Are You Being Charged €0.99, €1.99 or €4.99 Every Month and Don’t Know Why?
How to find out where these charges come from and what to do to stop them
One day I checked my bank account and noticed a €0.99 charge.
I had absolutely no idea what it was.
At first, I thought it might be something I had paid for and simply forgotten about. But when I started investigating, I discovered something even more confusing: I had downloaded something from one website, but the charges were appearing under the name of a completely different company.
Can you imagine my face?
And then came the second part of the story, getting them to stop charging me.
Let's just say it wasn't exactly easy. It took tears, frustration and more than one argument with a machine before I finally managed to cancel it.
Because there is something worth knowing: signing up can take just a few clicks. Cancelling can be a completely different story.
And I'm certainly not the only one.
Many people find small charges on their bank statements that they don't remember authorising. Sometimes they are subscriptions we forgot about. Other times they are automatic renewals, services we signed up for months or years ago, or charges whose name we don't recognise because the company shown on the bank statement isn't the one we remember.
And there is another possibility we should know about: small-scale fraud, sometimes called salami fraud or fraud by small amounts, where fraudulent charges are deliberately kept small enough to go unnoticed.
The good news is that we can investigate what is happening.
And today we also have something we didn't have a few years ago
artificial intelligence.
AI can't magically know who charged you, and it can't replace your bank or the company involved.
But it can help you investigate, understand what you are looking at, organise the information and work out what to do next.
Let's go through it step by step.
First of all: don't ignore a small charge
When we see a charge of €0.99, €1.99 or €4.99, it is very easy to think
“It's such a small amount. I'm not going to waste time on it.”
But precisely because it is small, it can go unnoticed.
€0.99 a month is €11.88 a year.
€4.99 a month is €59.88 a year.
And if the charge continues for several years, the total can become much more significant.
A small charge can also have very different explanations.
It could be a subscription you signed up for and forgot about.
It could be an automatic renewal.
It could appear under a name you don't recognise because the company shown on your bank statement is different from the brand you remember.
Or it could be a charge you never authorised.
So if you see a charge you don't recognise, even if it is only €0.99, investigate it.
How can these charges start appearing?
A free trial that turns into a paid subscription
Many services offer free trials for a few days or weeks.
To activate them, they may ask for your card details.
If you don't cancel within the specified period, the service may start charging you automatically.
The problem is that, after a few weeks or months, we may have completely forgotten about that free trial.
An app that looked free
You download an app because you need a particular feature.
It may appear to be free, but some features may require a subscription.
And if you accept the terms without checking exactly what you are signing up for, you can end up with a recurring charge you weren't expecting.
So here's a simple rule
Before entering your card details, check what you are paying, how much it costs and how often you will be charged.
One website but a different company appears on your bank statement
This is where things can become really confusing.
It happened to me.
I had downloaded something from one website, and later discovered that the name appearing on the charges belonged to a different company.
The name shown on your bank statement does not always exactly match the brand or website you remember.
It might be the name of the merchant, the payment processor or another company involved in the transaction.
So if you see something like
GOOGLE *SERVICES
PAYPAL *XXXX
AMAZON DIGITAL
or a company name you don't recognise
that doesn't automatically mean it is fraud.
But it doesn't mean you should ignore it either.
You need to investigate.
1. Check your bank statement first
Your bank statement is the first place to start.
Look for:
charges that repeat every month;
charges that repeat every year;
small amounts you don't recognise;
company names that aren't familiar to you.
Write down four things
amount + date + exact name + frequency
If the same charge appears every month, that's an important clue.
How can I use AI at this stage?
You can copy only the description of the charge, without including your full card number, bank account number, passwords, security codes or other sensitive information.
For example:
“My bank statement shows a €0.99 charge with the description ‘XXXXXX’. I don't recognise this name. What could it be, and what should I check to find out where it came from?”
The AI responds
AI may explain what the description could mean, whether it appears to be related to a merchant, payment processor or another type of service, and suggest where to look next.
But there is something very important to remember:
AI cannot confirm by itself exactly who charged you.
It can give you clues, but you still need to verify them.
What do I do next?
Compare the date and amount with your purchases, check your email and look at the subscriptions on your phone.
