A unique identifier can be a statement descriptor, a phone number, or any other phrase a customer might use to locate you.

We recommend using several identifiers, such as the statement descriptor, the statement phone number, the business phone number, the merchant application phone number, the statement descriptor during authorization, and the statement descriptor after settlement. Keep in mind that the descriptors may also vary by payment card type, and in some cases, even by card brand and issuing bank.

The best way to determine your identities is to run a test charge on a credit card, a debit card, and a prepaid card. Ideally, these charges should be run using multiple card brands and issuing banks.

The statement descriptors should be checked shortly after the charge takes place to capture the “authorizing” descriptor, and then checked again a day or two later to capture the settled descriptor.