You are likely being charged for Prime Video because you have an add-on subscription or have made a digital rental or purchase that is separate from your standard Amazon Prime membership benefits. While Amazon Prime includes access to a wide selection of movies and TV shows as part of Prime Video, not all content is included.
Common Reasons for Prime Video Charges
Several scenarios can lead to additional charges on your Prime Video account, even with an active Amazon Prime membership:
- Prime Video Add-on Channel Subscriptions: This is one of the most common reasons. Many premium channels (e.g., HBO Max, Starz, Paramount+, Showtime) are available as separate add-on subscriptions through Prime Video Channels. These renew automatically, and charges for these add-ons are distinct from your Amazon Prime membership fee. If you signed up for a free trial of Amazon Prime and a separate Prime Video add-on subscription at the same time, it's important to note that the monthly charges for both services may fall on different dates, leading to separate billing statements.
- Digital Rentals or Purchases: You might have rented or purchased a movie or TV show episode that is not included with your Prime membership. These are one-time transactions for specific content.
- Live Events or Pay-Per-View: Some exclusive live events or pay-per-view content on Prime Video requires a separate purchase.
- Accidental Purchases or Unknown Account Activity: Sometimes, a purchase might have been made by another household member, or you might have forgotten about a specific rental or subscription you initiated.
- Third-Party Subscriptions Managed Through Amazon: While less common, some third-party services can be subscribed to and billed via your Amazon account.
To clarify the distinction between what's included and what costs extra:
| Included with Prime Video (with Amazon Prime) | Requires Extra Payment (Even with Amazon Prime) |
|---|---|
| A vast library of movies and TV shows | Prime Video Channels (e.g., HBO, Starz) |
| Select Amazon Originals and Exclusives | Digital Movie/TV Show Rentals |
| Digital Movie/TV Show Purchases | |
| Pay-per-view live events |
How to Identify and Manage Your Charges
To understand exactly what you're being charged for and manage future subscriptions or purchases, you can check your Amazon account:
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Review Your Prime Video Channels:
- Visit the Manage Your Prime Video Channels page on the Amazon website.
- Here, you can see all your active Prime Video add-on channel subscriptions and their renewal dates. You can also cancel them from this page.
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Check Your Digital Orders:
- Go to your Digital Orders page.
- This section lists all your individual movie and TV show rentals or purchases.
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Manage Your Memberships & Subscriptions:
- Navigate to Your Memberships & Subscriptions within your Amazon account.
- This page provides an overview of all your recurring subscriptions, including your Amazon Prime membership and any other Amazon-billed services.
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Examine Billing Statements:
- Compare the dates and amounts on your bank or credit card statements with your Amazon digital order history and subscription pages. This can help pinpoint specific charges.
By reviewing these sections, you can quickly identify the source of the Prime Video charges and take appropriate action, whether it's canceling an unwanted add-on channel or recognizing a past rental or purchase.
