A charge showing up as “goood news com” on your card statement is almost always a recurring membership payment to Good News Network, a positive-news website and app that bills through PayPal on its site and through the Apple App Store in its mobile app. If you signed up and want it to stop, cancel through whichever channel enrolled you. If you never authorized it, federal law gives you 60 days to dispute the charge in writing and caps your liability at $50, and most issuers waive even that.
Why the Descriptor Looks Garbled
Every card transaction carries a “statement descriptor,” a short text string identifying who charged you. These descriptors are limited to roughly 20 to 25 characters, and your bank may truncate or reformat them further before display.1Chargebacks911. Statement Descriptors A merchant URL like “goodnewsnetwork.org” gets compressed into that narrow space and can end up looking like “goood news com” by the time it reaches you. Payment processors and card networks can add their own prefixes or alter the string along the way.2Mastercard Developer. Statement Descriptor A legitimate charge can look unfamiliar for this reason alone.
Confirming the Charge Is Good News Network
Good News Network publishes uplifting news stories and sells memberships two ways. Match the amount on your statement to figure out which one you have.
Through the site itself, memberships default to auto-renewing monthly or annual plans, and the recurring-payment option requires a PayPal account. A one-time payment option exists but must be selected manually at checkout.3Good News Network. Membership The site uses third-party processors and states it does not store card details directly.4Good News Network. Our Privacy Policy
Through the Apple App Store, the Good News Network app sells an ad-free subscription at $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, billed automatically through your App Store account.5Apple App Store. Good News Network
One caveat: an unrelated mindfulness app called “Goood App,” developed by Mindseed Counseling PLLC, also sells auto-renewing subscriptions and could produce a similar-looking descriptor.6Apple App Store. Goood App If your charge amount doesn’t match Good News Network’s pricing, check your App Store subscriptions for this other app.
How to Cancel the Subscription
The cancellation path depends on how the subscription was set up.
If you subscribed through the App Store, open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Find the Good News Network entry (or Goood App) and cancel it there. Apple requires cancellation at least 24 hours before the next renewal date to avoid another charge.
If you have a website membership billed through PayPal, log in to PayPal and cancel the automatic payment under your pre-approved payments or subscriptions settings. You can also write to Good News Network directly at PO Box 161, Manassas, VA 20108.3Good News Network. Membership
After canceling, watch your statement for at least one full billing cycle. Any charge that posts after cancellation is grounds for a formal dispute.
How to Dispute a Charge You Didn’t Authorize
If you never signed up, or if billing continues after you canceled, federal law gives you a clear process and real protections.
The Steps
First, contact the merchant to request a refund or confirm cancellation, and keep a record. If that goes nowhere, contact your card issuer to open a dispute, sometimes called a chargeback. Most issuers let you start online, in their app, or by phone.7Federal Trade Commission. How to Stop Subscriptions You Never Ordered
To preserve your full legal rights, follow up in writing to the address your issuer designates for billing inquiries, which is not the same as the payment address. Include your name, account number, the transaction date and amount, the merchant name as it appears, and why you’re disputing.8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill Certified mail with return receipt gives you proof of delivery.9Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Deadlines and Protections
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your written dispute must reach the issuer within 60 days of the date the statement containing the charge was sent. The issuer must acknowledge it in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.9Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges While the investigation is open, you can withhold payment on the disputed amount without being reported delinquent, and the issuer cannot close or restrict your account over that charge.10California Office of the Attorney General. Credit Cards – Dispute a Charge
Federal law caps your liability for unauthorized credit card charges at $50, and most major issuers waive even that under zero-liability policies.11FDIC. Consumer News If the issuer decides the charge was valid, they must explain in writing, and you can appeal within 10 days.
Blocking Future Charges
To keep the merchant from billing you again, ask your bank or credit union to place a stop payment order on payments to that specific company. Banks typically charge a fee. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also recommends sending a written revocation of authorization to both the merchant and your bank.12Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Stop Automatic Payments From My Bank Account
Where to Report Unauthorized Billing
If you were enrolled in a subscription without consent, you can report the company on top of disputing the charge. The Federal Trade Commission takes fraud reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and you can also file with your state attorney general.7Federal Trade Commission. How to Stop Subscriptions You Never Ordered The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about credit card billing problems through its online portal or by phone at (855) 411-2372, and companies are expected to respond within 15 days.13Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Submit a Complaint