# BillGuard

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{{Multiple issues|{{Advert|date=May 2024}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=May 2024}}
{{Citation style|date=May 2024|reason=citations are placed randomly throughout the sentences}}}}{{Infobox company
| name = BillGuard
| type = [Private](/source/Privately_held_company)
| logo = BillGuard logo.png
| hq_location_city = [New York City](/source/New_York_City)
| hq_location_country = [United States](/source/United_States)
| products = [Rich web application](/source/Rich_web_application), [Mobile application](/source/Mobile_application)
| founded = 2010{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
| founder = [Yaron Samid](/source/Yaron_Samid) (CEO), [Raphael Ouzan](/source/Raphael_Ouzan) (CTO) <ref>{{cite web|title=Raphael Ouzan interview on Startup Camel Podcast|url=http://startupcamel.com/ep-63-raphael-ouzan-billguard|accessdate=28 February 2015|publisher=Startup Camel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320232832/http://startupcamel.com/ep-63-raphael-ouzan-billguard/|archive-date=20 March 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
| industry = [Computer software](/source/software), [Internet](/source/Internet), [Personal finance](/source/Personal_finance)
| website = {{url|www.billguard.com}}
}}

'''BillGuard''' was a personal finance security and productivity company. Its mobile and web applications scanned [credit](/source/credit_card) and [debit card](/source/debit_card) transactions, alerting users to potential [scams](/source/scams), billing errors, fraudulent charges, and hidden fees.<ref>{{cite news|title=Personal-Finance Security Firm Raises $10 Million|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/10/18/personal-finance-security-firm-raises-10-million/|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BillGuard (iPhone)|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2424246,00.asp|publisher=PCMag | first=Kathy|last=Yakal}}</ref>

As of October 2014, BillGuard reported flagging over $60 million in suspect charges on behalf of its users, based on more than $1 billion in monitored transactions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Analytics Startup BillGuard Has Flagged $50M in Suspect Charges|url=http://www.americanbanker.com/issues/178_75/analytics-startup-billguard-has-flagged-50-million-in-suspect-charges-1058447-1.html|newspaper=American Banker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BillGuard Launches iPhone App To Help Credit Card Users Catch And Dispute "Grey Charges"|date=25 July 2013 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/07/25/billguard-iphone-app/|publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/06/19/billguard-now-helps-brits-aussies-new-zealanders-combat-credit-card-fraud-hidden-merchant-fees/|title = BillGuard now helps Brits, Aussies and New Zealanders combat credit card fraud and hidden merchant fees|date = 19 June 2014|website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> 

In September 2015, BillGuard was acquired by [Prosper Marketplace](/source/Prosper_Marketplace)<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli Startup BillGuard Bought for Reported $40m|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2015-09-25/ty-article/israeli-startup-billguard-bought-for-reported-40m/0000017f-e155-d7b2-a77f-e357703c0000 | first=Inbal|last=Orpaz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ranking|url=http://netho.me/hncw9m.com|accessdate=27 September 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927212936/http://netho.me/hncw9m.com|url-status=dead}}</ref> and subsequently renamed Prosper Daily.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

On August 31, 2017, Prosper discontinued the Prosper Daily service, recommending the Clarity Money app as an alternative, stating that it "offers many of the same features as Prosper Daily."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosper.com/daily|title=Prosper Daily|website=www.prosper.com|access-date=2018-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928021131/https://www.prosper.com/daily|archive-date=2018-09-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

BillGuard was recognized as "one of the top online banking innovations of all time" by MarketConsensus<ref>{{cite web |title=BillGuard – One of the Top Banking Innovations of all Time |url=http://www.marketconsensus.com/news/billguard-one-top-banking-innovations-all-time/ |publisher=MarketConsensus |access-date=2015-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620233452/http://www.marketconsensus.com/news/billguard-one-top-banking-innovations-all-time/ |archive-date=2015-06-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and named a "Top 10 Tech Company" by ''[American Banker](/source/American_Banker)''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Tech Companies to Watch|date=3 December 2012 |url=http://www.americanbanker.com/gallery/top-ten-tech-companies-to-watch-1054884-1.html|publisher=American Banker}}</ref>

