Single-use cards are virtual debit cards designed for one-time purchases. This article explains when they expire, why payments can fail, and what to do if a card stops working.
For: All Spendesk users who request or use single-use virtual cards, on all plans.
Before you start
You need the Requester role to submit a virtual card request.
Your request follows your company's approval policy. It may be approved automatically or require approval from your manager or Account Owner.
Single-use cards are available on all Spendesk plans.
Add and verify your phone number in your Spendesk profile, since some online payments require 3D Secure (3DS) confirmation.
What is a single-use card
A single-use card is a virtual debit card designed for a one-time purchase or a single item on a marketplace. It offers a simple, secure, and flexible way to pay for a specific transaction. Once used, it can't be charged again.
Expiration and lifespan of single-use cards
A single-use card does not start expiring until you view its card details on the Cards > Single-use cards page. If you haven't opened the card details yet, it remains valid.
A single-use card expires in the following circumstances:
Immediately after a payment is initiated (when the settlement process starts).
4 days after the first bank authorization, even if the transaction isn't completed.
15 days after you open the card details, if you don't use it for a payment within that time.
If you generate a single-use card on a specific date, it stays valid until the last day of the following month. For example, a card created on September 8 expires on October 31. After this date, the card can no longer be used.
📋 Best Practice: Use your single-use card as soon as it's approved. Waiting too long increases the risk it expires before your payment goes through.
Region | Typical lifespan behaviour |
EEA and UK (Bankable-issued cards) | Expires 15 days after you view the card details if unused, or within days of first use, as described above. |
US (Marqeta-issued cards) | Can remain valid for up to 4 years if never used. Once a successful payment goes through, the card is suspended. Failed payment attempts don't affect this lifespan. |
When to use a recurring card instead
For transactions such as car rentals, travel bookings, or hotel reservations, a recurring card is usually a better option. Single-use cards aren't designed for these types of repeated or delayed payments. For subscriptions or repeated payments to the same supplier, request a recurring card instead.
Cancelled and failed transactions
If a transaction authorization is cancelled after being approved, no charge is applied and the funds return to your available balance.
Charges are usually due within 18 days of authorization. If the merchant doesn't complete the charge within that time, Spendesk automatically cancels the authorization (in rare cases, this can take up to 32 days). This is why some payments may show as "pending" before being cancelled.
From "Requests" to "Payments"
A payment is considered complete once the merchant confirms the transaction, typically 1 to 4 days after the initial authorization. Once confirmed, the transaction moves from Requests to Payments of the Month.
Virtual cards are often blocked quickly after use. If a merchant refuses a payment after this, you may need to generate a new card, since the original one is already marked as "used."
Small test authorizations
Some merchants run a small test transaction (usually 1 or 2 EUR/USD/GBP) to verify a card's validity before charging the actual purchase amount. If your card's balance only covers the exact purchase price, this test may cause the payment to fail.
💡 Tip: Request a card with a slightly higher budget than your exact purchase amount to cover potential test authorizations.
Get a new card if yours expires
If your single-use card expires before you use it, submit a new request:
Go to your Spendesk account and click +New Request.
Select Request a virtual card.
Choose Single-use as the card type.
Enter the amount, description, supplier, and other required fields.
Click Confirm my request.
Wait for approval, following your company's approval policy.
Navigate to Cards > Single-use cards.
Click See card details.
Enter the card number, expiry date, CVV code, and billing address at checkout.
Complete the 3D Secure (3DS) confirmation if your bank or the merchant requests it.
Troubleshooting
Symptom: Your single-use card was declined even though it should still be valid.
Cause: The card expired because you opened its details more than 15 days ago without using it, or a prior authorization attempt already triggered expiration.
Resolution: Submit a new single-use card request using the steps in Get a new card if yours expires.
Symptom: A merchant charged your card more than once.
Cause: Some merchants split charges or run pre-authorizations before the final charge.
Resolution: Contact Spendesk support with the transaction details for review.
Symptom: Your payment failed even though your budget matched the purchase price.
Cause: The merchant likely ran a small test authorization in addition to the actual charge, exceeding your card's available balance.
Resolution: Request a new card with a slightly higher budget to cover test authorizations.
FAQ
What happens if a single-use card expires before I use it?
Generate a new card. Remember, cards expire 15 days after you open the card details if unused, or immediately after the first authorization or settlement.
How can I cancel a payment if the merchant doesn't complete the transaction?
If an authorization is cancelled by the merchant, or by Spendesk after 18 days, no charge is processed and the funds return to your available balance.
Can I use a single-use card for subscriptions?
No. Single-use cards are designed for one-time transactions. For recurring payments like subscriptions, request a recurring card instead.
How do I know if a payment has been completed or cancelled?
Track your payments in Payments of the Month. Cancelled transactions show as "pending" or "cancelled" in your account until fully processed.