Partial Hold in Internet Acquiring: How Businesses Can Accept Payments When the Final Amount is Unknown

In e-commerce and services with a variable order total, there's a unique challenge: final cost isn't always known upfront.

For items sold by weight, delivery charged upon completion, rentals, carsharing, or electric vehicle charging, the total amount is determined only after the transaction has begun.

To protect businesses from the risk of non-payment and prevent customers from being double-charged, a partial hold is used.

What is Partial Hold

Partial hold is a temporary freeze of a portion of the funds on a client's card until the final amount is confirmed.

The system pre-authorizes a certain amount, and after the transaction is completed, it charges the final cost. The difference is automatically returned to the client.

This is a convenient tool for businesses that work with variable or adjusted service costs.

How does Partial Hold Differ from Regular Hold

Where is Partial Hold Applied

Partial Hold for Supermarkets and Online Stores with Weighed Goods

• The customer fills their cart, but the exact total is determined after the items are weighed.
• The system may temporarily place a hold on a slightly larger amount, and then charge only the actual cost of the purchase. The remaining balance is automatically returned back to the card.

Partial Hold for Gas and Charging Stations

• Before you start refueling or charging, a pre-authorized amount is held on your card.
• Once the transaction is complete, you are only charged for the actual amount of fuel or electricity used.
• The difference is automatically returned to your card.

Partial Hold for Carsharing and Car Rental

• When you start the rental, a security deposit or the estimated cost is put on hold.
• Once the rental is complete, the system charges the actual amount, and the remaining balance is automatically released.

Why is Partial Hold Beneficial for Business?

• Reduces the risk of non-payment for variable-cost services
• Eliminates the need for repeated charges
• Reduces the number of refunds
• Increases customer trust
• Simplifies accounting reconciliation

The business gets a payment guarantee, and the customer gets a transparent and straightforward process.

How Partial Holds are Implemented in ATMOS

Partial holds are available with ATMOS online acquiring and are implemented through a pre-authorization mechanism with a subsequent partial capture.

Businesses can:

• set the hold amount;
• confirm the final transaction amount;
• perform a full or partial refund;
• manage operations via API.

Integration is done through user-friendly APIs, and all transaction processing logic is automated.

Security and Reliability

• ATMOS complies with the PCI DSS 4.0.1 international security standard, undergoes an annual external audit, and ensures service stability at a 99.99% level.
• Our 24/7 technical support team promptly resolves any integration and maintenance issues.

When a Business Should Start Using Partial Holds

• Your service or online store have variable order totals
• You accept payment before providing your service
• You want to minimize refunds

Partial holding is becoming not just an additional feature, but an essential tool for managing financial flows.

Today's market demands flexible payment instruments, and partial holding is one of them.