What is a soft descriptor? Why the name on a customer's statement matters
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
A billing descriptor is the name a customer sees next to a card payment on their statement or banking app. A soft descriptor is a version that can be changed for each payment, such as adding an order number or product name.
Why it matters
If a customer doesn't recognise a payment, they may think it's fraud and ask their bank to reverse it. That chargeback costs the business the sale plus a fee, even though the payment was genuine.
Writing a good descriptor
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Tick each step as you do it, so you can see what is left.
Try it
Name your platform and watch it come to life
Type a name, tap a colour and pick what it does. The phone changes as you go.
Colour
What it does
Design and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
Hard vs soft
The hard descriptor is set when the business account is created and stays the same. A soft descriptor adds detail for each payment, where the provider supports it.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms let your customers take payments by payment link, invoice and online store under your own brand, powered by licensed partners.
How it works
Your own money app- 1Name it and pick your colours
- 2Choose what it does
- 3Launch when you are ready
Why sign up
Create your free SendPay account
It's all about creating your own financial platform with ease. Start with a free account today.
- 🪪A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
- 💳Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
- 🌐A free business websiteFree to build, free to publish and free to keep, with unlimited visits.
- 🚀Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
Is my chargeback rate too high?
Check your dispute ratio against card scheme limits.
Chargeback ratio calculator →Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.