Why Some Charges Might Look Different at First
If your customers ever question unfamiliar charges on their bank statement especially ones labeled "APR" or another generic reference, this article will help you explain why it happens and what they can expect.
Why It Happens
When a payment is first made, the transaction enters a “pending” state before it's fully processed. During this time, the charge may temporarily display the name of the payment processor (like "APR") instead of your business name.
This is completely normal and is standard across many banks and card networks.
What Your Customer Will See
Pending Charges: Might show the processor’s name (e.g. “APR”)
Settled Charges: Will show your business name
Timing: This usually updates within 24–48 hours
For example, if someone makes a booking or purchase with your business, they might see something like:
💳 Pending charge: “APR”
✅ Settled charge (1–2 days later): “[Your Business Name]”
Special Note for American Express (Amex) Users
American Express transactions sometimes take a bit longer to fully settle. As a result, the payment processor’s name might stay on the statement a little longer before updating to your business name.
How You Can Help
To avoid confusion or chargebacks, you might want to let your customers know:
The temporary charge name they might see
That it will update automatically within a few days
That they’re always welcome to contact you with questions