What does BEST BUY* mean on my bank statement?

BEST BUY* is the billing descriptor used by Best Buy when they charge your debit or credit card. It appears for in-store purchases, BestBuy.com orders, Geek Squad services, and Totaltech membership fees.

Why does the charge say BEST BUY* instead of just Best Buy?

The asterisk in BEST BUY* is a standard formatting convention used by payment processors to separate the merchant name from additional purchase details, such as an order number or service type.

Can I get a refund for a BEST BUY* charge?

Yes. Best Buy has a standard return policy of 15 days (30 days for My Best Buy members). Contact Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 or visit a store to initiate a return and refund for the BEST BUY* charge.

How do I cancel my Best Buy Totaltech membership to stop recurring BEST BUY* charges?

Log into your BestBuy.com account, go to Account Settings, select Membership, and choose to cancel your Totaltech subscription. You can also call Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 to cancel over the phone.

How do I stop future unauthorized BEST BUY* charges?

If you didn't authorize the charge, contact your bank immediately to dispute it and request a new card number. Also update your Best Buy account password and remove any unrecognized saved payment methods from your Best Buy profile.

Home›Browse Charges›Shopping›BEST BUY*

BEST BUY* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "BEST BUY*" charge is from Best Buy. Best Buy electronics purchase.

🌍 US🕐 8 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Best Buy

Best Buy electronics purchase.

BEST BUY*

Understanding this descriptor

When Best Buy processes transactions through its retail and online checkout systems, the payment descriptor is automatically truncated to "BEST BUY*" due to character limits imposed by credit card networks like Visa and Mastercard, which typically cap merchant descriptors at around 22 characters. The asterisk following the name is commonly appended by Best Buy's payment processing system to separate the merchant identifier from any additional transaction details, such as a store number or order reference, that may follow in the full descriptor string. If you recently purchased electronics, appliances, or any other product from BestBuy.com or a physical Best Buy store in the US, this one-time charge is almost certainly a legitimate transaction from the retailer.

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Recommended actions

Check Your Best Buy Order History

Log in to your account at bestbuy.com and navigate to Order History to match the BEST BUY* charge amount with a recent electronics purchase, pickup, or delivery order you placed.

Review Best Buy Membership or Subscriptions

Visit bestbuy.com/account to check if you are enrolled in Best Buy Totaltech or any other membership plan that may be billing you automatically, which would appear as a BEST BUY* charge on your statement.

Save Your Best Buy Receipt or Confirmation Email

Search your email inbox for a Best Buy order confirmation that matches the charge date and amount, then save it as documentation in case you need to reference the BEST BUY* transaction later.

Contact Best Buy Support If Needed

If the BEST BUY* charge amount does not match any order you recognize, contact Best Buy customer support directly through bestbuy.com before escalating, as it may be a legitimate charge such as a price adjustment, partial shipment, or delayed billing.

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Is this charge fraudulent?

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

Is the BEST BUY* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see BEST BUY* on your bank or credit card statement, it is most likely a legitimate charge from Best Buy, one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the United States. This descriptor appears when you make purchases in-store, online at BestBuy.com, or through Best Buy's app. It can also appear for Best Buy Totaltech memberships, Geek Squad service plans, or digital content purchases.

Common reasons you might see a BEST BUY* charge include:

A recent in-store or online electronics purchase at Best Buy
A recurring charge for a Best Buy Totaltech or My Best Buy membership subscription
A Geek Squad Protection Plan or tech support service fee
A pre-order or back-ordered item that was finally shipped and billed
A purchase made by a family member using a shared payment method linked to a Best Buy account

While most BEST BUY* charges are genuine, fraudulent use of your card details at Best Buy is possible. If you don't recognize the charge after reviewing your recent activity, treat it as potentially fraudulent and take action promptly.

How to Verify the BEST BUY* Charge

1
Log into your Best Buy account
Visit BestBuy.com and sign in to check your order history. The BEST BUY* charge should match a recent order, subscription renewal, or Geek Squad service.
2
Search your email for Best Buy receipts
Look for confirmation or receipt emails from Best Buy (noreply@bestbuy.com). The charge amount on your statement should match the total on your Best Buy receipt.
3
Check if a household member made the purchase
Ask family members or anyone with access to your card if they made a Best Buy purchase. Shared Best Buy accounts or family plans can generate unexpected BEST BUY* charges.
4
Review your Best Buy subscriptions
Check if you have an active Best Buy Totaltech membership or Geek Squad plan. These renew automatically and appear as recurring BEST BUY* charges on your statement.
5
Contact Best Buy customer support
Call Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 or use their live chat at BestBuy.com to look up any transaction associated with your payment method if you still can't identify the charge.

How to Dispute a BEST BUY* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require you to dispute unauthorized charges within 60 days of the statement date. Don't delay if you see an unrecognized BEST BUY* charge on your account.
2
Contact Best Buy directly first
Call Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 or chat online at BestBuy.com. Best Buy can often issue a refund faster than a bank chargeback process, especially for billing errors or duplicate charges.
3
File a chargeback with your bank or card issuer
If Best Buy cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the BEST BUY* charge. Provide your statement, any receipts, and your communication with Best Buy as evidence.
4
Request a new card number
If the BEST BUY* charge is confirmed as fraudulent, ask your bank to cancel your compromised card and issue a new one to prevent further unauthorized Best Buy or other charges.