What is SQ * on my credit card statement?
A charge starting with SQ * is a transaction from a merchant that uses Square to process their payments. The "SQ" stands for Square, and the text following the asterisk is the name of the specific business where you made a purchase.
Full Name & What It Is
The "SQ" stands for Square, Inc. (now officially known as Block, Inc.). Square provides payment hardware and software to millions of small businesses. That white square card reader plugged into a smartphone, or the sleek iPad stand at your favorite coffee shop — that's Square. When a business uses Square, the charge appears as "SQ * [Merchant Name]" because Square is the payment middleman.
Merchant Code: SQ * [Merchant Name]
Company: Square, Inc. (Block, Inc.)
Service: Payment processing for small businesses and local merchants
Common Scenarios
Most independent coffee shops use Square on a tablet or iPad.
Mobile vendors use Square wireless readers to take payments on the go.
Vendors at pop-up markets use small readers attached to their phones.
Many salons and individual stylists use Square for bookings and payments.
Temporary stores use Square to avoid installing expensive permanent registers.
Is This a Scam?
✅ Usually legitimate.
In most cases, SQ * charges are perfectly legitimate. But they can look suspicious because many small business owners register Square under their legal business name (DBA) rather than their storefront name — "Big Al's Grille" might show up as "SQ * ALPHONSO INDUSTRIES." Also, credit card statements have character limits, so names get cut off. If you truly don't recognize a charge, search your email for a Square receipt, or contact your bank.
Customer Service
Important: There is no universal customer service phone number for SQ * charges. Square is just the payment processor — they cannot tell you what you bought or issue refunds directly.
Website: squareup.com — Use the "Look Up" tool to try and identify the transaction.
Receipt Search: Search your email inbox and text messages for "Square" or "receipt." Square automatically sends digital receipts if you've used your card at any Square merchant before.
Reddit User Discussions
"I saw a charge for SQ * TOAST on my statement and panicked. Thought it was a restaurant I never went to. Turns out it was the mobile bar at a wedding last weekend. They used 'Toast' as their Square business name."
— r/CreditCards
"I had an SQ * charge from a name I'd never heard of. My wife bought yarn at a local knitting circle and the teacher used her own Square reader. Always check with family before calling the bank!"
— r/personalfinance
"Watch out for generic SQ * names. I had 'SQ * SERVICE' and spent three days trying to remember. It was the handyman who fixed my screen door — he swiped my card on his iPhone."
— r/PersonalFinance
How to Get a Refund
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SQ * mean on a credit card statement?
The "SQ" stands for Square, a payment processing company (now Block, Inc.). The text after the asterisk is the name of the specific business where you made a purchase.
Is there a customer service number for SQ * charges?
No. Since Square only processes the payment, they do not have a universal call center for shoppers. You must contact the specific merchant directly or use the Square Look Up tool.
Is an SQ * charge a scam?
Usually no. It often looks unfamiliar because businesses use their legal DBA name, or the name gets cut off due to character limits. Check your email for a Square receipt to verify.
Get the Complete Refund Guide (PDF)
Phone scripts and templates for fast refunds from Amazon, Apple, Square merchants, and major banks.
$4.99 Download NowDisclaimer: Based on community reports. This is not financial or legal advice. Verify with your bank.