Pending purchase discounted from bank account

[barbozatorres]

I booked a United Airlines flight with PenPal through my Chase debit card and United did not authorize the purchase even though I had funds, but the amount is "pending" in my Chase account and it does not appear as part of my funds (it was debited). I called Chase and United, and they tell me this is not on their end. United told me I should contact PayPal, but they are not available through phone calls, and in the system they do not let me file a claim or a refund because "I cannot do that with this type of transaction". My money is gone, and I don't know how to talk to a person at PayPal who can help me. Do you know how I should proceed?

[kernowlass]

@barbozatorres 

When you pay a company (rather than an ebay seller or individual), then it is often pending until that company processes your order and captures the pending payment.

If they don't process that order and capture the pending payment then the pending status times out at 30 days post-payment.

However the money would be pending in your funding source ie bank account / card, so if you contact them and state the funds will not be required they should be able to release them back to your available balance again.