MerchantGuard™Fix Your Billing Descriptor: Stop "Unrecognized Charge" Chargebacks
Your billing descriptor is what shows up on customers' credit card statements. If they don't recognize it, they file a chargeback. Fix this in 5 minutes and get +4 GuardScore points.
The Problem
Customers don't always remember your exact business name. When they see a cryptic descriptor like ABC123*XYZ9999 on their statement, they panic and dispute it.
Bad descriptor: AMZN Mktp US*2R3X9Y
Customer thinks: "I never shopped at AMZN Mktp US... this must be fraud!" Files chargeback
Result: You lose the sale, pay a $15-25 chargeback fee, and hurt your GuardScore.
The Solution: Clear, Recognizable Descriptors
A good descriptor tells customers exactly who charged them and how to reach you.
XYZ*PROD1234- • Cryptic abbreviations
- • No contact info
- • No brand recognition
ACME SHOP 555-1234- • Clear brand name
- • Phone number visible
- • Easy to recognize
NETFLIX.COM 1-866-579-7172Brand name + domain + support number
SPOTIFY PREMIUM 888-345-5678Service name + product tier + phone
SHOPIFY*STORENAME 650-555-1234Platform + store name + contact
How to Fix Your Descriptor (5 Minutes)
Log into your payment processor dashboard
Stripe, Braintree, Checkout.com, etc.
- • Stripe: Dashboard → Settings → Business Settings → Statement Descriptor
- • Braintree: Settings → Processing → Descriptor
- • Checkout.com: Hub → Settings → Billing Descriptor
Follow the descriptor best practices
Use this formula for maximum recognition:
[BRAND NAME] [DOMAIN/PHONE] [PRODUCT]Example: ACME SHOP acme.com SUB
- • Max length: 22 characters (Visa/Mastercard limit)
- • Use uppercase: More visible on statements
- • Include contact: Domain or phone number
- • Avoid: Random codes, abbreviations, special characters
Test with a real charge
Make a $1 test charge to your own card and check the statement descriptor after 1-2 days.
Descriptors can take 24-48 hours to update. Don't skip testing!
Add dynamic descriptors (optional)
Show order ID or product name in descriptor for better customer recall.
- • Stripe: Use
statement_descriptor_suffixAPI parameter - • Example:
ACME SHOP *ORDER12345 - • Best for: Subscription businesses, multi-product stores
Expected Results
Before (Bad Descriptor)
- • 43% of CBs = "unrecognized"
- • 100 chargebacks/month
- • $15 fee × 43 = $645/mo
- • CB rate: 1.5% - High risk
After (Good Descriptor)
- • 15% of CBs = "unrecognized"
- • 72 chargebacks/month (-28)
- • $15 fee × 15 = $225/mo
- • CB rate: 1.1% - Safe zone
Plus +4 GuardScore points from lower CB rate
Want Personalized Descriptor Recommendations?
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