What should I do if I was charged more than the expected service fee?
Answer
Check the official receipt email and bank statement for the merchant name and amount, then request a refund or billing correction through that company’s official support using your order number. Also change the account password if you did not authorize the higher charge.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Refund scammers often call after billing complaints and ask for remote access or codes—hang up.
Follow these steps
Compare receipt and statement
Open the purchase receipt email and your bank statement. Confirm merchant name, timestamp, and whether tax, tip, or a subscription upgrade explains the $45 total.
You should see: You know exactly what product or plan was billed.
Request a correction from the merchant
Sign into the official account or help page for that merchant, open billing support, and request a refund or explanation with your order number and screenshots.
You should see: Support issues a refund, partial credit, or a clear reason for the amount.
Secure the account
If you did not authorize the higher charge, change the account password, review recent login activity, and remove extra payment methods you do not recognize.
You should see: Only you control the account and saved cards.
Escalate to the card issuer if needed
If the merchant does not respond in a reasonable time, dispute the charge through your bank’s official app and cancel any recurring subscription tied to it.
You should see: The bank opens a dispute and future renewals are stopped.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Receipt showing $5 versus $45; merchant descriptor on the card; whether a subscription auto-upgraded; any second charge.
Before you change anything: Locate the receipt and last-four of the card charged. Contact only the official merchant support site/app. Do not pay a second “refund processing” fee to callers. Screenshot the unexpected charge.
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