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

The SLING* charge is the billing descriptor used by Sling TV when they process a payment for a subscription plan or add-on. It will typically be followed by a short identifier such as 'SLING*SLING TV' or just 'SLING*' depending on your bank's display format.

Why does the charge say SLING* instead of Sling TV?

Banks and card networks display a shortened merchant descriptor rather than the full brand name. Sling TV's payment processor is configured to use 'SLING*' as the billing prefix, which is why it may look unfamiliar on your statement.

Can I get a refund for a SLING* charge from Sling TV?

Sling TV generally does not offer prorated refunds for monthly subscriptions, but if you were charged after canceling or during a free trial, contact Sling TV support at sling.com/help to request a courtesy refund for the unauthorized SLING* charge.

How do I cancel Sling TV to stop future SLING* charges?

Log into your account at sling.com, go to 'My Account,' select 'Subscription,' and click 'Cancel Subscription.' Make sure to cancel before your next billing date to avoid another SLING* charge on your statement.

How do I permanently stop SLING* charges if I never signed up?

If you never created a Sling TV account, report the SLING* charge to your bank as unauthorized fraud immediately. Your bank can block future charges and issue a new card, while you can also contact Sling TV to report the fraudulent account.

Home›Browse Charges›Streaming›SLING*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "SLING*" charge is from Sling TV. Sling TV live streaming subscription.

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

Sling TV

Sling TV live streaming subscription.

SLING*

Why this shows on your statement

When Sling TV processes your monthly subscription payment, it transmits a shortened billing descriptor to your bank using the format "SLING*" followed by additional transaction details, which is a common practice among streaming services that work within the character limits imposed by payment networks like Visa and Mastercard. The asterisk in "SLING*" is actually a standard delimiter used by merchant payment processors to separate the brand name from supplementary information such as a confirmation number or service identifier. If you see this charge on your statement for around $40.00, it is almost certainly your recurring Sling TV live TV streaming subscription rather than any unauthorized transaction.

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What should you do?

Confirm Your Sling TV Subscription

Log in to your Sling TV account at sling.com and check your subscription status. The SLING* charge on your bank statement is a known billing descriptor for Sling TV live streaming, so verify that your current plan and billing amount match what you see on your statement.

Review Your Sling TV Billing History

Once logged in at sling.com, navigate to your account billing section to view your full payment history. Cross-reference the exact charge amount from your bank statement with your Sling TV invoices to confirm the charge is accurate and expected.

Check for Extra Sling TV Add-Ons

Inside your Sling TV account at sling.com, review any premium channel add-ons or extras you may have enabled, such as sports or movie packages. These add-ons increase your monthly SLING* charge beyond the base plan price and could explain a higher-than-expected amount on your bank statement.

Cancel Sling TV If No Longer Needed

If you no longer use the service and want to stop future SLING* charges, go directly to sling.com/account to manage or cancel your Sling TV subscription. Sling TV does not require a contract, so you can cancel at any time before your next billing date to avoid being charged again.

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How to cancel Sling TV

Sling TV bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Sling TV

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Should you be worried?

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

Is the SLING* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

A SLING* charge on your bank or credit card statement is almost always a legitimate billing from Sling TV, the popular live TV streaming service. Sling TV uses the prefix "SLING*" when processing payments, which can appear unfamiliar if you've forgotten about your subscription or a free trial that converted to a paid plan. Before assuming fraud, consider these common reasons the charge appears:

You have an active Sling TV Base Plan (Orange, Blue, or Orange+Blue) billed monthly
A free trial period ended and your account automatically converted to a paid Sling TV subscription
You added a Sling TV Extras package or premium channel add-on like HBO Max or Showtime
A family member or roommate signed up for Sling TV using your payment method

How to Verify the SLING* Charge

1
Log into your Sling TV account
Visit sling.com and sign in to review your active plan, add-ons, and billing history. Your invoice will confirm the exact amount matching the SLING* charge.
2
Search your email for Sling TV receipts
Search your inbox for emails from 'Sling TV' or 'noreply@sling.com'. Sling TV sends a receipt each billing cycle that will match the SLING* charge date and amount.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or roommates if they signed up for Sling TV using your card. Sling TV accounts are easy to create and may have been set up without your knowledge.
4
Review your streaming subscriptions
Check your device's app store subscription list (Apple, Google, Roku) to see if a Sling TV subscription is active there, as SLING* charges can originate from multiple platforms.
5
Contact your bank for details
If you still can't identify the SLING* charge, call your bank to get the full merchant descriptor and transaction date, which can help pinpoint exactly when the Sling TV billing originated.

How to Dispute a SLING* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the SLING* charge appearing on your statement. Act quickly to preserve your right to a full chargeback.
2
Contact Sling TV support first
Reach Sling TV's customer support at sling.com/help or via live chat. Resolving the SLING* charge directly with Sling TV is often faster than a bank dispute and may result in a quicker refund.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Sling TV does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer and report the SLING* charge as unauthorized. Provide any evidence, such as cancellation confirmations or lack of account activity.
4
Request a new card number
If the SLING* charge is confirmed fraudulent and you did not authorize a Sling TV account, ask your bank for a replacement card to prevent any further unauthorized charges.

Tips for Managing Sling TV Charges

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Enable billing alerts so you're notified every time a SLING* charge posts to your account.

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Review your Sling TV plan and add-ons monthly — extra packages are easy to forget and add up fast.

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Keep your Sling TV login credentials secure and check account access regularly for unfamiliar devices.

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Note your Sling TV billing renewal date to anticipate the SLING* charge and avoid surprise debits.

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Use a virtual card number for Sling TV subscriptions to easily block charges if needed.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges like SLING* ADDON or other streaming fees.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a SLING* charge is simply Sling TV's routine monthly billing for your live TV streaming subscription or an add-on package you may have forgotten about. Logging into your Sling TV account at sling.com will almost always explain the charge within seconds.