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

The DISCOVERY* charge is the billing descriptor used by Discovery+ when processing subscription payments. It represents your recurring fee for access to the Discovery+ streaming platform.

Why does the charge say DISCOVERY* instead of Discovery+?

Payment processors truncate merchant names to fit character limits on bank statements. DISCOVERY* is simply how Discovery+ appears in the billing system — the asterisk often indicates a subscription service.

Can I get a refund for a DISCOVERY* charge from Discovery+?

Discovery+ generally does not offer refunds for subscription charges, but you can contact their support team at discoveryplus.com/support to request a courtesy refund, especially if you forgot to cancel before a renewal.

How do I cancel my Discovery+ subscription to stop future charges?

Log into discoveryplus.com, go to Account > Manage Subscription, and select Cancel Subscription. If you subscribed through Apple, Google, or Roku, you must cancel directly through that platform to stop DISCOVERY* charges.

How do I make sure I never get an unexpected DISCOVERY* charge again?

After canceling Discovery+, confirm you receive a cancellation confirmation email. Monitor your statement for one final billing cycle to ensure no further DISCOVERY* charges appear before considering the matter closed.

Home›Browse Charges›Streaming›DISCOVERY*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "DISCOVERY*" charge is from Discovery+. Discovery+ streaming subscription.

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

Discovery+

Discovery+ streaming subscription.

DISCOVERY*

Understanding this descriptor

When Discovery+ processes subscription payments in the US, their billing system transmits a truncated identifier to banks rather than the full brand name, which is why you see DISCOVERY* on your statement instead of "Discovery+." The asterisk following DISCOVERY is a standard payment processor delimiter used to separate the company identifier from additional billing detail fields, a format commonly adopted by streaming services running high volumes of recurring monthly transactions. If you're being billed $4.99 each month and recently signed up for the ad-supported Discovery+ plan, this charge is almost certainly your legitimate streaming subscription covering content from HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and other Discovery-owned networks.

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Recommended actions

Confirm Your Discovery+ Subscription

Log in to your Discovery+ account at discoveryplus.com and check your subscription status. The DISCOVERY* charge on your statement is a recognized billing descriptor for Discovery+ and is most likely a legitimate recurring charge for your streaming plan.

Review Your Discovery+ Billing History

Once logged in at discoveryplus.com, navigate to your account billing section to review past charges and confirm the amount matches what you see on your bank statement. This helps verify the DISCOVERY* charge is accurate and not a duplicate or incorrect billing.

Check Who Has Access to the Account

In your Discovery+ account settings at discoveryplus.com, review any profiles or linked devices to make sure only authorized household members are using the subscription. If you spot unfamiliar profiles or devices, update your Discovery+ password immediately.

Cancel Discovery+ If You No Longer Want It

If you do not recognize using Discovery+ or no longer want the subscription, go to discoveryplus.com/account to manage or cancel your plan and stop future DISCOVERY* charges from appearing on your bank statement.

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How to cancel Discovery+

Discovery+ bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Discovery+

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Is this charge fraudulent?

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

Is the DISCOVERY* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see DISCOVERY* on your bank or credit card statement, it is most likely a legitimate charge from Discovery+, the streaming service offering content from Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and more. This truncated billing descriptor is how Discovery+ appears on financial statements due to standard payment processor formatting. Before assuming fraud, consider these common reasons the charge may appear:

You or a family member signed up for a Discovery+ subscription (monthly or annual)
A free trial period ended and your account automatically converted to a paid plan
You upgraded your Discovery+ plan from ad-supported to ad-free
A bundled subscription through a third-party partner (like Verizon) renewed under this descriptor

How to Verify the DISCOVERY* Charge

1
Log into your Discovery+ account
Visit discoveryplus.com and sign in. Navigate to Account > Billing to see your subscription plan, renewal date, and recent payment history.
2
Search your email for Discovery+ receipts
Search your inbox for emails from noreply@discoveryplus.com or 'Discovery+' to find subscription confirmation or billing receipt emails matching the charge date.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or roommates if they signed up for Discovery+ using your shared payment method, as accounts are often created without notifying the cardholder.
4
Review your connected subscriptions
Check subscription managers like your Apple ID, Google Play, or Roku account — Discovery+ subscriptions initiated through these platforms also bill as DISCOVERY* on statements.
5
Contact your bank for transaction details
Call the number on the back of your card and request the full merchant name and transaction ID associated with the DISCOVERY* charge for further verification.

How to Dispute a DISCOVERY* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the statement date. Don't delay if you don't recognize the DISCOVERY* charge — time limits are strictly enforced.
2
Contact Discovery+ support first
Reach Discovery+ customer support at discoveryplus.com/support or via live chat. Resolving the issue directly with Discovery+ is faster than a bank dispute and may result in a quicker refund.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Discovery+ cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card issuer to file a formal chargeback. Reference the DISCOVERY* descriptor and provide the transaction date and amount.
4
Request a new card number
If the DISCOVERY* charge appears to be fraudulent and you did not authorize it, ask your bank to issue a new card number to prevent any further unauthorized Discovery+ charges.

Tips for Managing Discovery+ Charges

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Set a calendar reminder before your Discovery+ renewal date to avoid surprise DISCOVERY* charges on your statement.

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Save your Discovery+ billing confirmation emails so you can quickly match them to any DISCOVERY* charge that appears.

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Enable two-factor authentication on your Discovery+ account to prevent unauthorized sign-ins that could trigger unexpected charges.

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Note whether your Discovery+ plan is monthly or annual — annual plans produce a single large DISCOVERY* charge once per year.

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Use a virtual card number for your Discovery+ subscription to isolate and easily cancel DISCOVERY* charges if needed.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify other unfamiliar streaming charges that may appear alongside DISCOVERY* on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a DISCOVERY* charge is simply your Discovery+ streaming subscription renewing as expected — often after a forgotten free trial or a plan upgrade. A quick login to your Discovery+ account is usually all it takes to confirm the charge and put your mind at ease.