can release it. Unfortunately it’s a prepaid, don’t use you lose, credit card. The credit card shows the money but it’s locked and I’m not able to use it, glad it was a freebie. Guess I’m writing it off as a loss for me.