What is an authorization or "hold"? OR Why do I have a pending amount on my statement?

When you purchase a song using credit or debit, a pre-authorization for a nominal amount is placed on your card in order to ensure adequate funds are available. You may notice this authorization on your card as a “pending” transaction.  This pending amount is NOT an actual charge, it is simply a hold that will be removed automatically by your bank when the actual charge for the items you purchased goes through, typically in 2-5 days depending on the bank.

This pre-authorization guarantees that Neurotic Media will receive payment for downloads completed by customers since the download is completed prior to the transaction actually being processed.