At eMeals, we're committed to making your meal planning experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Part of that commitment includes ensuring your subscription starts smoothly after your 14-day trial ends. You may have noticed a pending charge on your card before your official billing date, and we understand this can be confusing or even upsetting. Don't worry—we're not charging you early! Let's walk through what's happening and why we do this, so you can feel confident about your subscription.
What's That Pending Charge About?
When you sign up for an eMeals trial, we want to make sure your payment method is ready to go once your trial ends. To do this, we use a common practice called a pre-authorization (or "auth" for short). Here's how it works:
We check your card: When you sign up for your trial, we send a temporary request to your bank or card issuer to "hold" a small amount (like $1) or sometimes the full subscription amount. This helps us confirm your card is valid and has enough funds to cover your subscription when it's time to bill. We may validate up to the full value of your subscription cost. It's not a real charge: This pre-authorization shows up as a pending transaction on your account, but it doesn't actually take money out of your account yet. Think of it like a placeholder—we're just reserving the spot to ensure everything goes smoothly later.
It goes away: It typically disappears on its own within a few days (depending on your bank).
This is something many subscription companies—like streaming services, meal kits, or even fitness apps—do to avoid payment hiccups when your trial ends. It's all about keeping your eMeals experience uninterrupted!
Why Do We Do This?
We know seeing a pending charge can feel unexpected, and we're sorry if it caught you off guard.
Here's why we use this method:
To prevent interruptions: By validating your card ahead of time, we reduce the chance of a declined payment when your trial ends. That way, you can keep enjoying your meal plans without missing a beat.
To save you time: If there's an issue with your card (like it's expired or needs more funds), this gives you a heads-up to update it before your billing date—no last-minute stress required.
It's standard practice: This is a tried-and-true approach in the subscription world, designed to make the switch from trial to paid as smooth as possible for you.
Why It Might Feel Like a Charge
We totally get it—seeing a pending amount can look like we've already billed you, especially if it's the full subscription price. Here's why it might seem that way:
Bank display: Some banks show pending authorizations as if they're real charges, even though the money hasn't left your account.
Timing: The pre-authorization might happen right after signup, making it feel like we're charging early.
Rest assured, we only process your payment on the actual billing date after your trial ends—not a moment sooner!
What You Can Do
If you're seeing a pending charge and have questions, here's how you can handle it:
Wait it out: Most pending holds resolve on their own—no action needed from you.
Update your card (if needed): If you're worried about your card being declined, log in to your eMeals account and update your payment method. This ensures your subscription starts without a hitch.
Reach out to us: Still confused or upset? Contact our friendly support team at
support@emeals.com. We're here to help clarify things and make it right.
We're Here for You
We value you as an eMeals customer, and we want your experience to be stress-free—from picking recipes to paying for your plan. This pre-authorization step is just one way we work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. If it's caused any frustration, we apologize, and we're happy to walk you through it anytime.