Why is Pinterest Ads charging my VCC in small amounts before the actual payment?

Pinterest Ads may charge your Virtual Credit Card (VCC) in small amounts before the actual payment for a few reasons. This process is typically related to authorization holds or payment verification steps that Pinterest uses to ensure the payment method is valid and capable of processing larger transactions. Here are the common reasons for these small charges:

1. Authorization Holds
Pre-authorization: Pinterest may perform a pre-authorization on your VCC to confirm that the card is valid and that there are sufficient funds available for the actual transaction. These small charges are often temporary and are refunded back to your card after the verification is complete.

Validation: This ensures that your VCC can handle the full charge before Pinterest commits to processing your ad payments. It's a common practice by platforms to confirm the card is legitimate.

2. Fraud Prevention and Security Checks
Security Measures: Small test charges help Pinterest ensure that your payment method is legitimate and not associated with any suspicious or fraudulent activity. If your VCC is flagged as potentially suspicious, Pinterest may use this method to check for any unusual activity or discrepancies in your payment method.

Risk Assessment: Pinterest uses these small amounts to assess the risk of fraud and to ensure that the card details are consistent and can be used for larger transactions.

3. Payment Gateway Requirements
Payment Gateway Process: Payment gateways (including those Pinterest uses) sometimes require a small charge as part of their verification process. These charges ensure that the card details match the account, are active, and that the VCC can accept future payments.

4. Pre-Authorization for Ads Budget
Budget Verification: If you're setting up a new ad campaign, Pinterest may place a small hold on your VCC to verify the ad budget you've set. It's a way for Pinterest to ensure that your payment method is valid and can handle the planned ad spend.

5. Temporary Charges (Refunded)
Refund Process: These small amounts are usually not actual charges and should be refunded to your VCC after a short period. They are essentially placeholders to confirm the card is valid. You should see them refunded within a few business days.

6. Credit Card Policies
VCC Issuer Policies: Sometimes, the VCC issuer itself may have a policy of placing small authorization charges when a card is used for online payments, particularly for digital advertising platforms like Pinterest. If you're unsure about these charges, you can reach out to your VCC provider for clarification.

What You Can Do:
Monitor Your Card: Keep an eye on your VCC for these small charges, but remember they are usually not final charges and should be refunded.

Check Pinterest Account: Log into your Pinterest Ads account and review the payment history. If the charges are part of an ongoing transaction or campaign, they will likely be temporary holds.

Contact Pinterest Support: If you're concerned or if the small charges don't get refunded or don't make sense, reach out to Pinterest Ads Support to confirm the reason for these charges and ensure that they are part of their standard procedure.

Verify Your VCC: Make sure your VCC details are correct and that the card has sufficient funds. If there's an issue with your VCC, it might trigger additional checks from Pinterest.

Conclusion:
Small charges before the actual payment are typically authorization holds or fraud prevention checks that Pinterest uses to verify your VCC. These charges are often temporary and should be refunded. If they persist or you're concerned, contact Pinterest Ads Support or your VCC provider for further clarification.