Introduction

An authorization reversal is a process used to cancel a previously approved credit card authorization before it settles, thereby releasing the hold on the cardholder’s funds. When an authorization is placed, a temporary hold reduces the cardholder’s available credit. These holds expire automatically; however, the duration is determined by the issuing bank and cannot be extended by the merchant.

If supported by your payment processor, you can initiate an authorization reversal to expedite the release of funds. If not supported, you may contact the cardholder’s issuing bank to request the reversal.

Note: Authorization reversals are different from credits or refunds. Credits or refunds occur only after a transaction has been settled or transmitted. An authorization reversal simply releases the hold from the original authorization.

To determine if your payment processor supports authorization reversals, consult the Credit Card Services Guide for your specific processor.

Procedure

Option 1: Request an Authorization Reversal in Business Center

Use this option if your payment processor supports authorization reversals.

Step	Action
1	Sign in to Business Center.
2	Navigate to Transaction Management > Transactions.
3	Specify a Date Range (e.g., Last 7 days).
4	Select Add a Filter to narrow results (e.g., by Request ID or Merchant Reference Number).
5	Select the Request ID to open transaction details.
6	Select Authorization Reversal to submit your request.

Option 2: Request an Authorization Reversal Through the Issuing Bank

Use this option if your payment processor does not support authorization reversals.

Step	Action
1	Locate the issuing bank’s contact number (printed on the back of the cardholder’s credit card).
2	Contact the issuing bank and provide the authorization code(s) for the transaction.
3	Request that the bank reverse the authorization.

Additional Information

You cannot delete an authorization manually. Holds expire automatically based on the issuing bank’s policy.
If you need to void a transaction, refer to the Void a Transaction article.
Refer to the Credit Card Services Guide for details about your processor’s support for authorization reversals.

Related Resources

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