Guides
Know what you're looking at.
Plain-language explanations of how bank charges, chargebacks, and billing disputes actually work.
Descriptor Patterns
What does CASH APP * mean on my bank statement?
CASH APP * on your statement means a payment was processed through Cash App — either a person-to-person send, a Cash App Pay merchant purchase, or a Cash Card transaction. The name after the asterisk tells you which type. Here's how to tell them apart and when to dispute.
June 6, 2026 · 9 min read
Descriptor Patterns
What does VENMO * mean on my bank statement?
VENMO * on your bank or credit card statement means a payment was processed through Venmo — either a person-to-person send or a Venmo Pay merchant purchase. The Venmo Debit Card shows the merchant directly with no Venmo prefix. Here's how to identify who was paid and what to do if the charge isn't yours.
June 6, 2026 · 9 min read
Descriptor Patterns
Why does my statement show APPLE.COM/BILL?
APPLE.COM/BILL on your statement is an Apple charge — for the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple One, AppleCare, or an in-app purchase. The legacy variant APL*ITUNES.COM/BILL means the same thing. Here's how to find exactly which Apple service billed you and how to manage or cancel it.
June 6, 2026 · 9 min read
Descriptor Patterns
Why does my statement show GOOGLE * or GOOGLE*MERCHANT?
GOOGLE * on your bank or credit card statement is a Google billing charge — for Play Store apps, Google One storage, YouTube Premium, Google Workspace, or in-app subscriptions. Here's how to identify exactly which Google product billed you and how to manage or cancel it.
June 6, 2026 · 9 min read
Descriptor Patterns
What does PAYPAL * mean on my credit card statement?
PAYPAL * on your statement means the payment went through PayPal's checkout. The name after the asterisk is the seller — but it's often truncated or unrecognizable. Here's how to find the actual transaction and how to dispute it correctly.
June 3, 2026 · 8 min read
Descriptor Patterns
What does SHOPIFY * mean on my credit card statement?
SHOPIFY * on your statement means you bought from an online store powered by Shopify's payment processing. The store name follows the asterisk. Here's how to identify the merchant and what to do if you don't recognize it.
June 3, 2026 · 8 min read
Descriptor Patterns
What does SQ * mean on my credit card statement?
SQ * on your credit card statement is Square, the payment processor used by millions of small businesses — coffee shops, food trucks, salons, and market vendors. Here's how to identify exactly which merchant charged you.
June 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Descriptor Patterns
What does STRIPE mean on my credit card statement?
Seeing STRIPE on your credit card statement means you bought from a business that uses Stripe as its payment processor but hasn't customized its statement descriptor. Here's how to find which company charged you.
June 3, 2026 · 8 min read
Dispute Basics
Chargeback vs. refund vs. dispute: what's the difference?
Three words describe three different processes. A refund comes from the merchant. A dispute is what you file with your bank. A chargeback is what the bank does next. Here's how they connect.
May 31, 2026 · 11 min read
Dispute Basics
How long do you have to dispute a charge?
Credit card dispute deadlines vary by bank. The federal minimum is 60 days. American Express gives you 120. Capital One gives you 90 for digital filing. PayPal gives you 180. Here's the full breakdown.
May 31, 2026 · 11 min read
Disputes
Does disputing a charge hurt your credit?
Short answer: no, filing a credit card or debit dispute does not affect your credit score. Here's the long answer, including the rare exceptions.
May 29, 2026 · 9 min read
Disputes
What happens when you dispute a credit card charge?
When you file a dispute, your bank starts an investigation, often issues a provisional credit, and contacts the merchant. Here's exactly what happens at each stage.
May 29, 2026 · 12 min read
Chargebacks
What is a chargeback? How it works, when to file, and what happens next
A chargeback is when your bank reverses a charge after you dispute it. Here's how to decide if you should file one, how the process actually works, and what to do if you lose.
May 29, 2026 · 15 min read