Last updated: 27 May 2025
We get asked this a lot. A‑Z Hire issues refunds or releases pre‑authorisation holds the moment your hire item is checked back in – any delay after that sits with your bank.
A‑Z Hire don’t like to hang on to your hard‑earned money – we flip the money back to you as soon as the rental ends. It’s solely up to your bank to complete the refund. If you want your refund back sooner, remember we also take cash deposits and will hand them straight back to you when you return the equipment.
Because A‑Z Hire is a leading name in tool hire in Dublin and a Stihl Authorised dealer and service centre, many of our customers juggle refunds, deposits, and pre‑auths in the same week. Here’s how to stay one step ahead.
| Segment | Key Players | 2025 Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional retail banks | Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB | “Big 3” now dominate after the exits of Ulster Bank & KBC; BoI + AIB hold >75 % of mortgages (irishtimes.com) |
| Digital challengers | Revolut (Irish IBAN), N26 | Revolut’s Instant Access savings @ 3.49 % made waves but trust and mortgages still sit with the Big 3 (thetimes.co.uk) |
| Credit unions & niche lenders | 200+ credit‑union brands | Benefiting from community trust; rollout of current accounts & instant payments via CU Payments platform |
| Deposit protection | Central Bank of Ireland’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme | Up to €100,000 per depositor per institution |
| Payments rails | SEPA Instant, traditional SEPA, domestic batch | Government’s draft National Payments Strategy targets full instant‑payment adoption by 2026 |
| Contactless limits | €50 (cards) / device‑set (mobile wallets) | No new limit rise announced for 2025 |
### 2.1 Definition A pre‑authorisation is a real‑time card authorisation that ring‑fences (reserves) a sum on your debit or credit card without moving the money. Merchants use it to:
### 2.2 How Long Do Holds Last?
| Card network | Standard hold window | Extended window (hotel / car rental) | Source |
| Visa Europe | Up to 7 calendar days before merchant must capture or release | Up to 31 days for specific travel MCCs | Visa Core Rules §1.7 (Authorisation Integrity) – 12 Apr 2025 |
| Mastercard | Merchant expected to capture within 7 days; a reversal should follow if unused | Acquirer must reverse within 30 days(Europe region exempt from auto‑penalty) | Mastercard integration guide |
### 2.3 Average Irish Bank Release Times (once A‑Z Hire voids or reduces the hold)
| Rank ▲ | Issuer | When a released hold disappears from your available balance | Automatic expiry if we the merchant forgets | Handy tip |
| 1 | Revolut | Instantly (real‑time) | 7 calendar days | If you still see it, pull‑to‑refresh and look under ‘Reversal date’ in‑app. |
| 2 | Bank of Ireland | 1–2 business days – after nightly batch update | 5 business days | If the hold was placed <5 days ago the bank cannot cancel it yet. |
| 3 | AIB | 2–3 business days | 7 calendar days | Get the ARN from us; AIB Customer Service can trace it instantly. |
| 4 | Permanent TSB | 3–5 business days; some cards clear in 24 h | 7–10 calendar days | PTSB FAQs cite “5‑7 days” for most merchants |
| 5 | N26 | Auto‑drops in ≤7 days; push notification sent | 7 calendar days | Check the ‘Today’ feed – N26 back‑dates reversals. |
| 6 | Ulster Bank(legacy cards) | 3–5 business days after merchant void | 5–7 business days | Customers report 5ʹ‑day rule on UB community board |
Differences arise because traditional banks post in nightly batches, while fintechs post in real time when they ingest Visa/Mastercard’s reversal file.
### 2.4 What If the Hold Stays?
| Stage | What A‑Z Hire does | Your bank’s job | What you’ll see |
| Collection | Pre‑authorises security deposit | Reserves funds instantly | ‘Pending’ or ‘In progress’ debit on card |
| Return + check‑in | Immediately voids the pre‑auth or posts a refund (if we had captured) | Posts reversal / incoming credit | Hold drops or credit line appears |
| Afterwards | Sends you ARN + receipt | Finalises ledger entry | Balance back to normal |
Need kit fast? Explore our latest weekend bundle deals on power washers, mini‑diggers, and STIHL battery tools. A‑Z Hire – your competitive edge for tool hire in Dublin and proud Stihl Authorised dealer and service centre.
