monthly charge for what?

Metzidakis, Stamos 30 Reputation points
2025-11-15T15:30:16.19+00:00

I just got charged $2.17 from MS and I have no idea why. Help!

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For business

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AlexDN 11,440 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2025-11-19T03:45:22.0066667+00:00

Hi @Metzidakis, Stamos,
Thank you for following up. That monthly charge is almost always for the Microsoft 365 Basic plan (formerly OneDrive 100 GB) at $1.99/month plus tax. It includes 100 GB of storage and ad‑free Outlook.

To confirm and stop future charges:

  1. Sign in at account.microsoft.com > Services & subscriptions.
  2. Look for Microsoft 365 Basic and click Manage > Turn off recurring billing or Cancel.

If you don’t see it, try any other Microsoft account you may have used, or use the Investigate a charge tool as Stefan Blom's link suggested.

Could you also share the exact merchant description from your statement (e.g., MICROSOFT*SUBSCRIPTION)? That helps verify quickly.

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  1. Metzidakis, Stamos 30 Reputation points
    2025-11-18T17:38:15.4133333+00:00

    Hi Alex,

    The same charge of $2.17 occurred on Sept 12, Oct 12 and Nov. 11. It must be a subscription. But for what? I'm a retired professor from Washington University; use the same institutional address I've always used; and have a new computer. But I am not aware, nor recall why I would need to pay this admittedly very small monthly fee. Please help and thanks in advance. Stamos Metzidakis

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
  2. AlexDN 11,440 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-11-17T13:11:33.47+00:00

    Hi @Metzidakis, Stamos,
    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand that you noticed a $2.17 charge from Microsoft and aren’t sure why it happened.

    The $2.17 charge like this usually happen because of:

    A temporary card check when you added or updated your payment method (it often disappears in a few days).

    A small adjustment or tax for your Microsoft 365 subscription (for example, if you changed plans or moved from trial to paid).

    A small purchase from another Microsoft service (like Microsoft Store or Xbox) using the same card.
    To better assistance, could you please provide following information:

    1. What is the date of the charge?
    2. What does the description on your bank statement say (e.g., “MSFT*something”)?
    3. Are you using a personal Microsoft account or a work/school account?
    4. Did you recently add a card, start a trial, change your plan, or buy something from Microsoft Store or Xbox?
    5. Did anything change recently like added/updated a card, started or ended a trial, changed plans or seat count, or made any app/game purchases?
    6. Is this card used by anyone else (family member/colleague) for Microsoft services? Your detailed response will help us diagnose and investigate the issue more efficiently.

    If I misunderstood what you’re looking for, feel free to let me know or share a screenshot. I’d be happy to help further!

    Thank you for your cooperation. I'm looking forward for your reply

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  3. Stefan Blom 349.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-11-15T18:07:00.18+00:00

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  4. AI answer

    2025-11-15T15:31:26.8466667+00:00

    The charge of $2.17 you received from Microsoft could be due to several reasons related to your Microsoft 365 subscription. Here are some common factors that might explain this charge:

    1. Billing Frequency Changes: If you recently changed your billing frequency from monthly to annual, this could result in a charge. The default billing cycle for Microsoft 365 is monthly, and changing it can lead to charges on your account.
    2. Subscription Cancellations: If you canceled any paid subscriptions, you might receive a final bill reflecting any outstanding balance.
    3. Business Standard Subscription: If you are using a Business Standard subscription, there may be specific charges associated with it that could lead to this amount appearing on your bill.
    4. License Changes: If you added or removed licenses from your subscription, the associated charges would appear on your next invoice. Changes made mid-term are reflected in the following billing period.

    To understand the specific reason for this charge, you can:

    • Check your invoice in the Microsoft 365 admin center to see the details of the charges.
    • Review the service period and any changes made to your subscription during that time.
    • Contact Microsoft 365 Support for further clarification if needed.

    Understanding your invoice can help clarify why you received this charge and ensure that it aligns with your subscription usage.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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