Bank statement charge
What is the FACEBK* charge on my bank statement?
Who charged you
Meta Facebook and Instagram ads, Meta Pay
FACEBK* is Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. The charge is usually for ads or boosted posts run from a Facebook Page, Instagram account or ad account with your card saved, or for a purchase paid with Meta Pay.
How it can show on a statement
FACEBK*FACEBK*[10-CHARACTER REFERENCE]FACEBOOK INC. [10-CHARACTER REFERENCE]FACEBOOK ADS
1 more way it shows
META PLATFORMS
Find out what it was
- 1
In Facebook, go to Settings & privacy, Settings, Accounts Center, Meta Pay, then Activity (or Settings, Payments, Activity) and match the amount and date.
- 2
On a computer, open Billing & payments in Meta Ads Manager, then Payment activity, choose Reference number and search for the 10-character reference number from your statement; some statements show only part of it.
- 3
Open the ad receipt there and read the billing reason to see whether it was a threshold charge, a monthly bill or ad costs since the last bill.
- 4
Check every Page, Instagram business account and ad account you manage or used to manage, including old ones that still have your card saved.
- 5
Search your inbox for Meta ad receipts and payment emails, which name the ad account.
- 6
Still a charge you did not agree to? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to Facebook, so you do not have to chase it yourself.
Not in any of your accounts? If nobody in your household made it, someone else may have used your card details. Your card issuer can stop the card, so the charges do not continue.
Why does it say “FACEBK*”?
Meta still bills ads under the old Facebook name, cut to FACEBK* or written as FACEBOOK INC., followed by a 10-character reference number that matches one ad transaction. Ad accounts paid by direct debit show FACEBOOK ADS instead.
A basic Facebook or Instagram account costs nothing, so a charge means something was advertised, bought or subscribed to through an account that has your card saved, such as Meta Verified or, in the UK, a subscription to use Facebook and Instagram without ads.
Why you might see this charge
- Ads or boosted posts from a Facebook Page, Instagram account or ad account with your card saved, billed when spending reaches a threshold or on a monthly billing date.
- A small temporary authorization to check a newly added card, which Meta voids straight away and which disappears within 3 to 5 business days.
- A purchase paid with Meta Pay on Facebook, Instagram or Messenger.
- A family member, friend or employee with access to your account or business Page bought something or ran ads.
- Someone else got into an ad account linked to your card and ran ads.
Is FACEBK* legit?
Yes. FACEBK* is how Meta bills Facebook and Instagram ads, and each genuine ad charge appears in the ad account's payment activity with the same reference number, though some statements show only part of it. Meta Pay purchases appear in the Meta Pay activity of your Facebook account.
Messages that claim to be from Meta and ask for card details to fix, verify or unlock an ad account are a common lookalike. Check payments in your own Facebook settings or Ads Manager, never through a link in a message.
What people told us about charges from Facebook
22 complaints about Facebook on Complain.biz are about a charge.
The morning of September 21st I had a notice from my credit card company that a charge of $250 originating from Meta Platforms had been declined.
Amazing how they didnt take a business page down for the same thing because they were able to cash in and take unauthorised money from my account and wasn't until we had to send endless emails they they have refunded the money.
Other charges people look up
| On your statement | Who charged you | What it usually is |
|---|---|---|
| ADOBE INC | Adobe | ADOBE INC is Adobe, the maker of Acrobat, Photoshop, Lightroom and Creative Cloud, sold mostly as subscriptions. |
| LEMSQZY* | Lemon Squeezy | LEMSQZY* is Lemon Squeezy, a Stripe company that sells software, courses and other digital products for the businesses… |
| BOLT.EU | Bolt | BOLT.EU is Bolt, the ride-hailing, scooter and food delivery app. |
| APPLE.COM/BILL | Apple | APPLE.COM/BILL is Apple, billing a purchase or subscription on an Apple Account. |
| PADDLE.NET* | Paddle | PADDLE.NET* is Paddle, a UK company that sells apps, software and AI tools on behalf of the companies that make them. |
| ALBERT GENIUS EDI PYMNTS | Albert | ALBERT GENIUS EDI PYMNTS is Albert, the budgeting, banking and cash advance app, taking money from your bank account… |
| TILT FKA EMPOWER | Tilt (formerly Empower) | TILT FKA EMPOWER is Tilt, the cash advance and credit app that used to be called Empower; FKA means formerly known as. |
| XSOLLA | Xsolla | XSOLLA is Xsolla, a payment company that game studios use to sell games, in-game currency and items on their own… |
Questions about FACEBK*
Why did Facebook charge my card?
Usually because ads or boosted posts ran from a Page or ad account with your card saved, or something was bought with Meta Pay. A basic account costs nothing, but subscriptions such as Meta Verified or, in the UK, Facebook and Instagram without ads are charged every month.
Why did Facebook charge me a small amount?
A small charge right after adding a card is usually a temporary authorization to check it. Meta voids it straight away, and it disappears within 3 to 5 business days.
What is META PLATFORMS on my statement?
Meta Platforms is the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, and some lines show its name for ads, Meta Pay purchases or apps and games bought for a Meta Quest headset. Find the amount in your Meta Pay or ad account payment activity, or in the purchase history of the Meta account used on the headset.
What if I did not agree to a FACEBK* charge?
File a complaint on Complain.biz. We write it with you and send it to Facebook, so you do not have to chase it yourself.
Based on
- Meta Business Help: Find your Meta ad charges on your credit card statement (FACEBK*, reference number, small authorizations)
- Meta Business Help: Find direct debit charges on your bank statement (FACEBOOK ADS)
- Facebook Help: Report an unrecognized Meta charge on your bank statement
- Meta Business Help: View your Facebook ad charges and payment history
- Meta Business Help: Troubleshoot unrecognized activity on your ad account
- Facebook Help: It does not cost money to use Facebook
- Meta Help: Report an unauthorized Meta Pay charge