Call Kurtis: How Long Do Pending Charges Tie Up Your Card?

CLARKSBURG, Calif. (CBS13) -- Becky Richard said she canceled an order on her credit card, but the pending charges wouldn't disappear.

When she said it kept her from being able to use that credit card, she called Kurtis.

Some of these infomercials lure you in, but Richard said this company then tried to sell her several other products when she placed her order. And that tied up her credit card for days.

Richard loved to cook, and loved the idea of the Power Pressure Cooker XL infomercial she saw on television.

"I really wanted this," she said.

Richaed ordered two of them through their automated phone system, but the offers didn't stop there.

"They keep going and going, and upgrading and upgrading," Richard said.

She said after agreeing to upgrade one of the cookers to the Pro version, and getting the insurance, an operator came on.

"They said, 'Ma'am, do you have another card? Your card's been rejected.'"

Thinking there was a problem with her credit card, Richard said she called her credit card company.

They claimed Tristar Products, which sells the cooker, put more than $500 in pending charges on her credit card maxing it out so she's unable to use it.

Richard said she cancelled the entire order, but the pending charges didn't disappear.

We've learned pending charges can stay on some credit or debit cards for up to 72 hours.

If you're close to your credit card, your card may be rejected. And if it's a debit card tied to your checking account, you won't have access to your own money.

The BBB's Gary Almond said consumers are often surprised by how much infomercial companies end up charging.

"What most people don't know is when they pick up the phone, they're gonna be offered other offers," Almond said.

Which, Almond said, is how these companies make most of their money.

Call Kurtis reached out to Tristar Products. The company's attorney admitted it tried to process Richard's order three times, which may be why more than $500 in charges appeared pending.

But Richard said the charges never actually went through.

The company said, "Tristar regrets that it was not able to fulfill the consumer's order ... And has arranged to send to her a free Power Pressure Cooker XL."

The experience has soured Richard on infomercial products.

"I'll never order anything on TV ever again," she said.

By the way, as Richard found out, pending charges can tie up your credit cards if you are near the limit.

If it's a debit card, tied to your checking account, that could also tie up your own money.

The company here said her charges were pending for up to 48 hours.