BillGuard was also ranked as the "Top 2015 Most Powerful Financial Protection App" by AdvisoryHQ News.<ref>{{cite web |title=BillGuard Review & Ranking (Is BillGuard Safe?) |url=http://www.advisoryhq.com/articles/billguard-vs-mint-billguard-review-is-billguard-safe-most-powerful-finance-app/ |publisher=AdvisoryHQ}}</ref>

==Products==

In July 2013, BillGuard launched a free [iPhone app](/source/IPhone), encouraging users to take a more active role in monitoring their charges compared to the company's earlier "set-and-forget" [web application](/source/web_application).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/07/25/billguard-iphone-app/|title=BillGuard Launches iPhone App To Help Credit Card Users Catch And Dispute "Grey Charges"|last=Lawler|first=Ryan|date=July 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theappzine.com/content/billguard-app-manage-your-spending-easily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708011847/http://www.theappzine.com/content/billguard-app-manage-your-spending-easily|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 8, 2015|title=BillGuard app manage your spending easily|work=TheAppzine |date=26 June 2015 |publisher=theappzine.com, Retrieved 26 June 2015}}</ref> In May 2014, BillGuard introduced a free [Android app](/source/Android_(operating_system)).<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/15/billguard-android/|title = BillGuard Launches Its Personal Finance App On Android And Adds Data Breach Alerts|date = May 15, 2014|website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>

BillGuard provided personalized [data breach](/source/data_breach) alerts, notifying users if they had shopped at a merchant that had experienced a breach.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://lifehacker.com/billguard-alerts-you-when-a-retailer-or-bank-you-use-is-1576605774|title = BillGuard Alerts You When a Retailer or Bank You Use Is Breached|date = May 15, 2014|website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>

BillGuard utilized a combination of crowdsourced user feedback, data from the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](/source/Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau), complaints posted online, and proprietary [algorithms](/source/Algorithm) to identify charges to highlight for users through email and smartphone push alerts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Tech Companies to Watch|date=3 December 2012 |url=http://www.americanbanker.com/gallery/top-ten-tech-companies-to-watch-1054884-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206082322/http://www.americanbanker.com/gallery/top-ten-tech-companies-to-watch-1054884-1.html|url-status=live|archive-date=December 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Personal Finance Security Start-up Closes $10 Million Round|url=http://www.inc.com/news/articles/201110/billguard-closes-$10-million-round.html)}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

BillGuard Resolve directly connected merchants with customers seeking to inquire about charges on their cards.<ref>{{cite web |title=BillGuard®; {{!}} BillGuard Resolve™ for Merchants |url=https://www.billguard.com/merchants |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214093815/https://www.billguard.com/merchants |archive-date=14 February 2014}}</ref> BillGuard FI, designed for financial institutions, aimed to reduce transaction inquiry and dispute processing costs.<ref>{{cite web |title=BillGuard® {{!}} BillGuard FI™ for banks |url=https://www.billguard.com/fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214083938/https://www.billguard.com/fi |archive-date=14 February 2014}}</ref>

==History==
The company was founded in 2010 by Yaron Samid (CEO) and [Raphael Ouzan](/source/Raphael_Ouzan) (CTO), with $3 million in seed funding from [Bessemer Venture Partners](/source/Bessemer_Venture_Partners), Founder Collective, SV Angel, IA Ventures, Social Leverage, and Yaron Galai.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/02/02/billguard-raises-3m-to-track-hidden-fees-billing-errors-on-credit-card-bills/|title=BillGuard Raises $3M To Track Hidden Fees, Billing Errors On Credit Card Bills|last=Rao|first=Leena|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}</ref>

