You completed a payment.
The price looked clear at checkout.
But when you checked your card statement later,
the charged amount looked different.
Higher or slightly lower.
Either way, it didn’t match what you saw.
This situation is extremely common in foreign or cross-currency payments.
Why the Charged Amount Looks Different
- Currency conversion applied after authorization
- Exchange rate changed between payment and settlement
- Foreign transaction fees added by the card issuer
- Dynamic currency conversion differences
The amount shown at checkout is often an estimate.
Authorization vs Final Settlement
- The first amount is the authorization hold
- The final charge posts after currency conversion
- Settlement may occur days later
By the time settlement happens, exchange rates may have shifted.
How to Verify the Correct Charge
- Compare authorization and posted transactions
- Check your card’s foreign transaction fee policy
- Review exchange rate applied on settlement date
If the difference is small, it is usually currency conversion related.
When to Contact Your Card Issuer
- If the difference is unusually large
- If duplicate settlement occurs
- If unauthorized fees appear
Most mismatched charges are caused by exchange rate timing — not billing errors.