What is "CRITERION" on my bank statement?

CRITERION is a legitimate Criterion Channel streaming charge for classic and curated films.

Merchant: Criterion Channel | Category: Streaming

What Is This Charge?

A charge from Criterion Channel reflects a subscription purchase at Criterion Channel, the film streaming service from The Criterion Collection, which was founded in 1984 and is known for curated classic, international, and art-house films. Criterion Channel is an online streaming service, so it does not have physical store locations. The charge usually means you started a monthly or annual plan, renewed an active subscription, or completed a free-trial conversion to paid billing. It is a legitimate entertainment charge when it matches a signup or renewal you made on the Criterion Channel website or app.

Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement?

This charge appears when a subscription renews automatically after the billing cycle ends. It can also appear when you start a free trial and the trial converts to paid service on the next billing date. A second common trigger is a family member or shared household account using the same payment card to activate the service. If you see a descriptor like CRITERION*CHANNEL or CRITERION CHNL, the charge still usually points to the same streaming subscription.

Typical Charge Amounts

Criterion Channel has commonly billed around $10.99 per month for a monthly plan and around $99.99 per year for an annual plan. Some card issuers may show a pending authorization hold for $0.00, $1.00, or a small temporary verification amount before the final charge posts. The final posted amount should match the plan you selected unless taxes are added in your state or country. If the amount is much higher than $10.99 or $99.99, check whether you have more than one active account or a duplicate renewal.

Common Variations

Common descriptor variations include CRITERION, CRITERION CHANNEL, CRITERION*CHANNEL, and CRITERION CHNL. Some bank systems also shorten the name to CRITERIONCHANNEL or add punctuation such as CRITERION-CHANNEL. The merchant is typically identified by the same core name even when the statement truncates the text. If your bank shows a merchant location field, it may be blank because this is a digital subscription.

Is This Charge Legitimate?

This charge is usually legitimate if you signed up for Criterion Channel, started a trial, or renewed a subscription. First, log in to your account at https://www.criterionchannel.com and review your billing history, plan type, and renewal date. Second, check the email address tied to the account for a receipt or renewal notice from Criterion Channel. Third, compare the statement date and amount with the account activity shown in your subscription settings. If you still do not recognize the charge, contact Criterion Channel support through the help or contact page on the website and ask them to identify the transaction.

How to Dispute or Cancel

To cancel, sign in to your Criterion Channel account, open account or subscription settings, and turn off auto-renew before the next billing date. If you subscribed through Apple App Store or Google Play, cancel in the Apple Subscriptions screen or the Google Play Subscriptions menu instead of the Criterion website. If you need help identifying the charge, use the support options at https://www.criterionchannel.com and keep your receipt email, statement date, and last four digits of the card ready. If the charge is unauthorized, file a dispute with your bank or card issuer right away while you also cancel the subscription so no future renewal posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Criterion charge show as CRITERION*CHANNEL?

CRITERION*CHANNEL is a normal card descriptor for a Criterion Channel subscription. Banks often add an asterisk, shorten the name, or remove spaces when they format digital merchant names. The charge usually matches a monthly renewal, annual renewal, or free-trial conversion from the Criterion Channel streaming service.

How do I cancel my Criterion Channel subscription?

Cancel by signing in at https://www.criterionchannel.com and opening your account or subscription settings. Turn off auto-renew before the next billing date, then save the confirmation email or screenshot. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel in the App Store or Google Play subscription settings instead of the Criterion website.

Why is my Criterion charge a different amount than expected?

A Criterion charge can differ if you switched from monthly to annual billing, if sales tax was added, or if a temporary authorization hold posted before the final charge. Monthly billing has commonly been about $10.99, while annual billing has commonly been about $99.99. If the amount is far outside those figures, check for duplicate accounts or a second renewal on another email address.

Does Criterion Channel offer a free trial?

Criterion Channel has offered promotional trials at different times, and a trial can convert to a paid subscription if you do not cancel before the end date. If you see a charge after a trial, check the renewal email and the billing date in your account. The posted amount usually matches the plan you selected when the trial started.

What should I do if I do not recognize a Criterion charge?

First, search your email for receipts from Criterion Channel and review any account linked to your card. Second, log in at https://www.criterionchannel.com and check active subscriptions, renewal dates, and payment history. Third, contact your bank to dispute the charge if the transaction is unauthorized and you cannot match it to a valid subscription.

Similar Charges

  • CRITERION
  • CRITERION CHANNEL
  • CRITERION*CHANNEL
  • CRITERION CHNL
  • CRITERIONCHANNEL

Related Charges

Helpful Guides