Why You're Seeing "BOLT NG*" on Your Bank Statement
What Is "BOLT NG*" on My Bank Statement?
A charge showing BOLT NG* on your bank statement comes from Bolt Nigeria, the popular ride-hailing and transportation platform operating across major Nigerian cities. This charge represents a completed trip booking made through the Bolt app, where passengers request affordable taxi and motorcycle rides. The BOLT NG* descriptor is applied automatically by Bolt's payment processing system whenever a fare is charged to your debit or credit card. If you or someone with access to your payment method recently used the Bolt app in Nigeria, this charge is almost certainly a legitimate ride payment.
The BOLT NG* descriptor appears on your bank statement because payment processors use short, standardized merchant codes rather than full brand names, with the 'NG' suffix specifically identifying Bolt's Nigerian operation. This abbreviated format is a technical requirement of card payment networks, which limit the number of characters that can be displayed in a transaction descriptor. The asterisk (*) is commonly used by payment systems as a separator between the merchant identifier and additional trip or transaction reference details.
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In most cases, seeing "BOLT NG*" on your statement is completely normal. Before assuming fraud, check your recent purchases â most mystery charges have a simple explanation.
Is the BOLT NG* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?
If you see BOLT NG* on your bank or credit card statement, this charge most likely comes from BOLT NG, a ride-hailing and delivery platform operating primarily in Nigeria and other African markets. The BOLT NG* descriptor appears when you pay for a Bolt ride, food delivery, or other services through the Bolt app in Nigeria.
This charge is generally legitimate if you or someone with access to your payment method has recently used the Bolt app. Common reasons you might see BOLT NG* include:
- A completed or pre-authorized ride booked through the Bolt Nigeria app
- A food or package delivery order placed via Bolt Food Nigeria
- A pending authorization hold placed at the time of booking that later settled
- A family member or friend who used your saved card in their Bolt NG account
However, if you do not recognize the charge and have never used BOLT NG, treat it as potentially fraudulent and follow the steps below to investigate and dispute it.
How to Verify the BOLT NG* Charge
- 1
Log into your Bolt NG account
Open the Bolt app or visit bolt.eu and navigate to your ride or order history. Look for a trip or delivery that matches the date and amount of the BOLT NG* charge on your statement.
- 2
Search your email for BOLT NG receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Bolt Nigeria using keywords like 'Bolt receipt', 'your ride summary', or 'BOLT NG'. Bolt typically sends a receipt after every completed trip or delivery order.
- 3
Check if household members used your card
Ask family members or anyone who has access to your payment method whether they booked a Bolt ride or placed a Bolt Food order in Nigeria using your card details.
- 4
Review any saved payment methods
Log into the Bolt app and go to Settings > Payment Methods to confirm your card is listed. If your card is saved there without your knowledge, someone may have added it without authorization.
- 5
Contact your bank for transaction details
Ask your bank for the full merchant information tied to the BOLT NG* charge, including the exact merchant ID and transaction date, to help confirm whether the charge is genuine or unauthorized.
How to Dispute a BOLT NG* Charge
- 1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the statement date. If you spot an unauthorized BOLT NG* charge, begin the dispute process immediately to stay within this window.
- 2
Contact BOLT NG support first
Reach out to Bolt Nigeria's customer support through the app under Help, or email support@bolt.eu. Explain the unrecognized BOLT NG* charge and request a refund or clarification before escalating to your bank.
- 3
File a chargeback with your bank
If BOLT NG does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer and formally dispute the BOLT NG* charge. Provide the transaction date, amount, and any communication you had with Bolt support as evidence.
- 4
Request a new card number
If the BOLT NG* charge appears to be fraudulent and you never used Bolt Nigeria, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a new one to prevent further unauthorized charges.
Tips for Managing BOLT NG* Charges
Enable transaction alerts on your bank app so you are notified instantly whenever a BOLT NG* charge hits your account.
Always cross-check your Bolt NG trip history against your bank statement at the end of each month to catch billing errors early.
Secure your Bolt NG account with a strong password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized rides charged to your card.
Note that BOLT NG* charges may appear 1â3 days after your ride due to authorization holds settling, so check dates carefully before disputing.
Remove your card from the Bolt NG app when not in regular use to reduce the risk of unexpected or unauthorized BOLT NG* charges.
Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges that may appear alongside BOLT NG* on your statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the BOLT NG* Charge
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