The short answer
Your billing descriptor is the text a cardholder sees on their statement. If it shows a holding company name rather than your trading name, customers dispute charges they genuinely made. Set it to the trading name plus a contact number, and the dispute rate drops immediately.
What good looks like
Trading name, ideally with a phone number in the available characters. 'BELLAS KITCHEN 4165551234' beats 'BK HOLDINGS LLC' by a wide margin because the customer can both recognise it and call you.
Subscriptions need it most
Recurring charges land weeks or months after the decision to subscribe. An unrecognisable descriptor on month four is a dispute waiting to be filed.
Key takeaways
- Use the trading name customers recognise
- Include a phone number where characters allow
- Descriptor quality matters most for subscriptions
Want this checked against your own statement?
We are an independent agent — we shop every processor we work with and bring you the best deal for your profile. Free analysis, every fee named, back within 4 hours. Or call now and we will quote you on the phone.