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What Is This Charge on My Credit Card?

An unfamiliar name on a card statement is common, and it is often a real purchase listed under a payment service's name. Search the prefixes below to see what a few well-known ones mean, each taken from the company's own help page. We never guess who a merchant is: a prefix tells you which service processed the payment, not which business you paid. If a prefix is not in our list, we say so, and the steps below show how to find the merchant and what your rights are if the charge is wrong.

For example: SQ, PAYPAL, TST, AMZN, apple.com/bill.

Prefixes we have verified

Each one comes from the company's own help or developer page, with the date we checked it.

  • SQ *

    Square

    A statement line that starts with SQ * was processed by Square. The text after it is the business name the seller set up in Square, so the name that follows is the business you paid, not Square.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • PAYPAL *

    PayPal

    A card statement line that starts with PAYPAL * means the payment went through PayPal. The seller’s business name can appear after it.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • SHOPIFY *

    Shopify

    A SHOPIFY * charge followed by a 9-digit number is a Shopify billing charge to a store owner, such as a plan, app or theme charge.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • SP *

    Shopify Payments

    A statement line that starts with SP * is a purchase from an online store that uses Shopify Payments. The store name follows.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • TST*

    Toast

    TST* followed by a restaurant name is a purchase from a restaurant that uses Toast.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • AMZN Mktp US and other Amazon descriptors

    Amazon

    Amazon publishes a list of descriptors that can appear on statements. AMZN Mktp US and AMAZON MKTPLACE PMTS are listed for charges related to an Amazon.com purchase, AMAZON PRIME for Amazon Prime, and Amazon Digital Svcs for digital services such as Kindle books and video downloads.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • apple.com/bill

    Apple

    A charge from apple.com/bill can be for apps, subscriptions, music and movie purchases, or more from Apple.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

  • GOOGLE *

    Google

    Charges for Google products start with GOOGLE * followed by the product or another descriptor. Google Play purchases appear as GOOGLE*, then the app developer name, app name or content type.

    Source· Checked 2026-10-15

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What to do about a charge you do not recognize

  1. Open your bank or card app and tap the charge. Note the full name, the amount, the date, and any phone number or website shown. Compare it with your receipts, order confirmation emails and subscription lists.
  2. Ask anyone who can use your card or accounts, such as family members, a partner or a coworker. Some services group purchases or bill a few days after the purchase.
  3. Contact the merchant named on the statement and ask for the order record for that amount and date. If the name is a payment service, use the prefix lookup above to see what it means, then check the receipt or app for that service.
  4. If you still do not recognize the charge, call your card issuer using the number on the back of your card and tell them. Do it right away: the deadline for protecting your legal rights runs from the date of the statement.
  5. For a credit card billing error, send a written billing error notice to the address your issuer gives for billing disputes. The CFPB says to send it no later than 60 days after the statement showing the error was sent, and to keep a copy.
  6. Pay the part of the bill that is not in question. You do not have to pay the disputed amount, or related finance charges, while the issuer investigates.

Your dispute rights for credit card charges

The CFPB and the FTC both explain the federal rules for credit card billing errors. To protect your rights you should send a written billing error notice to your card issuer within 60 days after the statement with the error was sent. Calling the issuer or disputing online can start the process, but the CFPB says the written notice is what protects your legal rights.

After you send the notice, the issuer has 30 days to tell you it received it, and then two billing cycles to finish investigating. During that time you do not have to pay the disputed charge or related finance charges, but you must still pay correct charges on time. If the issuer decides the charge is correct, it must explain why in writing and tell you how much you owe and when it is due.

Debit cards, prepaid cards and bank transfers follow different rules and deadlines. Tell your bank as soon as you see the problem and ask what protections apply to your account. The FTC publishes a sample letter for disputing credit and debit card charges.

Sources: the CFPB's guides on fixing mistakes in your credit card bill and disputing a charge, and the FTC's guide to using credit cards and disputing charges, linked below.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my statement show a payment service instead of the business?

When a business takes cards through a payment service, the statement line can start with that service's prefix, such as SQ * for Square or PAYPAL * for PayPal, followed by the business name. The prefix tells you which service handled the payment. The name after it is what to match to your receipt.

Can you tell me who a charge is from?

No. We only explain prefixes that the company publishes on its own help page. We do not guess merchant identities from a name, an amount or a location. Use your bank app, your receipts and the merchant's own records.

What if my prefix is not listed?

Our list covers only the prefixes we could confirm on official pages, so many real prefixes are missing. Follow the steps: check your bank app details, contact the name on the statement, and ask your card issuer if you still cannot place it.

Is a pending charge a real charge?

Not always. Amazon and Google both say that some entries on a statement are authorizations to check a card, not actual charges. They are expected to drop off. If an amount posts and you do not recognize it, follow the steps above.

How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?

The CFPB says to send a written billing error notice no later than 60 days after the card company sent the statement where the error first appeared. Do not wait.

Should I cancel my card?

If you think the charge is fraud, tell your card issuer. They can block the card and send a new one. Do that before anything else if you believe your card number was stolen.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

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