Why did I get an AMAZON PRIME* charge I don't recognize?

The AMAZON PRIME* charge typically means an Amazon Prime membership was billed to your card. A free trial may have expired and converted to a paid Amazon Prime subscription without a clear reminder.

Why does the charge say AMAZON PRIME* instead of just Amazon Prime?

The asterisk in AMAZON PRIME* is a standard billing descriptor format used by Amazon's payment processor. It's the official way Amazon Prime subscription charges appear on bank and credit card statements.

Can I get a refund for an AMAZON PRIME* charge?

Yes, Amazon Prime offers refunds in many cases, especially if you haven't used the membership benefits since the charge. Contact Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331 or via amazon.com/help to request a refund.

How do I cancel Amazon Prime to stop AMAZON PRIME* charges?

Log in to amazon.com, go to 'Account & Lists' > 'Prime Membership' > 'Manage Membership' > 'End Membership.' Canceling before your next billing date will stop future AMAZON PRIME* charges.

How do I stop future AMAZON PRIME* charges from appearing?

Cancel your Amazon Prime membership through your Amazon account settings and remove your payment card from the account. Confirm cancellation via the email Amazon sends to ensure no future AMAZON PRIME* charges occur.

Home›Browse Charges›Streaming›AMAZON PRIME*

AMAZON PRIME* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "AMAZON PRIME*" charge is from Amazon Prime Video. Amazon Prime Video streaming subscription.

🌍 US🕐 7 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video streaming subscription.

AMAZON PRIME*

What is this charge?

Amazon bills its streaming service through a unified payment infrastructure shared across its broader ecosystem, which is why the truncated descriptor "AMAZON PRIME*" shows up on your bank statement rather than the full "Amazon Prime Video" name. The asterisk in the descriptor is a standard formatting convention used by Amazon's billing system to separate the brand identifier from additional subscription or order details, and because many banks cap merchant descriptors at around 20-25 characters, the word "Video" gets cut entirely. If you recently signed up for or renewed an Amazon Prime Video subscription at $8.99 per month, this charge is almost certainly the source.

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How to handle this charge

Verify Your Amazon Prime Membership

Log in to your account at amazon.com and navigate to your membership settings to confirm you have an active Amazon Prime subscription. The AMAZON PRIME* charge on your statement is the standard billing descriptor for Amazon Prime Video and other Prime benefits.

Review Your Amazon Prime Billing History

Visit amazon.com and go to Account & Lists, then Your Prime Membership to view your billing history. Check that the amount charged for AMAZON PRIME* matches your expected subscription rate, whether monthly or annual.

Check for Multiple Amazon Prime Subscriptions

Make sure you are not being billed for duplicate Amazon Prime memberships across different Amazon accounts. If you have more than one Amazon account, log into each one at amazon.com to confirm only one active Prime subscription exists.

Manage or Cancel Your Amazon Prime Subscription

If you no longer want to be billed for Amazon Prime Video and Prime benefits, visit amazon.com/prime to manage your membership. From there you can turn off auto-renewal or cancel your subscription entirely to stop future AMAZON PRIME* charges.

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How to cancel Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Amazon Prime Video

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Quick fraud check

No, this is a legitimate charge from Amazon Prime Video. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, seeing "AMAZON PRIME*" on your statement is completely normal. Before assuming fraud, check your recent purchases — most mystery charges have a simple explanation.

Is the AMAZON PRIME* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

The AMAZON PRIME* charge on your bank or credit card statement is most commonly a legitimate recurring billing from Amazon Prime, Amazon's paid membership program. This charge appears when you are subscribed to Amazon Prime, either on a monthly or annual billing cycle. However, it can sometimes indicate unauthorized use if you don't recognize signing up.

You or a household member signed up for an Amazon Prime membership or free trial that converted to a paid plan
Amazon Prime charges $14.99/month or $139/year for its standard membership in the US
The AMAZON PRIME* descriptor is Amazon's official billing name used by their payment processor
A free trial may have ended and automatically converted to a paid AMAZON PRIME* subscription

How to Verify the AMAZON PRIME* Charge

1
Log into your Amazon account
Visit amazon.com and sign in. Navigate to 'Account & Lists' > 'Prime Membership' to see if an active Amazon Prime subscription is on your account and matches the charge date.
2
Search your email for Amazon Prime receipts
Search your inbox for emails from amazon.com containing 'Amazon Prime' or 'AMAZON PRIME*'. Amazon sends a billing confirmation each time the AMAZON PRIME* charge is processed.
3
Check if a family member enrolled
Ask household members if they signed up for Amazon Prime using your payment method. Amazon Prime membership can be linked to a shared payment method without the card owner being aware.
4
Review your Amazon account's payment methods
Go to amazon.com > 'Account & Lists' > 'Your Account' > 'Manage payment methods' to confirm whether your card is saved and actively being billed for AMAZON PRIME*.
5
Contact your bank for transaction details
If you still can't verify the AMAZON PRIME* charge, call the number on the back of your card. Your bank can provide the exact merchant ID and transaction timestamp to help confirm or dispute it.

How to Dispute an AMAZON PRIME* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the AMAZON PRIME* charge appearing on your statement. Acting quickly improves your chances of a successful chargeback.
2
Contact Amazon Prime customer service first
Visit amazon.com/help or call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331. Explain you were charged via AMAZON PRIME* without authorization — Amazon is often willing to issue a refund, especially for recent or accidental charges.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Amazon refuses to refund the AMAZON PRIME* charge, contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute it. Provide your evidence including email records and Amazon account screenshots.
4
Request a new card number
If you suspect your card was used fraudulently for the AMAZON PRIME* charge, ask your bank to issue a new card number to prevent any further unauthorized recurring charges.