You didn’t buy anything.
No subscription. No upgrade.
But a small charge—often $1 or less—appears on your card.
This is usually a test charge used to verify that your card is valid before a real payment is processed.
A small test charge is a verification step, not a real purchase.
Why Test Charges Appear
- The service checks if your card is active
- A payment method was added or updated
- A free trial required card verification
- The system ran a temporary authorization
What Happens to the Test Charge
- The amount usually disappears within a few days
- It does not turn into a real charge
- No receipt or order is created
- Your balance returns to normal automatically
When You Should Be Concerned
- The charge posts instead of disappearing
- Multiple test charges appear repeatedly
- The amount increases unexpectedly
- The merchant name is unfamiliar
Most small test charges are temporary and harmless—they confirm your card works before real billing begins.