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💳 What Is the Pre-Authorisation Card Check?

Here's everything you need to know about the £1 pre-authorisation check that happens when you hire a Beryl Bike or e-Bike

Scott avatar
Written by Scott
Updated this week


🔍 What Is It?

When you try to hire a Beryl Bike, we ask your payment card provider to hold £1. This is a quick check to make sure there are available funds on your card before unlocking a bike

✅ The request is cancelled immediately
❌ It’s not a charge

You won’t be charged and we never take the money from your account

While the £1 hold is active, those funds may be temporarily unavailable, but they will return to you shortly.



🔒 Why Does Beryl Run This Check?

This is a fraud prevention measure that helps keep our schemes safe and reliable. It helps us:

  • Stop the use of fraudulent cards

  • Reduce theft and damage

  • Keep bikes available and safe for genuine users like you



👀 Will I See This on My Bank Statement?

It depends on your bank:

  • 💬 Real-time banks (like Monzo or Revolut): you’ll usually see it marked as “Pending”

  • 🏦 Other banks may not show anything but your available balance might be slightly lower than your total



⏱ How Long Until the £1 Is Released?

We tell your bank to release it immediately, and most will return the funds straight away.

However, in some cases:

  • Your bank may take a little longer to process

  • Rarely, the bank waits for the hold to expire automatically (usually after a few days)

⛔ If the funds don’t return and you’re concerned, you’ll need to contact your bank directly.

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