Why was my card charged more than my actual transaction amount? 11 May 2026 03:02 Updated For some merchants (e.g., hotel, taxi, car rental) an authorization hold may be placed for an amount higher than your expected transaction total to account for potential exchange rate fluctuations or final service charges. Don't worry, you will only ever be charged the actual transaction amount. Any excess held funds will be automatically released back to your available wallet balance once the transaction settles, typically within a few days.