App enables consumers to challenge wrong charges immediately

The BillGuard app alerts users to suspicious charges in real time and allows them to keep in contact with merchants to resolve the issue wherever they are.

Regular readers of Springwise may remember BillGuard, the platform that enables consumer to check and dispute so-called ‘gray charges’ – hidden fees, payments charged by mistake, bills that haven’t been cancelled and fraudulent transactions. The Israel-based company has now launched the new BillGuard app, allowing users to immediately dispute charges and keep in contact with merchants to resolve the issue wherever they are.

Available for free on the App Store, those downloading the app first set up a membership and link their bank account. The app works similarly to an inbox for payments – users can swipe right to confirm the payment is fine or swipe left to mark it as a potential gray charge, and the app learns from user actions. The app uses algorithms and crowdsourced data to determine outgoings that match the profile of queried payments in the past, and users can choose to receive push notifications whenever a new payment requires their attention. Users can even contact the merchant through the app. The video below shows the BillGuard app in action:

Are there other ways to ensure consumers are keeping track of their finances?

Spotted by: Murray Orange