You updated your plan.
Then the next charge came from somewhere else.
Different card. Different billing name. Sometimes even a different platform.
It looks suspicious — but in many cases, it’s automatic billing rerouting.
Why Payment Methods Change After Plan Updates
When a subscription plan changes, billing systems may reset the active payment channel.
- App subscriptions override web billing
- Primary card expired → backup card activated
- Platform migration during upgrade
- Regional billing processor reassignment
The system charges the payment source currently linked to the subscription environment — not always the one you expect.
Web Billing vs App Store Billing
- Website purchase → charged directly by platform
- Apple / Google purchase → charged by app store
- In-app upgrade → billing source locked to store
- Web upgrade → may detach from previous store billing
Changing the upgrade location can silently change who processes the payment.
When It’s Normal — And When It’s Not
Usually normal:
- Upgrade performed inside app
- Backup payment activated
- Invoice shows matching account ID
Investigate if:
- Unknown merchant name appears
- Currency changes unexpectedly
- Duplicate charges from two platforms
A plan change updates more than features.
It can also change the route your payment takes.
Different source doesn’t automatically mean fraud — but it’s worth verifying.