You completed a payment.
The price looked clear at checkout.
But when the card statement arrived,
the charged amount was different.
Higher — or sometimes slightly lower.
This usually happens because of exchange rate conversion.
Why the Charged Amount Changes
- The checkout price used an estimated exchange rate
- Your card network applied the settlement exchange rate
- The currency conversion occurred on a later processing date
- Market exchange rates fluctuated between authorization and settlement
Payments and currency conversion rarely happen at the same moment.
Authorization vs Settlement — The Key Difference
- Authorization locks the estimated payment amount
- Settlement finalizes the converted amount
- The exchange rate at settlement determines the final charge
This time gap is what creates the difference.
Additional Factors That Affect Final Charges
- Foreign transaction fees
- Card network conversion fees
- Dynamic currency conversion differences
How to Verify the Correct Amount
- Check the original transaction currency
- Compare authorization vs settlement records
- Review your card issuer’s exchange rate policy
A different charged amount does not mean an error occurred.
It is typically the result of real-time currency conversion.