What Is SumUp on My Bank Statement? How to Trace It
A SumUp entry on your bank statement is usually a card payment to a small business or trader who uses a SumUp card machine. SumUp is a card-reader payment company, so the charge is a purchase you made from a merchant using their device — much like Zettle.
Here's how to identify the payment and what to do if you don't recognise it.
At a glance
- What it is
- A card-reader payment company
- Why it shows up
- You paid a small business using a SumUp machine
- Is it safe
- Yes — SumUp is a regulated payment provider
- If unsure
- Check receipts, contact the merchant or your bank
Key Takeaways
- SumUp is a card-payment company whose readers are used by small shops, market traders and mobile businesses.
- A SumUp line means you paid a merchant using their SumUp card machine — the charge is really from that trader.
- It works much like Zettle, so the payment may show SumUp or the trader's name.
- If you don't recognise a SumUp charge, check receipts, contact the merchant, then contact your bank.
What is SumUp on my bank statement?
SumUp is a card-reader payment company. Small businesses use SumUp's card machines and app to accept card payments, so when you pay one of them, the transaction can be processed through SumUp.
That's why it appears on your statement. The charge is a genuine purchase from a merchant — SumUp is simply the technology that took the payment.
Why a SumUp charge appears on your statement
You'll see SumUp because you bought something from a business that uses its card readers. These tend to be smaller or mobile traders, including:
- Independent shops and cafes taking card at the counter.
- Market stalls and street vendors.
- Tradespeople and mobile services — for example a hairdresser, plumber or driving instructor.
- Pop-ups, fairs and events where vendors use portable readers.
The statement narrative may show "SumUp" alongside the trader's name, or sometimes just one of the two, depending on how the merchant set up their account.
Is SumUp safe?
Yes. SumUp is an established, regulated payment provider, and payments through it are processed securely to the same card-security standards as other providers.
Seeing SumUp on your statement isn't a red flag in itself. It works in the same way as Zettle, which is PayPal's equivalent card-reader system.
How to identify a SumUp charge you don't recognise
If a SumUp line looks unfamiliar, work through it step by step:
- Check receipts. Match the amount and date with any receipt or confirmation you have.
- Look at the full narrative in your app. Tapping the transaction often reveals the trader's name behind the SumUp label.
- Think about where you paid by card. Small or mobile businesses are the likeliest source.
- Contact the merchant if you can identify them but want to confirm details.
If you still can't place it, or you're sure it wasn't you, contact your bank promptly in case of an error or fraud. For other unfamiliar entries, see what is this charge on my bank statement, and if you're ever asked to share account details, read is it safe to share your sort code and account number.
What the different SumUp descriptors mean
The exact wording tells you how much the merchant bothered to set up.
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| SUMUP followed by a trading name | The usual case — the name after SumUp is the business you paid |
| SUMUP on its own, or SUMUP LIMITED | The merchant never set a trading name, so only the processor shows |
| A SumUp charge repeating monthly | A trader taking a recurring payment or an invoice plan, not SumUp itself |
That last one is worth attention. SumUp does not charge consumers anything, so a repeating SumUp line is a merchant with a standing arrangement — a gym, a subscription box, a tradesperson on a payment plan. Cancelling it means going to them, not to SumUp.
Why SumUp cannot tell you who charged you
This is the part that wastes people's time. You are not SumUp's customer — the merchant is. SumUp will not disclose a business's details to a cardholder, so ringing them gets you nowhere.
Your bank can. It holds the merchant details behind the transaction and is the only party that can start a chargeback or a fraud investigation.
If you are certain the payment was not yours, use the word unauthorised when you report it. Under the Payment Services Regulations your bank must normally refund an unauthorised payment without undue delay, and in most cases by the end of the next working day, unless it has reason to suspect you acted fraudulently or with gross negligence.
Getting a refund
A refund has to come from the business you bought from, because SumUp only moves the money. If the trader will not refund you and you believe you are entitled, ask your bank about a chargeback. Purchases over £100 paid by credit card may also carry Section 75 rights against the card provider.
Frequently asked questions
Is a SumUp charge a purchase or a subscription?
Almost always a purchase from a business using a SumUp card machine. SumUp charges consumers nothing itself. If you see the same SumUp amount every month, that is a merchant taking a recurring payment — cancel it with them, not with SumUp.
Why doesn't the SumUp charge show the shop's name?
Because the payment processor is what reaches your bank, not the business. Merchants can set a trading name that appears after "SUMUP", but plenty never do. Tapping into the transaction in your banking app often reveals more than the summary line.
How do I find out which business a SumUp payment was to?
Ask your bank. SumUp will not identify a merchant to a cardholder, since you are not their customer. Your bank holds the merchant details behind the payment and can look them up. Check the fuller description in your app first, as it sometimes carries a location or partial name.
Is a SumUp charge a scam?
Usually not — it is nearly always a genuine small trader whose own name never reaches your bank. That said, a card reader is only as legitimate as whoever holds it. If the amount and date match nothing you did, treat it as an unrecognised payment and tell your bank.
How do I get a refund on a SumUp payment?
Go back to the business you paid, because the refund must come from them. If they refuse and you think you are owed it, ask your bank about a chargeback. Credit card purchases over £100 may also give you Section 75 rights.
Is SumUp the same as Zettle?
They are competitors doing the same job — card readers for small businesses. Zettle is owned by PayPal, SumUp is independent. A charge from either simply means you paid a trader using their device.
What should I do if I don't recognise a SumUp payment?
Match the amount and date against where you were, check whether anyone else uses the card, and look at the fuller description in your app. If it is still unexplained, contact your bank — not SumUp.
More statement entries explained: SQ * · Zettle · Uber · TFL TRAVEL CH · APPLE.COM/BILL · GOOGLE *TEMPORARY HOLD · AMZNMktplace · PAYPAL / PP* · Klarna · CHG · FPI / FPO · CR / DR
General information only, not financial advice. If you don't recognise a transaction, contact your bank.
