You noticed a small charge.
It looked like a test or verification amount.
Later, it didn’t disappear.
Instead, it stayed—or was followed by a full charge.
This happens when a test authorization is mistakenly captured as a real payment.
Test charges are meant to drop off, but sometimes they don’t.
Why a Test Charge Becomes a Real Charge
- The system captured the authorization instead of releasing it
- The merchant used the same transaction for verification and billing
- A retry or sync error converted the test into a payment
- The card network finalized the hold unexpectedly
How to Tell It Was a Test Charge
- The amount is very small or unusual
- No order, receipt, or subscription matches the charge
- The description looks generic or incomplete
- The charge appeared before the actual purchase
What You Should Not Do
- Don’t assume the charge is intentional
- Don’t pay again to “fix” it
- Don’t cancel your card immediately
When a test charge turns into a real payment, it’s usually a processing mistake—not true double billing.