SUBSTACK — Substack Bank Charge Explained

SUBSTACK on your bank statement is a transaction descriptor for Substack, a subscription company. Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor.

What Is the SUBSTACK Charge?

SUBSTACK is a transaction descriptor for Substack, a subscription company.

Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor. They typically appear as SUBSTACK or SUBSTACK*<name>.

This code appears on your bank statement because banks display a short payment reference — set by the merchant's payment processor — rather than the company's full trading name. The code SUBSTACK is the official identifier that Substack registered with Visa or Mastercard.

Is the SUBSTACK Charge Legitimate?

Substack is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your Substack account to review recent activity.

How Do I Cancel or Dispute a SUBSTACK Charge?

  1. Identify the charge: Confirm the charge is from Substack by checking your email for a receipt or logging into your account on their website.
  2. Cancel your subscription: If you no longer want the service, log in to Substack and cancel your subscription through account settings before the next billing date.
  3. Contact the merchant: If you do not recognise the charge, contact Substack customer support and ask for an explanation and refund.
  4. Dispute with your bank: If the merchant does not resolve the issue, call the number on the back of your card and ask to raise a chargeback on the SUBSTACK transaction. Provide the transaction date and amount.
  5. Section 75 rights: If you paid by credit card and the amount was over £100, you may have additional protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

What Other Names Does Substack Use on Bank Statements?

Substack may also appear on your statement as:

Frequently Asked Questions About SUBSTACK

What is SUBSTACK on my bank statement?

SUBSTACK is a bank statement transaction code for Substack, a subscription company. Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor. They typically appear as SUBSTACK or SUBSTACK*<name>. This descriptor appears because banks display a shortened payment code instead of the full company name.

Is SUBSTACK a scam?

Substack is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your Substack account to review recent activity.

Why is SUBSTACK on my bank statement?

SUBSTACK appears on your statement because Substack processed a payment through their card payment provider. The code is set by their payment processor and is the official descriptor registered with Visa or Mastercard. Common reasons include a subscription renewal, a one-off purchase, or a trial period that has converted to a paid plan.

How do I cancel SUBSTACK?

To stop SUBSTACK charges from appearing on your statement, you need to cancel your Substack subscription or account. Log in to the Substack website, go to your account settings, and cancel your subscription. If you cannot find the cancellation option or do not recognise the charge, contact your bank to dispute it and block future payments.

How do I get a refund for a SUBSTACK charge?

If you believe you have been charged incorrectly by Substack, first contact their customer support to request a refund. If they are unresponsive or unhelpful, contact your bank and ask to raise a chargeback. You typically have up to 120 days from the transaction date to raise a chargeback claim. For credit card purchases over £100, you may also be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

For more information about Substack and all its known transaction codes, visit the Substack merchant page.