BillGuard launched at [TechCrunch Disrupt](/source/TechCrunch_Disrupt) New York in May 2011, where it won second place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/25/and-the-winner-of-techcrunch-disrupt-nyc-is-getaround/|title=And The Winner Of TechCrunch Disrupt NYC Is…Getaround!|last=Rao|first=Leena|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en}}</ref> In 2011, the company raised a $10 million financing round from its seed funders, along with [Vinod Khosla](/source/Vinod_Khosla)’s [Khosla Ventures](/source/Khosla_Ventures), [Peter Thiel](/source/Peter_Thiel)’s [Founders Fund](/source/Founders_Fund), and [Eric Schmidt](/source/Eric_Schmidt)’s [Innovation Endeavors](/source/Innovation_Endeavors).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pehub.com/2011/10/18/billguard-gets-10m-from-khosla-ventures-founders-fund-innovation-endeavors-others/|title=BillGuard Gets $10M From Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, Innovation Endeavors, Others - PE Hub|date=2011-10-18|work=PE Hub|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> BillGuard was awarded "2011 Big-Data Startup of the Year" at the O'Reilly Media Strata Conference<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://conferences.oreilly.com/strata/strata2011/public/cfp/148|title=Strata Startup Showcase: Strata 2011 - O'Reilly Conferences, February 01 - 03, 2011, Santa Clara, CA|website=conferences.oreilly.com|access-date=2017-11-29}}</ref> and won ‘Best of Show’ at the Finovate conference in both 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://finovate.com/finovatefall-2011-best-of-show-winners-named/|title=FinovateFall 2011 Best of Show Winners Named - Finovate|date=2011-09-21|work=Finovate|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

''[The Jerusalem Post](/source/The_Jerusalem_Post)'' writer Joseph Sherman notes: 
<blockquote>"Business Schools around the world study how the Rothschild family transformed the world of international banking. In a practical spin on the story, today, on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, Raphael Ouzan is living his dream in Israel as the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of a start-up that is changing how consumers monitor their credit and debit card spending, and helping us get our money back from unwanted and deceptive charges."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sherman|first1=Joseph J|title=High-Tech Aliya: A start-up immigrant shares secrets to success|url=https://www.jpost.com/LifeStyle/High-Tech-Aliya-A-start-up-immigrant-shares-secrets-to-success-321519|accessdate=29 July 2014|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=2013-07-30|quote=Business Schools around the world study how the Rothschild family transformed the world of international banking. In a practical spin on the story, today, on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, Raphael Ouzan is living his dream in Israel as the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of a start-up that is changing how consumers monitor their credit and debit card spending, and helping us get our money back from unwanted and deceptive charges.}}</ref></blockquote>

===Grey Charges Report===

In July 2013, BillGuard and the Aite Group released a comprehensive "Grey Charges" report, which found that in 2012, U.S. cardholders received over $14.3 billion in deceptive and unwanted credit and debit card charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.billguard.com/report/BillGuard_-_2013_Grey_Charge_Report.pdf|title = The Economic Impact of Grey Charges on Debit and Credit Cardholders and Issuers|year = 2013|last = Aite Group|access-date = 2013-11-12|archive-date = 2013-11-12|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131112100453/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.billguard.com/report/BillGuard_-_2013_Grey_Charge_Report.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref> According to the report, one in three American cardholders receives at least one grey charge each year, averaging $215 per person annually.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/credit-graycharges-advice-idUSL1N0FV1TI20130726?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563 | work=Reuters | first=Mitch | last=Lipka | title=YOUR MONEY-How to avoid 'gray charges' on credit card bills | date=July 26, 2013 | access-date=June 30, 2017 | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183341/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/credit-graycharges-advice-idUSL1N0FV1TI20130726?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/2566768291001/are-gray-charges-draining-your-wallet/ | work=Fox News | title=Are 'gray charges' draining your wallet? | date=July 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/07/25/consumers-unwanted-charges-in-billions/2568645/ | work=USA Today | first1=Hadley | last1=Malcolm | title=Consumers rack up $14.3 billion in 'gray' charges | date=July 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/six-ways-merchants-fill-your-credit-card-unwanted-gray-charges-1C7481282?franchiseSlug=technolog| title=Six ways merchants fill your credit card with unwanted 'gray charges' | website=[NBC News](/source/NBC_News) | date=7 December 2012 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

Category:Software companies of Israel
Category:Financial services companies established in 2010
Category:Online financial services companies of the United States
Category:Internet properties established in 2010
Category:IOS software
Category:Finance websites

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BillGuard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BillGuard) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BillGuard?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.