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Common Credit Card Merchant Descriptors Explained

Expert-Backed Tips for Financial Clarity

Ever notice a strange entry on your credit card bill and wonder, “what is this charge on my credit card?” You're not alone.

Each line comes with a billing descriptor – a short text label identifying the merchant and transaction details.

Banks often add location codes, store numbers, or contact info that can look confusing. Dynamic descriptors typically include company codes, service descriptions, and phone numbers. Once you spot these pieces, odd charges make sense.

Key Parts of Merchant Descriptors

  • Merchant Name or Code: Usually the store or company name (sometimes truncated). This is meant to match the business you bought from, but it might be shortened or capitalized oddly.
  • Store Number or Location: Many chains append a store/branch number or city. For example, you might see STORE 1234 or STORE #1234 after the name. These identify the specific location. (Square's system, for instance, can include a store ID like SQ#1234 in the descriptor.)
  • Payment Processor Prefix: A code showing which payment processing system processed the payment. For example, SQ* usually means Square, and PAYPAL* or PP* indicates PayPal. So a line like SQ*BUSINESS NAME just tells you Square handled the charge.
  • Contact Info (Phone/Website): Sometimes the descriptor includes the merchant's customer-service number or web address. For instance, a charge from Super.com might appear as SUPER+*1833-773-8471, where 1-833-773-8471 is their support line. Including a phone number is a beneficial practice for merchants.
  • Transaction/MCC Code: Often a short number appears at the end. In SQ*BUSINESS NAME*5699, the "5699" is a merchant category code (MCC) for clothing stores. It's not a phone number - it just tells the bank what type of merchant it is.

Common Merchant Descriptors

Here are some common merchant descriptors you might see on your credit card statement:

  • SQ*STORE NAME - A charge from a Square merchant (businesses using Square's payment processing system).
  • PAYPAL*MERCHANT NAME - A PayPal transaction.
  • VENMO*PAYMENT - A Venmo payment or transaction.
  • ZELLE PAYMENT - A Zelle money transfer or payment. Zelle is a digital payment network used by major U.S. banks for instant money transfers.
  • AMAZON MKTPLACE - An Amazon purchase.
  • APPLE.COM/BILL - An Apple service charge.
  • GOOGLE*STORE - A Google Play or Google Store purchase.

Recurring Subscriptions

Recurring monthly or subscription charges often come with the service name and possibly a plan label. These descriptors can still include codes and phone numbers.

For example, a premium membership from Super.com might appear as:

  • SUPER+ *1833-773-8471
  • BT*SUPER+1-833-773-8471 SAN FRANCISCO CA

In these, SUPER+ is the service name and 1-833-773-8471 is their customer support line. The prefix BT* could be a payment gateway code (like Braintree) or billing reference, and "SAN FRANCISCO CA" is the merchant's location. Including the phone number is meant to help you recognize the charge. If it still seems unfamiliar, check your subscription accounts or use our credit card charge lookup to identify the merchant.

Store Numbers and Locations

Many retailers and restaurants include a branch number or city in the statement descriptor. For instance, in COSTCO WHSE #1229 MIAMI FL and PUBLIX #1397 MIAMI FL" the codes (#1229 and #1397) indicate the specific store location. This helps you remember where you made the purchase, especially for large chains with many branches.

How to Handle an Unknown Charge

Discovering an unexpected charge on your credit card statement can be concerning, but a few simple steps can help clarify the situation.

Begin by copying the full descriptor text and searching it online within quotation marks—this often reveals information about the merchant or transaction. You can also utilize our merchant descriptor lookup tool to identify known businesses. Review your email and order history for purchases made around the same date. If the descriptor includes a phone number, consider reaching out to confirm the details of the charge. Should the charge remain unclear or appear fraudulent, it’s important to report it promptly to your card issuer for further investigation.

See our dispute guide for steps to address unauthorized charges.

Summary

Decoding merchant descriptors takes a bit of practice, but it can save you confusion and money. Once you know the common parts - payment processor codes, store numbers, contact info - those mystery charges become understandable. An entry with a phone number, code or city should now point you to the right merchant or store. Use these tips to understand credit card charges and keep your budget on track.

If you ever need extra help, try our credit card charge lookup or consult our dispute guide for more help.