What is "SQ*" on my bank statement?
SQ* is usually a legitimate card charge processed through Square, often with the merchant name after the asterisk.
Merchant: Square | Category: Financial Services
What Is This Charge?
A charge from Square reflects a purchase processed through Square, the payment company founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey. Square is a payment processor, not a store, and it supports millions of sellers across the United States and other markets. The descriptor usually includes the seller name after the asterisk, such as a café, salon, contractor, or pop-up shop. A Square charge is often legitimate when you bought something in person, paid a deposit, or tipped at checkout.
Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement?
This charge appears because a merchant used Square to accept your card payment. A common trigger is an in-store purchase where the cashier entered the amount into a Square register or Square Terminal. Another common trigger is a deposit for an appointment, such as a haircut, massage, repair, or event booking. A third trigger is a card-not-present payment for an invoice, online order, or phone order that still shows the Square processor name.
Typical Charge Amounts
Square charges can be any amount the merchant enters, but common consumer transactions are $5.00, $12.50, $24.99, $48.00, and $100.00. Small businesses often use Square for coffee, retail, and service payments under $50.00, while deposits for appointments are often $20.00, $25.00, $50.00, or 50% of the service price. Some merchants place a temporary authorization hold for $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 before the final charge posts.
Common Variations
SQ* SQ * SQ*MERCHANTNAME SQUARE*MERCHANTNAME SQ*CITYNAME SQ*STORE123 SQUARE*STORE 123 SQ*LOCATIONNAME
Is This Charge Legitimate?
A Square charge is usually legitimate if the merchant name matches a place you visited or an invoice you approved. Check your receipt, email confirmation, or text message for the exact seller name and amount. Open the Square receipt or payment email if the merchant sent one, and compare it with the statement descriptor. If you do not recognize the charge, contact the merchant first and then review your card activity in your bank app or on the Square support site at squareup.com/help.
How to Dispute or Cancel
1. Contact the merchant directly and ask for the receipt, refund policy, or cancellation terms. 2. Ask for a refund if the charge was duplicate, incorrect, or for a canceled service. 3. If the merchant cannot resolve it, call the number on the back of your card and start a card dispute. 4. Save screenshots, receipts, emails, and any cancellation proof before the bank deadline. 5. If the charge is recurring, ask the merchant to stop future billing and remove your card from their system. 6. For Square-related payment questions, use the help center at squareup.com/help and the support phone options listed there for your region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Square charge show as SQ*MERCHANTNAME?
SQ*MERCHANTNAME means the payment was processed by Square and the merchant name was appended to the descriptor. This usually happens when a local business, salon, contractor, café, or pop-up seller used Square to take your card. The charge is often legitimate if the amount matches a receipt, invoice, or tip-adjusted total.
How do I cancel my Square subscription?
Square itself is not usually the subscription you cancel, because Square is the processor and the actual subscription belongs to the merchant. Contact the business that billed you, ask them to stop recurring charges, and request written confirmation by email or text. Then check your bank app for future pending payments and dispute any charge that posts after cancellation.
Why is my Square charge a different amount than expected?
A Square charge can differ from the expected amount because of tips, tax, service fees, deposits, or a temporary authorization hold. Some merchants authorize $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 first and then capture the final amount later. Restaurants, salons, and service businesses may also adjust the total after the final bill is calculated.
Can Square charges come from online orders or invoices?
Yes, Square charges can come from online orders, emailed invoices, phone orders, and payment links, not just in-person card swipes. The descriptor may still show SQ* or SQUARE* even when you never visited a store. Check your inbox and spam folder for a Square receipt or invoice from the merchant.
What should I do if I do not recognize an SQ* charge?
First, search your email, texts, and bank app for the exact amount and date. Second, contact the merchant name shown after SQ* if one appears, because Square is only the processor. Third, if the charge is still unknown, call your bank or card issuer and start a dispute right away.
Similar Charges
- SQ*
- SQ *
- SQ*MERCHANTNAME
- SQUARE*MERCHANTNAME
- SQ*CITYNAME