Move Gigs Board
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Payment and the 24-hour hold

How the $49 booking fee and balance authorization work, and what a hold means on your card.

Overview

Move Gigs Board splits payment into two parts: a flat $49 booking fee at reservation and a balance authorization 24 hours before your move.

Purpose

This structure keeps the crew locked in, gives you a chance to cancel or edit until 24 hours out, and prevents surprise charges.

When to use it

  • At reservation: you pay the $49 fee to lock in your crew.
  • 24 hours before your move: your card is authorized (not charged) for the estimated balance.
  • After the move: the actual balance is captured when you release payment.

Step-by-step

  1. Reservation. After adding your team, tap Reserve team. Enter payment info and confirm. The $49 booking fee is charged immediately.
  2. T-24 hours authorization. The day before your move, your card is authorized for the estimated remaining balance (hourly labor + travel fee). This appears on some statements as a "pending" charge.
  3. Move day. Movers work their hours. You approve the final hours during verification.
  4. Release payment. You tap Pay my movers. The actual balance is captured from the authorized hold. Any difference (higher or lower than estimate) is reconciled at capture.

!Screenshot placeholder — Payment summary

Helpful tips

  • Keep enough available balance on your card for the authorization the day before your move.
  • The hold is not a charge. It's a temporary block that releases if your bank drops the auth or the final capture is lower.
  • Debit cards can be used, but credit cards handle authorizations more smoothly.

Common mistakes

  • Not funding the card the day before. If the authorization fails, your reservation is at risk.
  • Confusing the pending authorization with the final charge. They're separate transactions.

Frequently asked questions

Is the $49 fee refundable? Yes, if you cancel before the T-24 balance authorization.

What if my move takes longer than estimated? The final capture reflects actual hours, up to a reasonable buffer above the auth. If it exceeds the hold, you'll be prompted for an additional authorization at release.

When does the payout reach my movers? After you release payment and Stripe processes the transfer — typically 1–2 business days.

Troubleshooting

  • "Authorization failed" — update your payment method in the dashboard and retry.
  • Charge amount looks wrong — check the itemized breakdown on the receipt; contact support if hours don't match your verification.

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