You cancel a payment or subscription and expect the charge to disappear. Instead, you see two conflicting records: one marked as canceled and another marked as approved.
This situation feels alarming, but it is usually caused by how payment systems process transactions in stages rather than in real time.
When cancellation and approval appear together, it often reflects a timing overlap — not two separate charges.
Why Approval and Cancellation Can Show Together
- The payment was authorized before the cancellation request was processed
- The system shows both authorization and reversal logs
- App and billing platform updated at different times
- The cancellation applied to future billing, not the current cycle
- Status labels updated before the final settlement completed
How to Check Whether You Were Actually Charged
- Look for a final “settled” or “completed” transaction
- Check whether the approved charge disappears after processing
- Compare pending charges with posted charges on your statement
- Wait for the billing cycle to fully close
What to Do If the Status Does Not Resolve
- Do not submit multiple cancellation requests
- Keep a screenshot of both status messages
- Wait until the pending transaction updates or drops
- Contact support only if the charge fully posts
Payment systems often display temporary contradictions. Acting before the system finishes processing can create more confusion than clarity.