What is DecodeMyCharge?

The problem we solve
Banks and payment processors are required to include a merchant reference on every transaction — but those references are truncated to 25 characters, stripped of spaces, and often routed through billing entities that bear no resemblance to the brand you actually bought from. The result is a statement full of codes like AMZN MKTP US*2K8J9, NF*NETFLIX.COM, and ADB*ADOBE INC — none of which tell you what you actually bought or who charged you.

What we do
DecodeMyCharge translates those codes into plain English. We maintain a library of researched explanations for the most common charges people encounter — covering everything from streaming subscriptions and food delivery to buy-now-pay-later services and digital marketplaces. For charges not in our library, our AI-powered decoder analyses the code and returns an instant explanation.

How we research charges
Every charge page on this site is written based on real billing data, merchant documentation, and the patterns that appear most frequently in UK bank statements. We cross-reference payment codes against known merchant identifiers and verify explanations against official sources where possible. Pages are updated when billing practices change.

Who this is for
Anyone who has looked at their bank statement and not recognised a charge. That includes people who share accounts with family members, people who signed up for a free trial they forgot about, and people who suspect they may be the victim of fraud. DecodeMyCharge helps you identify what something is before you take action — so you can decide whether to investigate further, cancel a subscription, or contact your bank.

What we are not
We are not a bank, a financial adviser, or a fraud investigation service. The information on this site is for identification and guidance purposes only. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank directly.

Our principles
The site is free to use and always will be. We do not require an account. We do not store the charge strings you enter. We do not sell data. Ads are displayed to keep the service running — you can read our full privacy policy for details on how data is handled.