2. Search your email
When we sign up for a service, we will usually receive some kind of confirmation, invoice or renewal notification.
Search for words such as:
subscription
renewal
invoice
payment
receipt
free trial
cancellation
You can also search for the exact name shown on your bank statement.
And this may reveal another clue that helps explain why the company shown on your bank statement isn't the one you remember.
How can I use AI at this stage?
If you use an AI tool that has authorised access to your email, you can ask it to help locate messages related to subscriptions.
For example:
“Search my emails from the last two years for messages related to subscriptions, renewals and recurring payments. Make me a list with the service name, date and amount.”
The AI responds
It can locate and organise relevant messages, making it easier to match them with the charges on your bank statement.
If your AI doesn't have access to your email, of course it won't be able to search it.
In that case, you can search manually or provide the AI with the information you want it to analyse.
What do I do next?
Compare the emails you find with the charges on your bank statement.
If you find a match, you have probably identified the service.
If you don't find anything, keep going.
3. Check your phone subscriptions
Many subscriptions are purchased directly through your phone.
If you have an iPhone
Go to:
Settings → your name → Subscriptions
There you can check the subscriptions associated with your Apple account.
If you have an Android phone
Go to:
Google Play → your profile picture or initial → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
There you can check subscriptions managed through Google Play.
But remember:
If a subscription doesn't appear there, that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist.
It may have been purchased directly through the company's website.
How can I use AI at this stage?
If you find a subscription you don't remember signing up for, you can ask:
“I found this subscription on my phone. Explain what the price means, when I will be charged again and how I can cancel it.”
If you don't understand a screen, you can also take a screenshot, covering any personal information, and ask:
“I don't understand this screen. Explain what I am agreeing to and whether there is an automatic renewal.”
The AI responds
It can translate complicated information into plain language and help you understand:
how much it costs;
when it renews;
what period you are paying for;
and where you need to go to cancel it.
What do I do next?
If you now know what the service is and you don't want it, it's time to cancel it.
4. Now comes the fun part: cancelling
Well, fun for them. Not always for us.
Signing up can take just a few clicks.
Cancelling can mean going through menus, searching for hidden options, dealing with automated assistants and answering questions before you finally reach the end.
And if you can't find the cancellation option, your patience can quickly run out.
So if you find yourself going around in circles in front of a machine and wondering whether you're the one who can't figure it out, remember that it isn't necessarily you.
First, check where you originally signed up.
If you signed up on a website
Log into your account and look for:
My Account / Profile → Settings → Subscription / Billing / Payments
Look for the cancellation option.
And when you finish:
save the confirmation.
If you signed up through Apple
Go to:
Settings → your name → Subscriptions
Select the subscription and cancel it.
If you signed up through Google Play
Go to:
Google Play → your profile picture → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
Select the subscription and cancel it.
How can I use AI if I can't find how to cancel?
This is where AI can be particularly useful.
You can take a screenshot of the screen you're looking at, cover any personal information, and ask:
“I'm trying to cancel this subscription and this is the screen I see. Where do I need to click and what steps should I follow?”
The AI responds
It can explain what you are seeing on the screen and guide you towards the cancellation option.
If the company keeps sending you from one page to another, you can copy the instructions and ask:
“I've followed these steps and reached this point, but I can't find the cancellation option. What should I do now?”
And what if I still can't cancel?
Then move on to the next step: contact the company in writing and keep evidence of everything.
5. What if I still can't cancel the subscription?
This is where things can become really frustrating.
You can try contacting the company, but that isn't always the easiest solution.
Sometimes you end up talking to an automated assistant that sends you from one place to another.
Or you send an email explaining the problem and receive a very polite message saying:
“We have received your request. We will review it and get back to you.”
And then nobody gets back to you.
Sometimes they don't even reply.
So if you can't cancel the subscription through the website, app or platform where you purchased it, keep a written record of what you are trying to do and save the evidence.
Keep:
screenshots;
emails you have sent;
replies you have received;
dates;
reference numbers;
and any screen showing that you tried to cancel.
How can AI help me at this stage?
Tell it exactly what happened:
“I'm trying to cancel a subscription. I've followed these steps and I can't find the cancellation option. I contacted the company and this is what they replied: [paste the reply]. What options do I have now and what should I do?”
