Why does the charge appear as BOOKING.COM* instead of just Booking.com?

The asterisk in BOOKING.COM* is a standard billing descriptor format used by Booking.com's payment processor to identify the transaction on your bank statement. It is the official way Booking.com charges appear and does not indicate anything suspicious.

Why does the BOOKING.COM* amount look different from my reservation price?

The BOOKING.COM* charge may differ slightly from your quoted price due to currency conversion fees, local taxes, or service charges added at the time of payment processing by Booking.com. Check your booking breakdown in your Booking.com account for a full itemized total.

Can I get a refund for a BOOKING.COM* charge?

Yes, you may be eligible for a refund if your Booking.com reservation includes free cancellation. Log into your Booking.com account, find the reservation, and cancel it before the deadline. Non-refundable bookings typically cannot be refunded unless Booking.com makes an exception.

How do I cancel a Booking.com reservation to stop a charge?

Log into your Booking.com account and go to 'Bookings,' then select the reservation you want to cancel. If the booking is within the free cancellation window, click 'Cancel Booking' and confirm. You will receive a cancellation email and your refund will be processed to the original payment method.

How do I stop future BOOKING.COM* charges from appearing on my statement?

To prevent future BOOKING.COM* charges, cancel any active reservations through your Booking.com account and remove your saved payment methods from your profile settings. If you suspect unauthorized access, change your Booking.com password immediately and notify your bank.

Home›Browse Charges›Travel›BOOKING.COM*

BOOKING.COM* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "BOOKING.COM*" charge is from Booking.com. Booking.com hotel reservation charge.

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

Booking.com

Booking.com hotel reservation charge.

BOOKING.COM*

Understanding this descriptor

When Booking.com processes a hotel reservation payment, their billing system appends an asterisk after the company name to separate the brand identifier from any additional transaction details that may follow, such as a confirmation number or property code, resulting in the truncated "BOOKING.COM*" descriptor you see on your statement. This format is a common practice among large online travel platforms that handle millions of transactions and need a standardized way to flag charges within payment processing networks like Visa or Mastercard. If you recently booked a hotel stay and see a one-time charge of around $150.00 labeled "BOOKING.COM*" on your bank statement, it is almost certainly a legitimate charge from Booking.com for your reservation.

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Recommended actions

Match the charge to a reservation

Log into your Booking.com account at booking.com and navigate to your booking history to match the BOOKING.COM* charge on your statement to a specific hotel reservation, including the dates and property name.

Review your booking details

On booking.com, open the specific reservation and confirm the charge amount matches the total shown for that stay, keeping in mind that Booking.com may charge at the time of booking or upon check-in depending on the property's payment policy.

Manage or cancel if needed

If the BOOKING.COM* charge is for a reservation you no longer need, visit booking.com/account to view your cancellation options. Be sure to check the cancellation policy for that specific booking, as some rates are non-refundable.

Contact Booking.com support if unclear

If the BOOKING.COM* charge does not match any reservation in your account history, reach out to Booking.com's customer support directly through booking.com to clarify the charge before considering a dispute with your bank.

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Is this charge fraudulent?

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

Is the BOOKING.COM* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see a charge labeled BOOKING.COM* on your bank or credit card statement, it is most likely a legitimate transaction processed by BOOKING.COM, one of the world's largest online travel and accommodation booking platforms. This charge typically appears when you reserve a hotel, apartment, vacation rental, or other accommodation through the Booking.com website or mobile app.

Common legitimate reasons you may see a BOOKING.COM* charge include:

A hotel or accommodation reservation made on Booking.com that required upfront payment
A non-refundable booking where payment was collected at the time of reservation
A pre-authorization hold placed by Booking.com ahead of your stay
A Booking.com Genius loyalty program or add-on service fee
A booking made by a family member or travel companion using your payment method

However, if you do not recall making any travel reservations recently, the BOOKING.COM* charge could indicate unauthorized use of your card. Always verify the amount and date against your travel history before concluding it is fraudulent.

How to Verify the BOOKING.COM* Charge

1
Log into your Booking.com account
Visit Booking.com and sign in to your account. Navigate to 'Bookings' to review your reservation history and check if any booking amount matches the BOOKING.COM* charge on your statement.
2
Search your email for Booking.com receipts
Search your inbox for emails from 'noreply@booking.com' or 'confirmation@booking.com'. Booking.com sends confirmation emails for every reservation, and the amount should match the BOOKING.COM* charge exactly.
3
Check if a household member made the booking
Ask family members or housemates whether they used your payment card to make a reservation on Booking.com. It is common for shared cards to have BOOKING.COM* charges from another user's travel plans.
4
Review the charge date against your travel plans
Cross-reference the date of the BOOKING.COM* charge with any upcoming or past trips. Booking.com may charge your card weeks in advance for non-refundable reservations or at check-in for pay-later bookings.
5
Contact Booking.com customer support
If you still cannot identify the BOOKING.COM* charge, contact Booking.com directly via their 24/7 customer service chat or by calling their support line. Provide the charge amount and date to help them locate the transaction.

How to Dispute a BOOKING.COM* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require you to dispute unauthorized charges within 60 days of the statement date. Do not wait if you believe the BOOKING.COM* charge on your account is fraudulent or incorrect.
2
Contact Booking.com directly first
Reach out to Booking.com's customer service team before escalating to your bank. Booking.com can often resolve billing errors, duplicate charges, or cancellation refund issues faster than a formal bank dispute process.
3
Request a cancellation and refund if eligible
If your Booking.com reservation qualifies for free cancellation, cancel it through your account or via the confirmation email link. Refunds for eligible bookings are typically returned to your original payment method within 7–14 business days.
4
File a chargeback with your bank or card issuer
If Booking.com is unresponsive or refuses to resolve the issue, contact your bank and formally dispute the BOOKING.COM* charge. Provide your booking reference, email confirmation, and any correspondence with Booking.com as supporting evidence.
5
Request a replacement card
If the BOOKING.COM* charge is confirmed as fraudulent and you did not make any booking, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a new one to prevent further unauthorized charges.