Charge Explainer
§ 01 · DESCRIPTOR

What is SQ *THE MELT on your bank statement?

Here's what this charge most likely is, grounded in our prefix dictionary and what the descriptor itself contains.

Medium

This appears to be a charge from The Melt, a grilled cheese restaurant chain, processed through Square.

Most likely: The Melt
a fast-casual restaurant
Processed by: Square
Square is a payment processor used by many small and independent businesses. The 'SQ *' prefix means Square handled the transaction on behalf of the actual seller — in this case, the business named after it.
Category
Dining / Restaurants

Doesn't look right? Things you could check:

  • Check for a receiptSquare typically sends an email or SMS receipt at the time of purchase — searching your inbox for 'Square' or 'The Melt' may surface one.
  • Look up nearby locationsThe Melt has locations primarily in California; checking their website for locations near you could help confirm whether you visited one.
  • Review recent activityThinking back to the date of the charge and whether you or someone on your account visited a restaurant around that time may help place it.
WHAT THE DESCRIPTOR TELLS US

Square processes card payments for small and independent businesses. The name after SQ* is the actual seller — often a cafe, salon, food truck, or market vendor — not Square itself. After the SQ* prefix the descriptor reads “THE MELT” — that leftover text is the most likely seller.

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RELATED DESCRIPTORS
The SQ* prefix has its own page: What does SQ* mean on a statement?