You changed your payment method.
You expected one clean charge.
Instead — you see two.
Two approvals.
Two pending transactions.
It feels like you’ve been billed twice.
In most cases, this is not a real double charge — it’s a duplicate authorization.
Why Duplicate Charges Appear After Card Updates
- Old card authorization was still pending
- New card was charged during subscription retry
- System ran a verification charge
- Payment gateway reprocessed the billing attempt
When payment methods change, billing systems often re-validate the subscription.
Authorization vs. Real Charges
- Authorization = temporary hold
- Captured payment = actual charge
- Pending approvals often disappear automatically
- Banks release unused holds within days
Only captured payments are finalized.
Common Signs It’s Not a True Double Charge
- One charge shows “Pending”
- Amounts are identical
- Only one receipt was issued
- Billing history shows a single invoice
This indicates duplicate authorization — not duplicate billing.
What You Should Do
- Wait 3–7 business days
- Monitor pending transactions
- Contact your bank if both capture
- Provide transaction IDs to support
Do not dispute immediately unless both charges settle.
Most duplicate approvals clear automatically.