The AI responds
It can help you understand the company's response and organise the next steps.
You can also ask it to prepare a complaint:
“I want to make a complaint because I've tried to cancel this subscription and I haven't been able to. These are the steps I've taken and these are the replies I've received. Help me write a clear and firm complaint.”
And if they still don't solve it?
Then you can make a formal complaint through the appropriate channel, depending on the situation.
For example, this might mean the company's formal complaints procedure, a consumer protection service or, where appropriate, your bank.
AI can help you prepare the text and organise your evidence, but always check where the complaint should officially be submitted.
And one important thing:
Don't delete the emails or screenshots, even if you eventually manage to cancel.
You never know when you might need them.
6. What if I really didn't authorise the charge?
There is an important difference between:
“I signed up for a subscription and forgot to cancel it.”
and:
“I don't recognise this payment and I never authorised it.”
If you genuinely don't recognise the charge, contact your bank and explain what happened.
Ask what procedure they use to report an unauthorised payment and what documentation they need.
The bank will assess the situation and explain what options are available.
And if you suspect your card details have been compromised, ask the bank what steps you should take to prevent further charges.
7. What if the company doesn't let me cancel?
If you have tried to cancel the subscription and the company doesn't respond, keeps charging you or doesn't provide a clear way to cancel, make your complaint in writing and keep a copy.
First, complain directly to the company through its customer service department, complaints form or official email address.
Keep:
screenshots;
emails you have sent;
replies you have received;
dates;
reference numbers;
proof that you tried to cancel;
and any confirmation you received.
How can AI help me?
Tell it exactly what happened:
“I have tried several times to cancel this subscription.
These are the steps I followed and these are the responses I received.
Help me write a clear and firm complaint requesting cancellation and explaining what happened.”
The AI responds
AI can help you organise the facts and prepare the complaint in a clear way.
You should then read it carefully and check all the information before sending it.
Save the complaint, proof that you sent it, any replies and all your screenshots.
What if the company still doesn't respond?
That depends on the situation.
If the problem involves a Spanish company, you can contact the relevant consumer protection service in your region or local authority.
If the company is based in another EU country, Iceland, Norway or the United Kingdom, the European Consumer Centre in your country may be able to help, provided you have first complained to the company in writing.
If the problem is with your bank or with a payment made through your bank, complain to the bank first. If you are not satisfied with its response, or it does not respond within the applicable deadline, you can escalate the complaint to the relevant financial complaints authority.
If you believe you are dealing with fraud, don't treat it simply as a consumer complaint. Contact your bank as soon as possible and, depending on the circumstances, report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
And where should I complain?
This is another situation where AI can help you find the right starting point.
You can ask:
“I live in Spain and this company is based in [country].
I have tried to cancel my subscription and they continue charging me.
Where should I make an official complaint and what documents should I keep?”
The AI responds
It can help you identify the appropriate organisation and explain the steps you need to follow.
But always check the information on the official website of the organisation before submitting your complaint.
8. My trick for online shopping: a card that is always at zero
And here's something I have been doing for quite a while.
For certain online purchases, I use a prepaid card that I always keep at zero.
I don't keep money sitting on it.
If I'm going to buy something that costs €30, I load the amount I need, make the purchase and then leave the card at zero again.
For me, it works like a little digital wallet:
load → buy → back to zero.
Why?
Precisely so I don't have money permanently available on that card if an app or service later tries to charge me €0.99, €1.99 or another amount I wasn't expecting.
This is not an absolute guarantee and it doesn't prevent every type of fraud.
But it limits the amount of money available on that particular card.
And, most importantly, I don't leave money on it between purchases.
How can AI help me choose this type of card?
You can ask:
“I want a prepaid card for online shopping that I can keep at zero and top up only when I'm going to make a purchase. What features should I compare before choosing one?”
The AI responds
It should help you understand the difference between:
a prepaid card;
a debit card;
a credit card;
a virtual card;
and a virtual prepaid card.
It can also tell you what features to compare.
What should I check?
Before choosing one, check:
that it really is prepaid;
how you add money to it;
whether you can leave it at zero;
whether there are fees;
top-up limits;
whether it can be used for online purchases;
and whether it works with the types of payments you want to make.
