What is the ESPN* charge on my bank statement?

The ESPN* charge is the billing descriptor used by ESPN+ when processing subscription payments. It may appear as ESPN* PLUS or ESPN*DISNEY depending on your bank, and represents your recurring ESPN+ streaming fee.

Why does the charge say ESPN* instead of ESPN+?

Banks and card networks display shortened merchant names. ESPN+ submits its charges under the descriptor 'ESPN*' due to character limits, which is standard practice and does not indicate anything suspicious.

Can I get a refund on an ESPN* charge?

ESPN+ generally does not offer prorated refunds for subscription periods already used, but if you were charged in error or didn't intend to renew, contacting ESPN+ support promptly gives you the best chance of receiving a refund for the ESPN* charge.

How do I cancel ESPN+ to stop future ESPN* charges?

Log into espnplus.com, go to your Account settings, select 'Manage Subscription,' and choose 'Cancel Subscription.' Canceling at least 24 hours before your renewal date will prevent the next ESPN* charge from being billed.

How do I permanently stop ESPN* charges if I didn't sign up?

Contact ESPN+ support immediately to report the unauthorized account and request cancellation. Then dispute the ESPN* charge with your bank and request a new card number to prevent any further unauthorized ESPN+ billing.

Home›Browse Charges›Streaming›ESPN*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "ESPN*" charge is from ESPN+. ESPN+ sports streaming subscription.

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

ESPN+

ESPN+ sports streaming subscription.

ESPN*

Why does this charge appear?

When ESPN+ processes subscription payments, the billing descriptor is truncated to "ESPN*" because payment networks have strict character limits on how merchant names appear in transaction records, and the asterisk is used by ESPN's payment processor to separate the brand name from additional billing details that may follow. Disney Streaming Services, which operates ESPN+, registers under the shortened "ESPN" identifier with card networks, meaning the "+" in ESPN+ simply gets dropped or replaced by the asterisk in the final descriptor your bank displays. If you see "ESPN*" on your statement alongside a $9.99 monthly charge, it is almost certainly your ESPN+ sports streaming subscription.

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Your next steps

Confirm Your ESPN+ Subscription

Log in to your ESPN+ account at espnplus.com and navigate to your account settings to verify that you have an active subscription. The ESPN* charge on your bank statement is the standard billing descriptor used by ESPN+ for their sports streaming service.

Review Your ESPN+ Billing Details

At espnplus.com, check your billing history to confirm the charge amount and date match what appears on your bank statement as ESPN*. ESPN+ offers different plan tiers, so make sure the amount reflects the plan you signed up for.

Check for ESPN+ Bundle Charges

If you subscribed to the Disney Bundle, your ESPN+ access may be billed together with Disney+ and Hulu. Log in at espnplus.com to see if your ESPN* charge is part of a bundle, which would explain the specific billing amount you are seeing.

Cancel ESPN+ If No Longer Needed

If you no longer want the ESPN+ subscription generating the ESPN* charge, you can cancel it directly by visiting espnplus.com/account. From there, navigate to your subscription settings and select the option to cancel to prevent future charges from appearing on your statement.

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How to cancel ESPN+

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

Cancel at ESPN+

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Legitimate or scam?

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

Is the ESPN* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

An ESPN* charge on your bank or credit card statement is almost always a legitimate billing from ESPN+, Disney's sports streaming subscription service. ESPN+ uses the shortened merchant descriptor ESPN* — which can appear as ESPN* PLUS or ESPN*DISNEY — causing confusion for many subscribers. If you or someone in your household recently signed up for ESPN+, purchased a Disney Bundle, or bought a pay-per-view event through ESPN+, this charge is likely valid.

ESPN+ monthly plans appear as recurring ESPN* charges each billing cycle
Annual ESPN+ subscriptions may show a larger one-time ESPN* charge
Disney Bundle subscriptions (ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+) are often billed under ESPN*
Pay-per-view UFC or boxing events purchased on ESPN+ also use the ESPN* descriptor

How to Verify the ESPN* Charge

1
Log into your ESPN+ account
Visit espnplus.com and sign in. Navigate to your account settings and select 'Subscription' to view your current plan, billing amount, and last payment date to match against the ESPN* charge.
2
Search your email for ESPN+ receipts
Search your inbox for emails from ESPN+ or Disney with subject lines like 'Your ESPN+ receipt' or 'Subscription confirmation.' The billing amount should match the ESPN* charge on your statement.
3
Check household members
Ask family members or housemates whether they signed up for ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle using your shared payment method, as the ESPN* descriptor may reflect their subscription.
4
Review connected subscriptions
Check if you subscribed to ESPN+ through a third party such as Hulu, Apple, or your cable provider — these can still generate an ESPN* charge directly on your card statement.
5
Contact your bank if still unsure
If the ESPN* charge amount doesn't match any known ESPN+ plan price, call the number on the back of your card to get the full merchant details and transaction date before disputing.

How to Dispute an ESPN* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require you to dispute an unrecognized ESPN* charge within 60 days of the statement date. Review your statement promptly and act quickly to preserve your right to a chargeback.
2
Contact ESPN+ support first
Visit help.espnplus.com or call ESPN+ customer support to report the unauthorized ESPN* charge. They can verify whether the charge is tied to an account and may issue a refund faster than a bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If ESPN+ cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card issuer and formally dispute the ESPN* charge as unauthorized. Provide your statement, any ESPN+ correspondence, and the charge date as evidence.
4
Request a new card number
If you believe your card details were stolen and used to subscribe to ESPN+, ask your bank to issue a replacement card to prevent additional ESPN* or other fraudulent charges from appearing.

Tips for Managing ESPN+ Charges

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Enable billing alerts on your bank app so you're notified instantly whenever a new ESPN* charge posts.

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Keep a note of your ESPN+ plan price so you can quickly spot if an ESPN* charge amount changes unexpectedly.

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Secure your ESPN+ account with a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized subscriptions billed as ESPN*.

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Mark your ESPN+ renewal date on your calendar so you're never caught off guard by an ESPN* charge hitting your account.

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Use a virtual card number for your ESPN+ subscription to isolate ESPN* charges and simplify cancellation if needed.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify ESPN* and other unfamiliar streaming charges on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, an ESPN* charge is simply your regular ESPN+ subscription renewing — whether it's a monthly plan, annual membership, or Disney Bundle. If the amount matches your ESPN+ plan price, you can feel confident this charge is exactly what it appears to be.