PHILO Charge on Your Bank Statement — What It Is & How to Get a Refund

What Is a PHILO TV Charge on Your Bank Statement?

If you see "PHILO TV" or "PHILO" on your credit card or bank statement, it represents a subscription to Philo, a live TV streaming service that offers an affordable alternative to traditional cable and more expensive streaming platforms. Launched in 2017, Philo provides access to 70+ popular entertainment, lifestyle, and news channels for a flat monthly rate of $28, making it one of the most budget-friendly live TV streaming options in the U.S.

Unlike services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, Philo does not include sports channels or local broadcast networks, which helps keep the price low. The service is popular among cord-cutters who want access to popular cable channels without the high cost or commitment of traditional cable subscriptions.

What Is Philo?

Philo is a subscription-based streaming service that delivers live and on-demand TV over the internet. Key features include:

• 70+ channels: AMC, HGTV, Food Network, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Discovery, TLC, Nickelodeon, BET, Lifetime, History Channel, and more.
• Unlimited DVR: Record as many shows as you want and keep them for up to 1 year.
• On-demand content: Access thousands of movies and TV shows on demand.
• Multiple streams: Watch on up to 3 devices simultaneously.
• No contracts: Cancel anytime without penalty.
• 7-day free trial: New users can test the service for free.

Philo is available on web browsers, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and select smart TVs.

Philo Pricing

Philo currently offers one main plan:

• Philo Plus: $28/month for 70+ channels, unlimited DVR, and 3 simultaneous streams.

Philo occasionally offers promotional pricing for new users (e.g., discounted first month). Some legacy customers may still be on older pricing tiers ($25/month), but new subscribers pay $28/month as of 2024.

There are no hidden fees, equipment rentals, or additional charges—the $28 monthly subscription is all-inclusive.

Common Reasons for PHILO TV Charges

Monthly Subscription Renewals

The most common reason for a PHILO TV charge is the monthly subscription fee. Philo bills on the same date each month (the date you originally subscribed or completed your free trial). For example, if you signed up on the 15th of the month, you'll be charged on the 15th every month thereafter.

Philo subscriptions auto-renew unless you manually cancel, so if you see a recurring $28 charge, it's the standard monthly billing cycle.

Free Trial Auto-Conversion

Philo offers a 7-day free trial for new users. During the trial, you can watch all channels and use all features without charge. However, you must provide payment information when signing up, and the trial automatically converts to a paid subscription after 7 days unless you cancel.

Many users forget to cancel the trial, and the first $28 charge appears on their statement 7 days after signing up. Philo sends email reminders before the trial ends, but these can be overlooked or filtered to spam.

Reactivation After Cancellation

If you previously canceled Philo but see a new charge, you (or someone with access to your account) may have reactivated the subscription. This can happen if you:

• Logged back into Philo and clicked "Restart Subscription"
• Signed up again using the same email or payment method
• Accidentally reactivated during a promotional email or offer

Check your Philo account to see if the subscription is active.

Failed Payment Retry

If your payment method was declined during a previous billing cycle (due to insufficient funds, expired card, or bank security holds), Philo may retry the charge a few days later. You might see a charge appear later than expected if this occurs.

How to Verify a PHILO TV Charge

If you see a PHILO TV charge but don't immediately recognize it:

1. Log in to your Philo account: Go to philo.com and sign in. Click the gear icon (Settings) and select "Subscription" to see your billing status, next billing date, and payment method.
2. Check your email: Philo sends email receipts for every charge. Search your inbox (and spam folder) for "Philo" or "invoice" to find payment confirmations.
3. Review your bank statement details: Your statement may include the charge date, which can help you match it to your Philo billing cycle.
4. Ask household members: If you share a payment card with family or roommates, someone else may have signed up for or reactivated Philo.
5. Contact Philo support: Call 1-855-274-4456 or email help@philo.com with the charge date and amount. They can look up your account and provide transaction details.

What If You Don't Recognize the Charge?

