What exactly is the BBC* charge on my bank statement?

The BBC* charge is a billing descriptor used by the BBC or its subscription services, most commonly BBC Select, when processing payments for premium streaming or digital content subscriptions.

Why does the charge say BBC* instead of just BBC?

The asterisk in BBC* is a standard merchant formatting convention used by payment processors to indicate a sub-brand or specific service under the broader BBC organization, such as BBC Select or a BBC app subscription.

Can I get a refund for a BBC* charge?

Yes, BBC's customer support can issue refunds for duplicate charges, billing errors, or charges made after cancellation. Contact BBC Select's help center directly and provide your account details and the charge amount to request a refund.

How do I cancel my BBC subscription to stop the BBC* charge?

Log into your BBC or BBC Select account, navigate to account settings, and select 'Cancel Subscription.' If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel through those platforms' subscription management settings instead.

How do I stop future BBC* charges from appearing?

Cancel your BBC or BBC Select subscription before the next renewal date, confirm cancellation via email, and monitor your statements for one additional billing cycle to ensure no further BBC* charges appear.

Home›Browse Charges›Streaming›BBC*

BBC* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "BBC*" charge is from BBC iPlayer. BBC TV licence or iPlayer subscription.

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

BBC iPlayer

BBC TV licence or iPlayer subscription.

BBC*

What is this charge?

The truncated descriptor "BBC\*" shows up on bank statements because the BBC processes its iPlayer and TV licence payments through a billing system that leads with the organisation's well-known abbreviation followed by an asterisk, a format commonly used by large broadcasters to flag digital subscription transactions at the point of processing. The full product name "BBC iPlayer" is simply too long to fit within the character limits imposed by most card payment networks, so the system shortens it to the recognisable "BBC\*" prefix. If you see this charge for around £13.25 on a monthly basis, it almost certainly relates to your BBC TV licence fee or an iPlayer subscription payment being processed on your account.

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How to handle this charge

Confirm your BBC iPlayer subscription

Log in to your BBC account at bbc.co.uk/account and check your active subscriptions or TV licence details to confirm the BBC* charge matches a plan you signed up for.

Check the charge amount

Compare the amount shown on your bank statement against the subscription or TV licence fee listed in your BBC iPlayer account settings at bbc.co.uk to make sure the figures align.

Review your BBC account activity

While logged in at bbc.co.uk/account, review your billing history and payment dates to ensure the BBC* charge corresponds to a legitimate renewal or subscription payment on the expected date.

Cancel if you no longer need it

If you do not want to continue with BBC iPlayer or your TV licence subscription, visit bbc.co.uk/account to manage or cancel your subscription and prevent future BBC* charges from appearing on your statement.

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How to cancel BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at BBC iPlayer

ℹ️ International processing

This charge is processed in GB. You may see a foreign transaction fee from your bank (typically 1-3%).

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Quick fraud check

No, this is a legitimate charge from BBC iPlayer. 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 "BBC*" on your statement is completely normal. Before assuming fraud, check your recent purchases — most mystery charges have a simple explanation.

Is the BBC* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see BBC* on your bank or credit card statement, this charge most likely originates from the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) or one of its digital subscription services, such as BBC Select or a BBC-affiliated streaming platform available outside the UK. This billing descriptor is commonly used when BBC processes payments for premium content subscriptions or app-based services.

Before assuming fraud, consider these common legitimate reasons for a BBC* charge:

An active BBC Select subscription (a paid streaming service for international audiences)
A free trial for a BBC digital service that has converted to a paid subscription
A household member who signed up for a BBC streaming or content service
An annual BBC subscription renewal you may have forgotten about

That said, unauthorized BBC* charges do occur if your card details have been compromised. Always verify the charge against your own accounts before contacting your bank.

How to Verify the BBC* Charge

1
Check your BBC account
Log in at bbc.com or the BBC Select portal and review your subscription and billing history to see if a recent payment matches the BBC* charge on your statement.
2
Search your email for BBC receipts
Search your inbox for emails from BBC or BBC Select containing words like 'receipt,' 'invoice,' or 'subscription confirmed' to find a matching transaction.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or housemates whether they signed up for a BBC streaming service or BBC Select using a shared payment method.
4
Review your active subscriptions
Check subscription management tools on your device (Apple ID, Google Play, or Roku) to see if a BBC* subscription is listed and actively billing you.
5
Contact your bank for details
If you still can't identify the BBC* charge, call the number on the back of your card and ask your bank for the full merchant name, date, and transaction amount.

How to Dispute a BBC* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require you to dispute an unrecognized BBC* charge within 60 days of the statement date, so don't delay if you believe the charge is unauthorized or erroneous.
2
Contact BBC directly first
Reach out to BBC customer support or BBC Select's help center to explain the charge. BBC may issue a refund faster than a bank dispute, especially for billing errors or duplicate charges.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If BBC does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer and formally dispute the BBC* charge. Provide your statement, any BBC correspondence, and a written explanation.
4
Request a new card number
If the BBC* charge appears fraudulent and you did not authorize it, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a new one to prevent further unauthorized charges.