Request the release of a deposit

A deposit is a pre-authorized guarantee for a merchant, put on hold under specific conditions. For deposit transactions, your funds are put on hold until the complete delivery of the service or purchase and you've fulfilled the conditions that were agreed upon; this type of transaction is considered to be "pending release”.

Sometimes, merchants might delay releasing your funds even after confirming the cancellation of the pre-authorized deposit.

The release of a deposit can sometimes take up to 30 days for some merchants. 

If you need these funds before the scheduled release time set by the merchant, you can request an earlier release by providing proof that the merchant has consented to release the funds.

Examples of deposit transactions pending release

• Car rentals: car rental agencies put a hold on your payment card for potential additional charges like damage to the vehicle, fuel refill, late returns, and more.
  • 1. The rental cost of 160€, which you prepaid, is debited from your payment account.
    2. You pick up the rental car, and the car rental agency places a hold of 300€ on your card as a security deposit for any potential extra charges. The security deposit amount is on hold (pending) but has not yet been taken from your account.
    3. When you return the vehicle, the car rental agency inspects for damages and calculates the additional charges.
    4. The rental agency determines there are no additional charges, and the deposit of 300€ on your payment card is released after a predetermined period.

    Your account's Available balance increases by the deposit amount.

• Hotel bookings: some hotels require a deposit to cover potential additional charges, such as room service, mini-bar usage, or damages during your stay.
  • 1. When you check in at the hotel, you pay the room rate of 100€ and city taxes of 10€ separately. The hotel then puts a hold of 200€ on your payment card as a security deposit to cover potential additional charges during your stay.
    2. When you check out, the hotel reviews your bill for any additional charges. If you've ordered room service, which costs 50€, the hotel debits 50€ directly from the 200€ security deposit.

       If there are no additional charges, the hotel will release the full 200€ deposit to your payment account.

    3. The hotel releases the remainder of the security deposit, 150€, back to your payment account.

Requesting a transaction release

To have your transaction released, you must provide documented evidence that the merchant has agreed to release the funds.

Acceptable proof may include a transaction receipt or invoice indicating the payment has been processed, a return authorization, or other documents confirming the deposit release.

Requirements for a transaction release document

A document authorizing the release of a deposit must include specific information to verify the approval or conclusion of the transaction:

1. Receipt date and time: for the transaction's timeframe to track the duration of the hold.
2. Merchant’s name: identifies the business involved.
3. Redacted bank card details: the last four digits of a card number for identification purposes.
4. Deposit amount (Montant estimé): reflects the amount that was initially held.
5. Pre-authorization initiation date (Date initialisation pré-autorisation): helps monitor the start and duration of the hold.
6. Debited amount (Montant débité): indicates the funds that have been debited from the account.
   

   A zero or voided debited amount indicates that the entire deposit amount has been released.

7. Pre-authorization closure (Clôture pré-autorisation): verifies that the hold has been closed or lifted, meaning that the funds can be released.
8. File number (N° Dossier): a unique identifier for the transaction within the merchant's system.

Swan will review these documents, and your funds will be released after the document has been validated.

If you have further questions, submit a request to Swan Support.