Forgotten Subscriptions

Streaming service subscriptions are easy to forget, especially if you signed up during a free trial or promotional period. You may have tried Philo months ago, forgotten to cancel, and are now seeing recurring charges. Check your Philo account to verify if a subscription is active.

Shared Payment Methods

If you share a credit card or bank account with a partner, roommate, or family member, they may have subscribed to Philo without telling you. Ask anyone with access to your payment information.

Unauthorized or Fraudulent Charges

If you're certain you didn't subscribe and no one in your household did either, the charge may be unauthorized. This can occur if:

• Your Philo account was compromised (someone accessed your login and reactivated the subscription).
• Your payment card information was stolen and used to create a Philo account.
• A fraudster signed up for Philo using your details.

Steps to take for unauthorized charges:

1. Contact Philo support immediately: Call 1-855-274-4456 or email help@philo.com. Report the unauthorized charge and request account details (email address associated with the subscription).
2. Secure your Philo account: If you have a Philo account, change your password immediately and log out of all devices.
3. Contact your bank or credit card issuer: Report the charge as unauthorized and request a new card.
4. File a dispute: Your bank will guide you through the chargeback process to recover the funds.
5. Monitor your accounts: Check for other unauthorized activity on your Philo account and financial accounts.

How to Cancel Your Philo Subscription

To stop future PHILO TV charges, you need to cancel your subscription:

Via Web Browser

1. Go to philo.com and sign in.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Subscription.
4. Click Cancel Subscription.
5. Confirm the cancellation. You'll retain access until the end of your current billing period.

Via Mobile App

1. Open the Philo app on your iOS or Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon, then Settings.
3. Select Subscription.
4. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.

Once canceled, you won't be charged for the next billing cycle, but you can continue watching until the end of the period you've already paid for.

Refund Policy

Philo does not offer refunds for partial billing cycles. If you cancel mid-month, you retain access until the end of your paid period, but you won't receive a prorated refund for unused days.

However, if you believe you were charged in error (e.g., duplicate charge, billing after cancellation, unauthorized charge), contact Philo support:

• Phone: 1-855-274-4456
• Email: help@philo.com
• Support site: help.philo.com

Philo's support team is generally responsive and may issue refunds on a case-by-case basis for billing errors or technical issues.

Preventing Unexpected Charges

• Set calendar reminders: If you sign up for a free trial, add a reminder to cancel before the trial ends (6 days after signup).
• Monitor your subscription: Regularly check your Philo account settings to review your billing status and next charge date.
• Enable email notifications: Make sure billing emails from Philo aren't filtered to spam so you receive payment confirmations.
• Use virtual cards: Services like Privacy.com allow you to create virtual credit cards with spending limits or automatic expiration dates, preventing unwanted renewals.
• Review bank statements: Check your credit card and bank statements weekly to catch unexpected charges early.

Why Charges May Appear Under Different Descriptors

Depending on your payment processor and region, PHILO TV charges may appear under slight variations:

• PHILO TV
• PHILO
• PHILO.COM
• PHILO INC
• PHILO STREAMING

All of these indicate a legitimate Philo subscription charge. The specific descriptor depends on how Philo processes payments through its billing partner.

Contacting Philo Support

For billing questions, cancellation assistance, or refund requests:

• Phone: 1-855-274-4456 (available 7 days/week)
• Email: help@philo.com
• Support site: help.philo.com
• Live chat: Available through the Philo website (bottom-right corner)
• Social media: @philo on Twitter for general inquiries

Philo's customer support is known for being helpful and responsive, particularly with billing and account issues.

Final Thoughts

A PHILO TV charge on your bank statement almost always represents a monthly subscription to Philo's live TV streaming service, which costs $28/month. By logging into your Philo account and reviewing your subscription settings, you can quickly verify the charge and cancel if needed. Philo does not offer refunds for partial billing cycles, but you retain access until the end of your paid period. If the charge is unauthorized, contact Philo support and your bank immediately to resolve the issue and secure your account.