Important: a virtual card is not necessarily a prepaid card.
A virtual card may be directly linked to your regular bank account.
If you're looking for this additional layer of protection, make sure the card is specifically prepaid.
Where can I get a prepaid card?
In Spain, there are different options offered by banks, financial institutions and other payment service providers.
Some are physical cards and others work entirely as virtual cards.
Conditions vary, so always check:
fees, how you top it up, limits and what types of purchases it can be used for.
The point isn't to recommend one particular provider.
The point is to understand what type of product you are looking for.
9. And there is something else you can do before paying
So far, we've used AI to investigate a problem that has already happened.
But we can also use it before the problem happens.
Imagine you are looking at an offer that says:
“Free trial for 7 days.”
And it asks you to enter your card details.
You can take a screenshot of the terms, without showing personal information, and ask the AI:
“Explain these terms as if I knew nothing about subscriptions.
How much am I going to pay now?
When will I be charged afterwards?
Is there an automatic renewal? How can I cancel it?”
The AI responds
It can translate the terms into much simpler language and highlight things you may not have noticed.
And here's the rule
If you don't know how much you will pay, when you will be charged and how you can cancel, stop before entering your card details.
There is nothing wrong with taking five extra minutes.
Five habits that can save you a lot of trouble
Check your bank account once a month.
Don't ignore a small charge you don't recognise.
Before accepting a free trial, check what happens when it ends.
Save cancellation confirmations.
For certain online purchases, consider using a prepaid card that you keep at zero.
And one more:
If you don't understand something you are about to accept, ask AI before clicking “Accept”.
If all of this seems complicated
That's okay.
Nobody is born knowing how subscriptions, recurring payments or cards work.
You can ask a family member or friend for help, contact your bank or consumer protection services, or ask someone to guide you through the process.
You can also use AI as a copilot:
first to understand the charge, then to look for clues, then to understand the terms and finally to help you prepare a cancellation request or complaint.
But always check the information.
AI helps. You decide and you confirm.
Questions we asked AI
If I delete an app, will I stop paying?
The AI responds
Not necessarily.
Deleting an app from your phone does not usually cancel a subscription.
You need to cancel it through the place where you originally signed up: Apple, Google Play or the company's website.
Does a €0.99 charge mean I've been scammed?
The AI responds
Not necessarily.
It could be a subscription, a renewal, a merchant whose name you don't recognise or a charge you never authorised.
The important thing is to investigate where it came from.
Why does a company I don't recognise appear on my bank statement?
The AI responds
The name shown on your bank statement may not match the brand you remember.
It could be the name of the merchant, payment processor or another company involved in the transaction.
That's why it is worth comparing the charge with your emails, purchases and subscriptions.
Can my bank give me my money back?
The AI responds
It depends on the circumstances and the type of transaction.
A subscription you signed up for and forgot to cancel is not the same as a payment you never authorised.
If you don't recognise the payment, contact your bank and ask what procedure you should follow.
Does a prepaid card prevent these charges?
The AI responds
It is not an absolute guarantee.
However, if you keep the card at zero and only load it when you are going to make a purchase, you reduce the amount of money available on that card for possible later charges.
Can I always trust what AI tells me about a charge?
The AI responds
No.
AI can help you interpret information and suggest where to look, but it cannot confirm by itself that a particular charge belongs to a specific company.
When money, payments or complaints are involved, always verify the information with the company or your bank.
In summary
A €0.99 charge may seem insignificant.
But if you don't know where it came from, don't ignore it.
Start by checking your bank statement. Then look through your email and check the subscriptions on your phone. If the name doesn't look familiar, investigate before jumping to conclusions.
And use AI for what it is: a tool that can help you investigate, understand and organise the problem.
You can also use it before signing up for something, to understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
And when it is time to cancel, keep the evidence.
Because signing up can be very easy.
Cancelling isn't always so easy.
And if you make certain online purchases using a prepaid card that you keep at zero, you can create an additional barrier between those purchases and the money in your regular bank account.
Because €0.99 may seem like nothing.
Until you realise you've been paying it for months for something you don't even use.
If you think this might help someone, feel free to share it.
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