What is "AFTERPAY*" on my bank statement?
AFTERPAY* is a legitimate Afterpay charge tied to a purchase or installment payment, not usually a scam.
Merchant: Afterpay | Category: Financial Services
What Is This Charge?
A charge from Afterpay reflects a Buy Now Pay Later purchase or installment payment processed by Afterpay, a financial services company founded in 2014 in Australia. Afterpay is not a store, and the descriptor usually points to a payment plan tied to a retail purchase rather than a separate subscription. The company is part of Block, Inc., and it supports thousands of merchant partners across fashion, beauty, home goods, electronics, and other retail categories. A statement line that begins with AFTERPAY* usually means the charge came from an approved installment schedule, a late fee, or a payment adjustment.
Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement?
This charge appears when you choose Afterpay at checkout and authorize the first payment or a scheduled installment. It can also appear when Afterpay automatically drafts a payment from your linked debit card, credit card, or bank account on the due date. A second common trigger is a late fee or a partial payment adjustment after a missed installment. A third trigger is a refund reversal or order correction from a merchant that uses Afterpay as the payment method.
Typical Charge Amounts
Typical Afterpay charges are often split into four equal payments, such as $25.00 on a $100.00 purchase or $50.00 on a $200.00 purchase. Many first payments are 25% of the order total, and the remaining three payments are also 25% each. Late fees can be $8.00 per missed payment in some regions, and a failed-payment retry can create a second charge attempt for the same amount. Small test or authorization holds can also appear for $0.00, $1.00, or another low amount before the final installment posts.
Common Variations
AFTERPAY* AFTERPAY*123456 AFTERPAY* REF 987654 AFTERPAY*PAYMENT AFTERPAY*TXN AFTERPAY* 1234 AFTERPAY*ORDER 567890 AFTERPAY*INSTALMENT AFTERPAY*INSTALLMENT AFTERPAY*DUE 000123
Is This Charge Legitimate?
A legitimate Afterpay charge should match a purchase you made in the Afterpay app, on afterpay.com, or at a merchant checkout that offered Afterpay as a payment option. Start by opening the Afterpay app or signing in at https://www.afterpay.com and checking the order history, payment schedule, and linked card details. Compare the statement date, amount, and merchant name with the order confirmation email and SMS receipt. If the charge does not match any order, contact Afterpay support through the app help center or the website before assuming fraud.
How to Dispute or Cancel
1. Open the Afterpay app or log in at https://www.afterpay.com and find the order tied to the charge. 2. Review the payment schedule, refund status, and any late-fee notices before contacting support. 3. Contact Afterpay support through the Help Center on the website if the charge is wrong, duplicated, or tied to a canceled order. 4. If the merchant shipped the wrong item or never delivered the order, request a refund from the merchant first and keep the case number. 5. Call your bank or card issuer right away to dispute the charge if Afterpay cannot resolve it, because card-network chargeback deadlines can be short. 6. If you need to stop future payments, remove the linked card in the app after the dispute is filed and confirm whether any remaining installments are still due.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Afterpay charge show as AFTERPAY*123456?
AFTERPAY*123456 usually includes an order or reference number that helps identify the installment plan. The extra digits often match a specific purchase, payment attempt, or refund adjustment. Check the Afterpay app, the order confirmation email, and the merchant receipt to match the reference number to the transaction.
How do I cancel my Afterpay subscription?
Afterpay is not a subscription service, so there is usually nothing to cancel like a monthly membership. You can stop future charges by paying off the remaining installments, removing the linked payment method, and closing any active order only if support confirms it is eligible. Use the Afterpay app or https://www.afterpay.com to review active plans before taking action.
Why is my Afterpay charge a different amount than expected?
The amount can differ because Afterpay often splits the order into four payments, and the first payment may include tax, shipping, or a partial refund adjustment. A late fee can also make the posted amount higher than the original installment. In some cases, a failed payment retry or a temporary authorization hold can show a different amount before the final charge settles.
Can Afterpay charge me after I return an item?
Yes, Afterpay can still show a charge after a return if the merchant has not processed the refund yet. The refund usually appears after the store confirms the return and sends the credit back through Afterpay. Keep the return receipt, tracking number, and merchant case number until the refund posts.
What should I do if I do not recognize an Afterpay charge?
First check the Afterpay app and your email for an order confirmation that matches the amount and date. Next, verify whether a family member used your card for a purchase or installment plan. If you still do not recognize it, contact Afterpay support and then call your bank to dispute the charge and block the card if needed.
Similar Charges
- AFTERPAY*
- AFTERPAY*123456
- AFTERPAY* REF 987654
- AFTERPAY*PAYMENT
- AFTERPAY*TXN