Paid twice? Find out in one question.

How Sprout spots a possible duplicate charge

Sprout looks for charges that match on every detail that matters: the same merchant, the same amount, the same account, and the same posting date. When two or more transactions line up like that, they appear in your answer labeled as a possible duplicate, side by side, so you can compare the pair at a glance.

The rule is strict on purpose. Plenty of normal spending repeats, like two coffees on one morning or a parking meter you fed twice. Sprout shows the matches and leaves the call to you, because only you know whether you bought one concert ticket or two. If you suspect a pair that posted on different days, ask Sprout for every charge from that merchant and compare the dates.

Unusually large expenses, measured against your own normal

An unusual charge in Sprout is an expense far above what you usually spend per purchase in the period you asked about: roughly three times your typical purchase, and at least $100. A $1,180 flight stands out in a month of $40 grocery runs. So does an annual renewal you forgot was coming.

Because the bar comes from your own spending, the list adapts to you. Big doesn't mean wrong, and most flagged items will be purchases you remember. The value is in giving each one a second look instead of letting it vanish into a monthly total. Repeating charges and price increases get their own view in the subscription tracker.

• Travel bookings that dwarf a normal week of spending.
• Annual renewals for software, memberships, or insurance.
• One-off bills like a car repair or a vet visit.
• Charges you can't place, which deserve a closer look right away.

Items to review, never a fraud verdict

Sprout reads transactions and spots patterns. It can't see what you ordered, what the merchant promised, or whether a hold will drop off tomorrow. So every flag is a prompt to check, written in plain language, with the date, the account, and the merchant attached.

That restraint is useful. A false fraud alarm teaches you to ignore alarms, while a short list of charges worth a look, each with its receipts, takes about a minute to clear. When you can't place a charge at all, treat it seriously and contact your bank or card issuer.

What to do when you were double charged

Most double charges have a boring explanation, and the fix is usually quick. Work through these steps before you pick up the phone. Our guide to duplicate charges covers each cause in more detail, including how pending holds, split shipments, and retried payments look on a statement.

1. Check for a pending hold

   A pending authorization and the final charge can show up together for a few days. Hotels, gas stations, and car rentals often place holds that drop off on their own.

2. Match it to your receipts

   Look for an order confirmation, a second item, or a split shipment. Two charges from one order can be completely legitimate.

3. Ask the merchant first

   The merchant can see both orders and can often refund a true duplicate faster than a formal dispute.

4. Dispute it with your bank or card issuer

   If the merchant won't fix it, contact your bank or card issuer through their app or the number on your card. Dispute windows are limited, so act soon. Sprout can't file a dispute for you.

5. Confirm the refund landed

   A week later, ask Sprout "Did Bright Fitness refund me?" and it searches that merchant for the credit.

Duplicate, unusual, or just unfamiliar?

Three kinds of charges deserve a second look, and Sprout handles each one differently. Duplicates and unusual amounts are flagged when you ask. Unfamiliar charges need you, because a strange name on a statement is often a parent company or a payment processor. Search the merchant, the amount, or the date in Sprout, and the full history usually explains it.

Make the check part of your week

The best time to catch a duplicate is the week it posts, while you still remember the purchase. On iPhone, the daily Money Minute shows yesterday's spending next to your usual day along with your biggest purchase, so an odd line stands out fast. Once a month, a full money review with Sprout catches what slipped through.

Checking is safe because the connection is read-only. Sprout connects through Plaid, which runs your bank sign-in, so Sprout never sees or stores your password and can't move money. You choose which accounts a review covers, so it can look at just the business card or everything at once. More on the security page.