as i was an expedia employe in customer services (until recently leaving, as expedia is currently in the process of cutting 200 + jobs to open them in india), i do understand the process that happens with a pre authorisation, as soon as we learn of the pre authorisation and are contacted by the customer with the pre authorisation, expedia cannot access the money as it has been pre auth'ed it goes to a merchant banking account (think limbo), the customers bank does not have it and neither does expedia, if calling on the phone to book the travel advisor will tell you of this and get you to notify your bank, hopefully you get the irish office, as they know the expedia system fully inside out as they have been with expedia for 6 years, unlike the two newly opened contact centers (who will promise the customer everything they require especially if it cannot be done or on offer through expedia - i know as have had to mop up their mess on several occasions - thanks sighthill and bangalore expedia franchises!) we then automatically fax the bank telling them we have not accepted the funds and do not hold them, the bank then credits the money back into the customers account which thanks to the banks takes up to 5 days - and yes those are working days, 9-5 mon-fri, whereas our working days at expedia are 24hours a day 365 days a year! if WE could put the money instantly into customers bank accounts WE would, at the end of the day its a lot easier than having someone scream down the phone to you untill it has been put back into the account up to 5 WORKING days later, thank you banking system, and thank you expedia for making so many people in my area jobless in the current economic climate, purely to save a few pennies in your billion dollar global company!! it sure wont be worth it in the long run with the amount of write-off's from the new centers thanks to their mistakes. thomas cook is the way foward.