Ubox

Retail75% confidence

Ubox is a Chinese smart retail company that operates a large network of unmanned vending machines and other intelligent retail terminals selling snacks, beverages, and convenience items.

Beijing, China

About Ubox

Ubox, operated by Beijing UBOX Online Technology Corp., is a leading smart retail platform in China focused on intelligent vending and unmanned retail solutions. The company deploys and operates tens of thousands of vending machines, pick‑and‑go cabinets, coffee machines and other automated terminals across schools, offices, factories, transit hubs and community locations, offering snacks, drinks and other convenience products. It also provides equipment sales, outsourced operations, product procurement, and advertising/marketing services to partners that host or operate Ubox-branded machines.

A charge labeled something like “UBOX HONGKONG” or “UBOX HONGKONG XX” on a card statement is typically linked to a purchase made at one of these Ubox-operated or Ubox-powered smart vending machines, or to related services processed through a payment route associated with Hong Kong (for example, because the company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and may clear some international transactions there). The amount usually corresponds to the cost of snacks or beverages from a vending machine, often a small, rounded charge, though multiple items or higher-priced products can lead to larger totals. In some cases, a temporary authorization may appear before converting into a final posted transaction.

If you don’t immediately recognize the charge, check whether you recently bought items from a self-service vending machine or smart cabinet in mainland China or nearby regions, particularly machines branded with Ubox/友宝. Reviewing receipts or mobile payment histories (e.g., in your wallet app or SMS receipts) for the same date and amount can help match the transaction. If you still have questions, you can contact your card issuer for more details on the merchant ID and location, and they can initiate a dispute if the transaction appears unauthorized. For clearly fraudulent activity, lock your card and request a replacement while the bank investigates.

Bank Statement Variations

1 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Ubox.

  1. UBOX HONGKONG XX

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I see a charge from “UBOX HONGKONG” on my card when I only used a vending machine in mainland China?

Ubox is operated by Beijing UBOX Online Technology Corp., which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Some card transactions associated with Ubox’s vending network can be routed or cleared through Hong Kong, resulting in a descriptor like “UBOX HONGKONG” even though the actual purchase occurred at a vending machine in mainland China or another region.

What kinds of purchases typically generate a Ubox card charge?

Most Ubox charges come from buying snacks, drinks, or other small convenience items from Ubox-branded vending machines or smart cabinets. The charge amount usually matches the total displayed on the screen at the machine or in the associated app at checkout.

Can Ubox place temporary authorization holds on my card?

Depending on the payment processor and method used, a small temporary authorization may be placed to verify your card before the actual purchase amount is finalized. This can appear as a pending transaction and should either disappear or be replaced by the final charge within a few days.

How can I confirm that a Ubox charge is legitimate?

Compare the transaction date, time, and amount on your card statement with your recent visits to Ubox or other unmanned vending machines in offices, schools, transit hubs, or public venues. If you used a mobile wallet or app to pay, check its transaction history for a matching amount and timestamp.

Does Ubox offer subscriptions or recurring billing that might cause repeated charges?

Ubox primarily processes one‑time payments for purchases from vending machines and similar terminals. Recurring or subscription-style charges are uncommon; if you see repeated Ubox charges you don’t recognize, review your usage history and contact your card issuer to rule out card compromise.

What should I do if I believe a Ubox charge is incorrect or fraudulent?

First, verify that neither you nor an authorized card user made a purchase at a Ubox vending machine around the transaction date. If no one recognizes the charge, contact your bank or card issuer immediately using the number on the back of your card. Ask for details about the merchant and start a dispute or chargeback if it appears unauthorized.

Why is the Ubox charge amount slightly different from the price I remember at the machine?

Differences can result from currency conversion, small foreign transaction fees added by your card issuer, or minor rounding when converting from local currency to your billing currency. Review your card’s foreign transaction fee policy and compare the original local price to the final posted amount.

How can I get a receipt for a purchase from a Ubox vending machine?

Ubox vending transactions often rely on your payment method or app history as the primary record. Check your mobile wallet or bank statement for the transaction details. If you paid through a third‑party wallet or app, its transaction screen usually serves as the receipt and can be downloaded or screenshotted for expense records.

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