My card was charged more than expected

Learn about tip tolerances and why your card may have been temporarily charged more than your purchase amount

Why was my On Me card deducted 20% more than my purchase amount?

When you use any prepaid gift card, including On Me cards, at a restaurant or other tipped service, the merchant may temporarily authorize up to 20% more than the bill total. This is to ensure your card has enough balance to cover a possible tip, even if the tip hasn't been added yet.

For example, if you're at a coffee shop and your order total is $5.50, the merchant may authorize $6.60 (a 20% buffer). This is temporary, and if you leave a tip less than 20% or no tip at all, you'll receive the unused portion of the 20% back on your card within a few business days, when the charge clears and is no longer pending.

Was I charged the extra 20%?

Don't worry, the extra 20% is just a temporary hold while the transaction is pending—it's not a charge. You’ll only be charged the actual amount you authorize, including tip you actually enter, if any. Your final balance will be updated within a few business days.

What if my card declines due to insufficient funds?

If the merchant requests 20% more than the purchase amount, the transaction may decline, even though it would normally cover the entire purchase. In this case, we recommend telling the cashier it's a prepaid card and asking them to only authorize the exact purchase amount. You can also tell them to split the payment with another payment method.