Bank statement charge
What is WL *STEAM PURCHASE on my bank statement?
Who charged you
Steam Valve's PC game store
WL *STEAM PURCHASE or STEAM PURCHASE is Steam, the PC game store run by Valve. The charge is a game, downloadable content (DLC), in-game items or currency, or Steam Wallet funds bought on a Steam account.
How it can show on a statement
STEAM PURCHASEWL *STEAM PURCHASESTEAM PURCHASE SEATTLE WASTEAMGAMES.COM
6 more ways it shows
STEAMGAMES.COM [phone number] GBRSTEAM GAMESSTEAMPOWERED.COMVALVE SOFTWAREVALVE GMBH HAMBURGSTEAMGAMES.COM [NUMBER] WA
Find out what it was
- 1
In the Steam app or on the Steam site, click your account name at the top right, then Account Details, then View purchase history, and match the date and amount.
- 2
Check the purchase history of every Steam account in the household, including children's accounts in your Steam Family.
- 3
Search every inbox for Steam purchase receipts, which name the game or item and the account.
- 4
If the statement mentions PayPal, find the Steam payment in your PayPal activity to see the date and invoice number.
- 5
Compare the statement amount with the Steam total; bank fees, taxes or currency conversion can make them differ.
- 6
Still a charge you did not agree to? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to Steam, 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 “STEAM PURCHASE”?
Steam does not print the game's name, so statements show a generic STEAM PURCHASE line, Steam's web name (STEAMGAMES.COM or STEAMPOWERED.COM) or Valve's company name (VALVE SOFTWARE, or VALVE GMBH HAMBURG on some UK and European cards), sometimes with Seattle, Bellevue or a number added.
Some cards show WL * in front of STEAM PURCHASE. Steam's own pages do not explain those letters, but the rest of the line is the same Steam purchase label.
Why you might see this charge
- A game, DLC or in-game item bought on a Steam account that has your card saved, often by someone else in the household.
- In-game purchases in Steam games, such as skins, passes or currency, each charged separately.
- An adult in a Steam Family approved a child's purchase request and paid with their own payment method.
- Steam Wallet funds added to an account, to be spent later on games or items.
- A purchase that showed as pending and then posted, which can make one purchase look like two for a few days.
- An online game's own subscription renewing; Steam itself has no recurring or monthly fees.
Is STEAM PURCHASE legit?
Yes, when it matches a purchase. Steam charges are for games, DLC, in-game items and Wallet funds, and Valve has no recurring or monthly fees unless an online game sells its own subscription.
Messages that use Steam's name to ask for your login or card details, for example to unlock an account or claim a gift, are not from Steam. Check purchases in your own Steam account, never through a link in a message.
What people told us about charges from Steam
2 complaints about Steam on Complain.biz are about a charge.
My bank statement shows a charge from “STEAM PURCHASE”.
Other charges people look up
| On your statement | Who charged you | What it usually is |
|---|---|---|
| SOLIDGATE | Solidgate | SOLIDGATE, SOLIDGATE LLC or SOLIDGATE.COM means you paid an online business, often an app or subscription service… |
| FACEBK* | FACEBK* is Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. | |
| 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… |
Questions about STEAM PURCHASE
What is WL *STEAM PURCHASE?
It is a Steam purchase with WL * in front, which shows on some cards. Look for the same date and amount in your Steam purchase history.
Why is my Steam purchase pending but charged?
A pending line is an authorization that either becomes the final charge or drops off, so for a few days one purchase can show twice. Your Steam purchase history shows whether the purchase went through.
What is STEAMGAMES.COM on my statement?
It is Steam's web name, used on charges for games, DLC, in-game items and Wallet funds, sometimes followed by a number and a country or state. Match the date and amount in your Steam purchase history.
What if I did not agree to a STEAM PURCHASE charge?
File a complaint on Complain.biz. We write it with you and send it to Steam, so you do not have to chase it yourself.
Based on
- Steam Support: Unrecognized Charges
- Steam Support: Steam Families (purchase requests)
- Emma: how Steam appears on bank statements
- Valve Corporation (Wikipedia): headquarters in Bellevue, Washington
- Steam Community: WL Steam Purchases Fraud thread
- Reddit r/Steam: Purchase Original Sale, Pending WL *STEAM PURCHASE