This article will guide merchants through updating the descriptor that appears on the customers statement.

What is a Descriptor?

A descriptor is the text that appears on a customer's billing statement, indicating which company charged the customer's card or bank account if using eCheck. To update your company's descriptor, including business name or phone number, please contact your Merchant Service Provider (MSP).

Credit Card Descriptor

Each merchant account may contain only one descriptor, to change this descriptor you must contact your Merchant Service Provider (MSP). Your MSP is the company that acts as your financial institution. They deposit funds into your bank account and maintain your merchant account with Visa and MasterCard. They are also the company that charges you the percentage discount rate on your batch settlements. They may also assess transaction processing limits on your merchant account.

If you process American Express and Discover transactions, please contact these card networks as well to ensure all of your customers receive the correct descriptor. Incorrect or unclear descriptors can lead to increased chargebacks.

If TSYS or EVO are the processor for your Merchant Account please contact Authorize.net Client Services to request a business name update. When using these processor, your merchant account may use the business name that Authorize.net sends during settlement.

eCheck Descriptor

Authorize.net performs the processing of eCheck ACH transactions and if the descriptor for these transactions needs to be updated please contact Authorize.net Client Services to request an update to your eCheck descriptor.