What to Do If You Don't Recognise a Charge

Noticing a charge you don't recognise can be stressful. This step-by-step guide tells you exactly what to do.

Step 1: Don't Panic — Check First

Before calling fraud, take a moment to investigate. Many mysterious charges turn out to be subscriptions, one-off purchases, or app store billing that you've simply forgotten about. It's worth spending 5 minutes checking before raising an alarm.

Step 2: Search the Descriptor

Copy the exact text from your bank statement and paste it into Detect My Charge. Our tool matches the descriptor against thousands of known merchant patterns and shows you the most likely match with the merchant's full name, contact details, and what they sell.

"EVGBUK*EVGB LIMITED" → a common descriptor for EasyJet flight charges.

Step 3: Check Your Email and Other Accounts

Search your inbox for emails from around the transaction date. Look for receipts, confirmations, and notifications. Also check your PayPal, Apple, and Google accounts for matching transactions — some charges route through payment processors rather than appearing directly from the merchant.

Step 4: Ask People With Account Access

If you share your bank account or card with a partner, family member, or have business expenses, ask them if they recognise the charge. Joint accounts and shared Apple/Google family groups can produce charges you weren't expecting.

Step 5: Contact Your Bank

If you've completed the above steps and still can't identify the charge, call your bank. They can see additional details behind the descriptor — including the merchant's full registered name — which may clarify the charge immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How urgent is it to report an unrecognised charge?

If you suspect genuine fraud, act immediately — freeze your card and call your bank. If you're simply unsure what the charge is, it's worth spending a few minutes investigating before calling.

What if the charge is very old?

Deadlines vary. Contact your bank promptly and ask what options are available for the transaction in question.

What does it mean when my bank says "unverified merchant"?

This means the bank's system doesn't have enriched data for that merchant.

Should I cancel my card if I see an unrecognised charge?

Only if you strongly suspect fraud. If you're just unsure what a charge is, investigate first. Cancelling your card is disruptive — new card details, update all subscriptions, etc.

Is it normal to have charges I don't recognise?

Very common. Most people have at least one confusing charge per month from forgotten subscriptions, marketplace purchases, or payment processor names.

Use Detect My Charge to identify any unknown bank charge instantly.