time,will it show on the bill? I want to purchase an online dating service that only allows you to view messages if you pay, but then cancel the subscription after I read the messages. Will that show up on the credit card bill as paid and then refunded? or not at all?

read the terms of the offer carefully. If it allows you to do this on a trial basis and get a refund within a certain time period, then those are the terms. It is rare that they ask for a number and state that your card will not be charged. It sometimes happens that way, but usually only for age verification. If not, you will be charged and NOT get a refund. In any case, since they are asking for your credit card number BEFORE they give you access, an authorization WILL be posted via the credit card you submitted, and the "purchase" will show on your statement. If you are entitled to cancel within a certain time period, and you do so, you will get a REFUND credit dated after you cancel.