It may be that the company placed a block â or a hold â on your card for the estimated total of your bill. Merchants use blocks to make sure you have sufficient funds to pay your bill. If youâre near your credit limit or you have a low balance in your bank account when a block is placed, your card could be declined for additional purchases. To avoid surprises at the cash register, ask your card issuer and the merchant if they use blocking.
BID, contracts. A bid is an offer to pay a specified price for an article about to be sold at auction. The bidder has a right to withdraw his bid at any time before it is accepted, which acceptance is generally manifested by knocking down the hammer. 3 T. R. 148; Hardin's Rep. 181; Sugd.
If you're investing in individual securities, particularly less-liquid ones, it pays to be aware of bid-ask spreads when you're buying and selling. The bid is the price that someone is willing to pay for a security at a specific point in time, whereas the ask is the price at which someone is willing to sell. The difference between the two prices is called the bid-ask spread. Bid-ask spreads have the characteristic of heads they win, tales you lose: If you're a seller, you receive the lower price (the bid), and if you're a buyer, you pay the higher price (the ask).