Why You See a Charge Before Approval
When you complete checkout, you may notice a temporary charge on your bank statement—even before a provider has reviewed your medical questionnaire. This is normal and expected.
What Is a Payment Authorization Hold?
A payment authorization hold (also called a "pending charge" or "temporary authorization") is a reservation placed on your payment method. It is not a completed charge.
You have not been billed yet.
Think of it like a hotel or car rental hold: it reserves the funds but doesn't finalize the transaction until certain conditions are met.
Why Verge Places This Hold at Checkout
The authorization hold allows Verge to:
Verify your payment method is valid
Reserve the funds needed for your order
Move quickly to fulfillment once you're approved
This means there's no delay between approval and processing—your order can ship as soon as a provider clears it.
What It Looks Like on Your Bank Statement
On your bank or credit card statement, you may see:
"PENDING" or "Authorization" status
A temporary hold for the order amount
The merchant name (Verge or similar)
This hold may appear immediately after checkout, even though your medical review hasn't been completed.
How Long the Hold Remains Pending
Authorization holds typically remain on your account until:
You're approved: The hold converts to a completed charge
You're not approved: The hold is released automatically
Most holds resolve within a few business days of the final decision. Your bank's processing timeline may vary.
What Happens If You're Approved
If a licensed provider approves your treatment:
The authorization hold converts to an actual charge
Your payment is captured
Your prescription is sent to the pharmacy
At this point, the charge is finalized and you've been billed.
What Happens If You're Not Approved
If a provider determines treatment is not appropriate for you:
The authorization hold is automatically released
No charge is processed
The pending amount disappears from your statement
You will not be billed if you're not approved.
No action is required on your part. Your bank will remove the hold automatically, typically within 3–7 business days depending on your financial institution.
Key Reassurance
Seeing a pending charge does not mean:
You've been charged or billed
Your card was processed
You're approved for treatment
It simply means your payment method was verified and funds are reserved pending the medical review. If you're not approved, you pay nothing.
For details on the full order process, see How the Process Works.