# Pending Points

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This feature is available for: **Advanced and Ultimate** plan.
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### What is Pending Points?

Pending Points is a feature in Joy Loyalty that introduces a delay in making points available after a purchase. Unlike the traditional system where points are instantly credited, Pending Points helps merchants manage returns and reduce fraud by holding points in a pending status for a set period. This gives merchants greater control over when points are fully available for use in loyalty programs.

### Why do you need Pending Points?

Pending Points offer several benefits for your store:

1. **Prevents Fraud**: Points are delayed until the order is fully confirmed, reducing the risk of fraud.
2. **Manages Returns**: Merchants can avoid giving points for returns, ensuring only valid purchases earn rewards.
3. **More Control**: Merchants can control when points are available, offering flexibility for their loyalty program.
4. **Accurate Loyalty Program**: This feature helps maintain a reliable and fair loyalty system by awarding points only for completed purchases.

Pending Points help you protect their business, streamline their rewards system, and build customer trust.

### **Understanding the rule**

**Process:**

1. **Purchase:** Customers make a purchase and earn Pending Points.
2. **Waiting Period:** These points remain in a pending state for a period set by the merchant.
3. **Conversion:** After the waiting period, Pending Points automatically convert into Available Points.
4. **Use:** Only Available Points can be redeemed for rewards or contribute to the customer's tier status.

### How to set up Pending Points

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Pending Points used to require Support to enable it. From April 2026, merchants on **Advanced or Ultimate** can turn it on themselves inside the Joy admin — no ticket needed.
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**Open Joy Loyalty app and go to Settings → Additional Features**

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**Find "Pending Points" and click Turn on**

<figure><img src="https://tppr.me/TxBjTG" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
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**Set the Waiting Period**

Once the feature is on, configure how long Pending Points stay pending before converting into Available Points (e.g., 8 days to match your return window).

<figure><img src="https://1367962225-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FpAxc1paAgix94BNLrez8%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-adf42f60ec8eb62dcb88e0ff99d43f5760581af5%2Fimage%20(208)%20(2).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
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### Best practice: Who should need Pending points feature?

Pending Points is ideal for merchants with a return policy or concerns about fraud. It benefits:

* **Stores with Return Policies**: Delays points until after the return period to prevent exploitation.
* **Merchants Seeking Fraud Prevention**: Helps deter fraudulent behavior by making points usable only after a set time.
* **Businesses Needing Better Point Management**: Offers control over when points are awarded, ensuring rewards are only given after certain conditions are met.

For example:

**Problem**: Customers are exploiting the system by placing multiple orders, earning points, redeeming rewards, and then returning the items.

**Solution**: Implement Pending Points with an 8-day delay, so customers must wait until after the return period to use points, preventing fraud and protecting the store.