How do I stop unwanted charges on my card?

Asked by: Granville Lehner  |  Last update: July 16, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (7 votes)

You may notify the bank in person, by telephone, or in writing. The bank should have provided you with information in your account agreement on how to notify it when you believe there is unauthorized use of your credit card.

Can I block a company from charging my card?

You can block a merchant from charging future payments to your card at any point. However, you should always contact the business first to cancel a recurring payment or subscription before contacting your card issuer.

How do I stop random charges on my card?

A: Contact your bank immediately if you suspect unauthorized transactions on your debit card. If the transaction was made using a debit card or other electronic fund transfers, you may have additional protections under federal law.

How do I get something to stop charging my card?

Contact Your Credit Card Issuer: Call the customer service number on the back of your card and explain the situation. They may be able to block future transactions from that specific company.

How do I block a transaction on my card?

Stopping a card payment

You can tell the card issuer by phone, email or letter. Your card issuer has no right to insist that you ask the company taking the payment first. They have to stop the payments if you ask them to. If you ask to stop a payment, the card issuer should investigate each case on its own merit.

Unauthorized Charges on your Debit Card? Here's what to do.

18 related questions found

How do I stop a payment from being taken from my debit card?

Call and write the company

Call the company and tell them you are taking away your permission for the company to take automatic payments out of your bank account. The company's customer service should be able to help you, and there might be an online form you can use. Then, follow up by writing a letter or an e-mail.

Can I tell my bank to block a transaction?

To stop payment, you need to notify your bank at least three business days before the transaction is scheduled to be made and your bank may charge a fee. The notice to stop the transaction may be made orally or in writing. A bank can require written confirmation of an oral stop payment request.

Can you block a recurring charge on your debit card?

Most automatic payments can be canceled by sending a simple request via email or a company's website. Alternatively, you can easily revoke authorization for these payments with your bank.

How do I unsubscribe from unwanted subscriptions?

Identify all your subscriptions. Check your credit card statements for recurring payments. One easy way to do this is use a subscription tracking tool, such as Rocket Money or OneMain Trim, which finds and then helps you cancel subscriptions you no longer want.

How do I stop spending on my card?

How can I start to reduce my credit card spending?
  1. Be honest with yourself about your finances. ...
  2. Create a realistic monthly budget. ...
  3. Tackle any high-interest credit cards first. ...
  4. Consider a debt consolidation loan. ...
  5. Transfer multiple credit card debts on to a single card. ...
  6. Cut down on unnecessary expenses.

How do I stop unwanted charges?

As soon as you see an unexpected charge, take action. Make sure you've cancelled unwanted subscriptions and free trial offers. If the company is taking too long to close your account, contact your card issuer to block the company from charging your credit card.

How did someone use my credit card without having it?

Credit card fraud occurs when someone uses your credit card to make purchases without your permission by impersonating you. Someone can use your credit card without physical access by stealing your credit card number through credit card skimming, shoulder surfing, phishing and hacking.

How do I get rid of a charge on my debit card?

Contact your bank or credit union to dispute the charge.

Let them know you want to dispute a debit card charge. Depending on where you bank, you may be able to start a dispute online, over the phone, or in writing. Regardless of how you contact your bank, make sure you keep detailed records of your communication.

Does freezing your card stop pending transactions?

In general, locking your debit card won't stop transactions that were made and authorized before you locked it but are still pending. In other words, if you made a purchase that's pending, then locked your debit card before it completed, that transaction should still go through.

How do I block a merchant on my card?

If the vendor in question continues to take money from your account despite your request that it stop, you'll need to get in touch with your card issuer and ask that they block the company from charging your credit card.

How do you get a company to stop charging you?

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, you should start this process by sending a letter to your bank and subscription company that revokes your payments. Alternatively, you can give your bank a stop payment order. This can be done in writing, over the phone, or in person.

How do I cancel all subscriptions on my card?

How To Stop Automatic Payments on a Credit Card? To stop a recurring payment on your credit card, contact the merchant and request they cancel your subscription. While your credit card issues cannot stop auto-renewal on the merchant's end, you can them to block any further charges from the merchant.

How do I block or unsubscribe?

Block or unblock an email address
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
  2. Open the message from the sender.
  3. At the top right of the message, tap More .
  4. Tap Block "{sender}" or Unblock "{sender}."

What is the app that cancels unwanted subscriptions?

Take Control Of Your Subscriptions

Never pay for an unwanted subscription again. Rocket Money instantly finds and tracks your subscriptions. Your concierge is there when you need them to cancel services so you don't have to.

Can I block a certain company from charging my card?

The most effective way to do this is by contacting your credit card issuer and requesting to block any future transactions from that specific company. You can also ask your credit card issuer to issue you a new card with a different number to prevent any further charges from the company in question.

How do I stop recurring payments on my card?

You need to contact the retailer to cancel a recurring card payment. You can raise a dispute if you've cancelled a recurring payment with the retailer, but they take another payment. You can do this by selecting the payment in your transaction and choosing 'Help with this transaction'.

How do I block someone from charging my debit card?

How can I stop a preauthorized debit from being paid from my checking account?
  1. contact the merchant in writing and revoke your authorization to charge your account;
  2. keep a copy of your notice revoking authorization to charge or obtain a cancellation number; and.

Can I block certain transactions on my debit card?

Yes, if you have the “Send Alerts” setting set to Preferred Transactions, you'll be able to block and unblock specific merchants or types of transactions.

How to stop debit card charges?

To ensure you steer clear of these charges, here are some invaluable tips to follow:
  1. Opt for a credit union or charge free bank. ...
  2. Choose the free of charge debit card. ...
  3. Monitor the balance in your account. ...
  4. Utilise the in network atms. ...
  5. Avoid the foreign transaction fees. ...
  6. Say no to overdraft protection.

How do I stop automatic payments on my debit card?

Contact Your Bank

When you contact the bank, let them know you want to "revoke authorization," meaning you don't want a specific company to automatically take money from your account anymore. Some banks might suggest sending a stop payment order.