What do I do if I’ve spotted a payment transaction I don’t recognise?
Whether you’re paying by card or online, there could be a number of explanations for a transaction you don’t immediately recognise.
Let’s take a look at the possibilities:
- Have you set up a Continuous Payment Authority as a recurring transaction on your account?
- Do you have a joint account? Could the other account holder have made the transaction?
- Have you signed an agreement, contract or a started a free trial with a retailer or broker, who’s then charged you for a service? Check the terms and conditions of any agreement you have with them
- Could it be a payment you’ve set up incorrectly in Online Banking? Check the bank you sent the payment to using your transaction history (you can identify it using the sort code) and ask them to look into whether your payment can be returned to you
- Is the amount on the receipt different to the amount on the statement? This could happen with overseas transactions as a result of changes in the exchange rate
- The retailer may have made a mistake in charging you – contact them directly to find out
- The company you made a payment to may have a different trading name. Our list may be able to help identify companies’ trading names and/or the services they provide.
Pending transactions
If you don’t recognise a transaction that’s showing as ‘pending’ in your Barclays Mobile Banking or Online Banking, under Visa’s regulations, we won’t be able to investigate it until it has been made and appears in your account activity. This is because there isn’t enough available information for an investigation while a transaction is pending.
If you still don't recognise the transaction, please get in touch. You can start a web chat, or call us using the ‘Direct Call’ button.
Mobile banking
If you still don't recognise the transaction, please get in touch. You can start a web chat, or call us using the ‘Direct Call’ button.
Common trading names
Don’t recognise a payment from your account? Our list may be able to help identify companies’ trading names and/or the services they provide.
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The name that appears on your statement
Their trading name or company name (if different) and service they provide GB Discounts An online membership programme that provides access to offers, discounts and vouchers for a fee. G I Ltd A UK betting shop, bingo and casino operator, with brands such as Coral and Gala Bingo. Global Personals They have a portfolio of thousands of online dating and social networking websites. Goldex Inv This is Goldex Investments, the largest Costa Coffee franchise that has stores in Kent, Surrey, Essex and Sussex. Grattan This is an online catalogue retailer specialising in fashion and home and garden products.
HomeLet
They are the UK's largest tenant referencing and specialist lettings insurance company. Home Retail Group A leading home and general merchandise retailer, with brands such as Argos and Homebase. Home Bargains
A discount retailer owned by TJ Morris. Hutchison 3G UK
Company name of Three Mobile. Kingfisher Group name for home retail brands B&Q and Screwfix. Knowhow
This is a technology service and support offering found within Currys and PC World. LBK This is Ladbrokes, a betting and gaming company. LeOR Skincare A beauty product offered by Avian Media LLP, initially on a free trial and then for a monthly fee Let’s Go Rewards An online membership programme that offers savings on cinemas, restaurants, concerts, shows and travel. There is an initial free trial and then a monthly fee. Littlewoods An online catalogue retailer that provides repayment options on its purchases. Live Career A CV support service with premium features. Loan Marketing An online loan broker that charges membership fees for its services. Loan Rocket An online loan broker that charges a one-off membership fee. Loan Spotter
An online loan broker that charges membership fees for its services. Lending Stream An online lender that charges fees if repayments are late. Lowell Group They provide businesses with debt recovery services.
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The name that appears on your statement
Their trading name or company name (if different) and service they provideMadBid.com An online auction site. Magnum Pay A payment service used by health supplement businesses. MBNA A credit card provider. Magnum Pay2Z Loans An online loan broker that charges a fee for finding loans for their customers. McAfee They provide anti-virus and internet safety software. Mobile Finder An online mobile phone broker that charges a one-off processing fee for securing you a phone contract. MoneyPlus Group
Purchased Clear View Finance in 2014 – one of the UK’s largest debt solutions companies. Mr Lender Trading name of PDL Finance Limited, an online short-term lender. My Credit Tracker They provide credit support services for a monthly fee. Netflix
Online streaming service for TV programmes and movies that charges a monthly fee. New Day They provide credit and store cards for many UK retailers, including Debenhams, House of Fraser, Laura Ashley, Wallis, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Harvey Nichols, Miss Selfridge, Outfit and Topshop/Topman. Norton Anti-virus and security software distributed by Symantec Corporation. Nutrajump An online retailer of health and beauty products. NWBS
Nationwide Building Society NW Card Services NatWest (Credit Card) Paddy Power An online betting website. Payday Express Trading name of Instant Cash Loans Ltd, providing online short term loans. Payday UK Trading name of Instant Cash Loans Ltd, providing online short term loans. PayPal An internet payment company. Payref.info They manage payment services for online dating websites. Pounds to Pocket An online loan provider. Premium Credit They provide individuals and businesses with loans to pay their insurance premiums. Quick Credit Score An online membership programme that provides access to your credit information for a monthly fee. Quick Quid An online loan provider. Rewards Now An online membership service providing retail discounts for a monthly fee. -
The name that appears on your statement
Their trading name or company name (if different) and service they provideShopperdisc Shopper Discounts & Rewards – an online savings programme offering discounts with online retailers for a membership fee. Sony Ent Network
Playstation accounts. Spotify Music streaming site available for a monthly subscription fee. Sunny An online lender that charges interest on a daily basis for its loans. TfL Transport for London. TicketMaster They provide tickets to theatre, concerts, sports event and more.
UK Credit An online lender that provides guarantor loans for a daily interest fee. Wage Day Advance An online loan provider. Wonga They provide short-term online loans to individuals and businesses.