Telegram charged my card: what is it
What a "SGL TELEGRAM PREMIUM" or "Telegram Premium Kowloon" charge on a bank statement is: who Smart Glocal are, what Telegram charges for and how to turn off automatic payments.
A "SGL TELEGRAM PREMIUM" or "Telegram Premium Kowloon" line on a statement is a payment for a Telegram subscription or purchase processed by Smart Glocal. Most often it's the renewal of Telegram Premium bought through the @PremiumBot bot.
Who SGL and Smart Glocal are
Smart Glocal is Telegram's official payment partner. Telegram names the Smart Glocal companies as its authorized resellers in its terms, Third-Party Payments and Authorized Resellers: Smart Glocal Services Limited (Hong Kong, Kowloon), Smart Glocal Limited (United Kingdom) and Smart Glocal Services Inc. (United States). That's where both "SGL" and "Kowloon" on a statement come from.
What the charge can be for
- Telegram Premium renewal in @PremiumBot. A subscription from the bot renews itself every paid period until it's cancelled.
- A purchase in a bot or channel. Purchases in bots that accept cards go through the same payment service.
- App Store and Google Play purchases look different on a statement — Apple and Google process them.
If you don't remember the purchase, check who else uses your card or your Telegram account, and open @PremiumBot in your Telegram: it shows whether you have an active subscription.
How to turn off automatic payments
- @PremiumBot — open the bot and send the
/stopcommand. The bot works in Telegram versions from telegram.org — for Android, desktop and macOS. - App Store — iPhone Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Telegram Premium → Cancel Subscription.
- Google Play — profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Telegram → Cancel subscription.
After cancelling, Premium works until the end of the paid period, and nothing more is charged. More in how to cancel Telegram Premium.
Deleting Telegram or your account doesn't cancel the subscription — cancel it separately.
Can you get the money back
Under the Telegram Premium terms, payments are generally not refunded, and cancelling early gives no partial refund. If the charge is unfamiliar and you never subscribed, contact your bank: it will tell you how to dispute the transaction.
Premium without automatic payments
Premium can be bought without a subscription too: in the Shiba Bank bot for 3, 6 or 12 months, with crypto or with Stars from the bot's wallet. There is no renewal: Premium simply ends on its date, and nothing is charged to your card.
FAQ
What is SGL TELEGRAM PREMIUM on my statement?
A payment for Telegram Premium or another Telegram purchase processed by Smart Glocal, Telegram's official payment partner. Most often it's a subscription renewal in @PremiumBot.
What does Telegram Premium Kowloon mean?
Kowloon is the district of Hong Kong where Smart Glocal Services Limited is registered. It's the same Telegram Premium payment.
How do I stop Telegram Premium charges?
Cancel the subscription where you started it: the /stop command in @PremiumBot, Subscriptions in the App Store, or Google Play.
Can I get a refund for a Telegram Premium charge?
Telegram generally doesn't refund Premium payments. If you never subscribed, contact your bank.
