Why can’t I use my card at certain merchants if I have the exact balance required for the purchase on my card?

Why can’t I use my card at certain merchants if I have the exact balance required for the purchase on my card?

At restaurants, hotels, spa salons, and other merchants where it is customary to leave a tip, cards work with a tip tolerance function.


Simply put, a "tip tolerance" is a security feature that ensures there are sufficient funds on the card for the tip you mark on a receipt, after the server swipes the card. It is usually 20%, by default. The tip tolerance isn't actually charged to your card; rather, the authorization is a kind of “hold” to make sure there are enough funds to cover the tip, if you choose to leave one.

Please note that while you will not be charged this amount nor will you lose any money, in these cases you will only be able to use 80% of the available card amount. The remaining 20% can be used later; it will be returned to your card within 7 business days.
Have a look at this article where we go further into what tip tolerance is.
If you require any clarification or assistance, please contact the number on the back of the card or email us at help@mycardholdersupport.com.

Feel like the article is lacking? Leave a downvote and let us know what you think. We genuinely want to improve based on your feedback.


    Want to find other articles? Ask Casbo!

    Our semi-autonomous chat bot



      • Recent Articles

      • PTC Mobile Wallet - Services Terms of Use

        These terms and conditions are applicable to prepaid cards issued by Peoples Trust Company that have been enabled for mobile wallet services within your card program. Peoples Trust Company Terms of Use for Mobile Payment Services Last modified: ...
      • Our Privacy Policy

        Last Updated: January 1, 2022 For Canada and US Our Commitment At Cardholder Support, we are committed to protecting your privacy and confidential information while maintaining strong practices in the handling of all Personal Information. This ...
      • Fraud FAQ

        Do you have a particular question that wasn't answered by our original fraud article? Have a look here as well: How can I protect my card information or the safety of my physical or virtual card? It is your responsibility to track your account ...
      • Can my card be used in any country?

        Here is the list of countries where your prepaid card will not be usable due to either sanctions or restrictions on financial institutions in the USA and Canada: Afghanistan Angola Bangladesh Belarus Burundi Cambodia Central African Republic Crimea ...
      • How do I view my ticket?

        To access your ticket through the Help Center portal, it's essential to have a registered Help Center account using the same email address you used to contact us. If you haven't signed up for an account yet, please visit the sign-up page to create ...