The short answer
FS * is FastSpring, a merchant-of-record that processes payments for software companies — desktop apps, plugins, games, and SaaS subscriptions. The product name follows the asterisk.
Why it shows up like this
A statement charge formatted as FS *DEVTOOLS.CO indicates a transaction processed by FastSpring (Bright Market, LLC), a global merchant of record based in Santa Barbara, California. When independent software developers sell digital applications or developer utilities, FastSpring acts as the reseller handling credit card checkout and sales tax compliance. The bank descriptor displays the FS * prefix followed by a truncated version of the vendor or product website. Cardholders might also recognize this processor under entries like FS*, FASTSPRING, FSPRG.COM, or FS* FASTSPRING.
This charge represents a software product billed via FastSpring, which can be a one-time perpetual license or an automated recurring subscription. Similar to digital commerce platforms like Paddle or Digital River, FastSpring manages billing renewals on behalf of independent software creators. Many cardholders fail to recognize the charge because the billing line shows FastSpring rather than the everyday brand name of the application, or because an annual maintenance contract automatically renewed a full year after the initial purchase.
To identify exactly what software generated the charge, visit fastspring.com and use their self-service consumer order lookup tool with your email address and transaction details. The portal will reveal the specific software title and active subscription status. FastSpring customer support manages refunds directly for billing disputes, which is typically faster than filing a formal bank dispute. If you confirm that neither you nor anyone in your household authorized the purchase, contact your financial institution to secure your card against fraudulent activity.
Don’t recognize it? You might still
Because FastSpring acts as an intermediary merchant of record, the descriptor reflects the reseller rather than the consumer-facing name of the software application.
- Plugin and utility purchases are small and forgettable.
- Annual license renewals arrive a year after purchase.
- The developer's company name may appear instead of the product name you know.
What to do, in order
- Look up the order on FastSpring FastSpring's order lookup finds purchases by email and shows exactly what was bought.
- Check for subscription renewals Receipts from fastspring.com include manage/cancel links for recurring items.
- Contact FastSpring support for refunds They handle billing issues directly, typically faster than a bank dispute.
Quick questions
FS * charged me but I didn't buy software this week. Why?
Check last year's purchases — annual renewals are the usual culprit. The order lookup will show the original purchase date.
Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention
If you cannot locate the purchase through FastSpring's order lookup portal, contact FastSpring customer support or notify your card issuer within 60 days to report unauthorized activity.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FS *DEVTOOLS.CO charge legitimate?
If you authorized a payment to A software product billed via FastSpring, then yes. This is the statement descriptor used by FastSpring (Bright Market, LLC). FastSpring (Bright Market, LLC)
Independent reference — not affiliated with FastSpring (Bright Market, LLC). Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- FastSpring — consumer order lookup https://fastspring.com
- FastSpring — official site https://www.fastspring.com
Reviewed Aug 3, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges