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

Amazon uses the truncated descriptor "AMAZON *SUBSCRIPTION" on bank statements because their billing system is designed to distinguish between different types of Amazon charges, with the asterisk acting as a separator between the brand name and the service category. This format is a deliberate choice by Amazon's payment processing infrastructure to help customers and their banks quickly identify that the $14.99 monthly charge is related to a recurring subscription service, such as Amazon Prime or another Amazon subscription product, rather than a one-time purchase. The shortened descriptor format also complies with the character limits imposed by major card networks like Visa and Mastercard, which typically restrict merchant descriptors to around 22 characters.

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

Frequently Asked Questions