Have you recently seen ‘BG Services’ on your bank statement and wondered what it means? We can help you try to decipher the meaning.
When ‘BG Services’ appears on your bank statement, it can have different meanings. It can refer to billing group services, British Gas HomeCare, bank guarantee services, background services, etc.
Read this guide for more information on determining the term’s meaning on your bank statement and what to do if you believe the charge is fraudulent.
What Does BG Services Mean on Your Bank Statement?
If you see a transaction you are unfamiliar with on your bank statement, you should verify that you initiated it. Otherwise, it could indicate that someone has stolen your identity or is committing credit or debit card fraud on your account. So, if you see ‘BG Services’ on your bank statement, the phrase could mean a few things, including the following.
Billing Group Services
Billing group services is one of the potential meanings. A billing group is a company that processes payments for client companies.
British Gas HomeCare
British Gas HomeCare is a provider that guarantees heating, cooling, drainage, and utility services.
Bank Guarantee Services
Bank guarantee services are another possible meaning. A bank guarantee is when one bank ensures that their customer’s debts will be paid to a fellow bank. It is used to signify that the bank guarantees that a payment or check from one of its accounts is payable to the recipient and the funds are available.
Background Services
To determine the meaning of the term when it appears, you need to consider your recent spending history, location, and any recently purchased memberships.
How Do You Know What ‘BG Services’ Means?
As you can see, there are several potential meanings of ‘BG Services.’ However, if the charge is legitimate, you should be able to identify the origin. It is unlikely that a banking customer in the U.S. would have a transaction from British Gas HomeCare, so if you do not own property in the UK, you can assume that is not what it means. If you have not signed up for billing or background check services, it is safe to assume the term does not refer to either, and if you see the note on a charge, it is unlikely to be a bank guarantee service.
What If You Can’t Verify the Meaning of ‘BG Services?’
If you see ‘BG Services’ or any other charge on your bank statement and cannot verify that you made the purchase, you should contact your bank. The merchant’s name on a billing transaction often comes from the person, merchant, or bank initiating it. So, your bank might not have a lot of additional information.
However, they should be able to give you an address and phone number for the merchant that initiates the charge. If you are unfamiliar with the charge after receiving the available information for the merchant, you can report it as a fraudulent charge to your bank.
When you report fraudulent charges, your bank will initiate an investigation and, in most cases, remove the transaction from your account and credit you back any funds deducted from your debit card balance.
Upon receipt of the fraud complaint, the bank will immediately cancel your card and issue you a new debit card.
Final Advice ‘BC Services’ Meaning on Your Bank Statement
There is no clear-cut explanation for the meaning of ‘BC Services’ on your bank statement. If you live in the UK, it could refer to membership with British Gas HomeCare. However, if you reside and bank strictly in the United States, the term likely refers to billing group services, background services, or bank guarantee services.
If you are unfamiliar with a charge on your bank statement, you should contact the customer service number on the back of your card to inquire about further details for the transaction and file a fraud report if applicable. Reporting potential identity theft or fraud to your bank promptly is critical if a thief is victimizing you. Otherwise, you may have a challenging time recuperating your money.
For help with other banking and personal finance topics, like can you write a check to yourself, check out the other guides on our site.