credit card charge

Question

Why am I getting a monthly Microsoft 14 day trial charge on my credit card. It's for $31.64 every month and I have no idea why it's billed

Answer 1

A recurring monthly charge like this is almost always caused by an active Microsoft subscription with recurring billing turned on, even if it originally started as a “trial.” When the trial period ends, it converts to a paid subscription and the card on file is charged each billing period until recurring billing is turned off or the subscription is cancelled.

To find out exactly what this charge is for and stop it:

1. Investigate the charge in the Microsoft account
   • Go to the Manage your payments page of the Microsoft account dashboard and select Investigate next to the card being charged. This tool helps identify which subscription or purchase is generating the charge and whether it’s tied to your account or possibly a family member’s account.
   • Details and causes for unrecognized charges are described here, including:
     • A Microsoft subscription with recurring billing enabled.
     • Purchases made by someone you know using your card.
     • Previously declined charges that later succeeded.
     • In‑app or game purchases.
   • See: How to investigate a billing charge from Microsoft.
2. Check for duplicate or closely timed payments
   • If it looks like multiple similar charges, verify in your order history whether there are truly duplicate payments or just closely timed charges (for example, a late payment followed by the next on‑time payment).
   • Instructions to review order history and investigate other accounts using the same card are here: I've been charged twice.
3. Cancel or turn off recurring billing (if you can sign in)
   • Once the subscription causing the charge is identified, go to Services & subscriptions for that Microsoft account and either:
     • Turn off recurring billing, or
     • Cancel the subscription (if eligible under the subscription’s terms).
   • For Microsoft 365 business subscriptions, recurring billing is on by default when paid with a card; it must be turned off explicitly if you no longer want charges. See: Manage recurring billing in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
4. If you cannot access the account that’s being billed
   • If the subscription is tied to an account that cannot be accessed (for example, no credentials, no recovery info), Microsoft cannot cancel it without proper account access for security reasons.
   • In that case, the practical options are:
     • Work through Microsoft’s account recovery/legal ownership process if applicable, or
     • Ask the bank or card issuer to block future Microsoft subscription charges or issue a new card. This is the recommended route when the account cannot be accessed or identified, as described in similar scenarios where an elderly relative keeps being billed and no sign‑in is possible.
5. If the charge appears fraudulent
   • If the investigation tools and support cannot locate any matching subscription on any of the accounts that might be using the card, the bank/card issuer should be contacted to dispute the transaction as unauthorized and to block or replace the card.

Following these steps will identify what the “14 day trial” line item actually maps to (typically a Microsoft 365 or other subscription that auto‑renewed) and allow cancelling it or stopping further charges through the card issuer.

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References:

• How to investigate a billing charge from Microsoft
• I've been charged twice
• Manage recurring billing in the Microsoft 365 admin center
• Cancel a monthly charge on my visa credit card - Microsoft Q&A
• How to Cancel Microsoft 365 subscription if you do not have account info? Or get anyone to help? - Microsoft Q&A