What is the Card Validity Check ($1 Authorization Hold)?

Learn what the $1 card validity check does, when it applies, and how to manage this setting in your Billing Information page.

When a patient books an appointment for a service with a cancellation or no-show fee, UnifiedPay may place a temporary $1 authorization hold on the card saved on file. This isn’t an actual charge — it’s a quick check to confirm the card is valid, open, and not expired.

The $1 hold usually disappears from the patient’s account within 3–5 business days, depending on their bank. If the hold is still showing after 10 business days, the patient may need to contact their bank directly.

This step, known as a Card Validity Check, helps protect your clinic by confirming that the card on file is still active in case a cancellation or no-show fee needs to be charged.

What Is the Card Validity Check ($1 Authorization Hold)?

When a patient books an appointment for a service that enforces a cancellation fee, UnifiedPay may perform a $1 temporary authorization on the card stored on file. This is not an actual charge — it’s a pre-authorization to confirm that the card is still valid, not expired, and open.

• No funds are collected

• The $1 hold is automatically released by the patient’s bank

• Most holds disappear within 3–5 business days (this may vary by bank)

• If it hasn’t dropped off within 10 business days, the patient should contact their bank directly

This check helps ensure cancellation fees can be successfully charged if needed.

How to Access and Manage This Setting

Card Validity Checks are enabled by default for clinics using Card Capture for Policy Enforcement (CCPE). However, if you prefer not to run the $1 pre-authorization, you have the option to turn it off.

To disable this feature:

1. Navigate to Clinic Settings > Billing Information

2. Scroll down to the Card Capture for Policy Enforcement section

3. Look for the Card Validity Check toggle

4. Change the toggle from Yes to No

Why This Matters

This setting gives your clinic more control over the patient experience during online booking. If you’ve received questions or concerns about authorization holds, you now have the flexibility to turn this feature off.

However, please note: turning off the Card Validity Check may increase the likelihood of a failed payment if a card is no longer active when a cancellation or no-show fee is applied.

Related Resources

To learn how to set up or manage your cancellation policies using UnifiedPay, visit:

• How to Set Up Card Capture for Policy Enforcement (CCPE)

• How to Enforce or Waive Cancellation/No-Show Fees

• How to Refund a Cancellation Fee

These guides walk through enabling the master CCPE toggle, setting your cancellation window, entering policy text, and managing individual service settings.