What exactly is the COLES* charge on my bank statement?

The COLES* charge is the merchant descriptor used by Coles Supermarkets when processing payments for in-store purchases, online grocery orders, Coles Express fuel, or Coles Plus subscriptions.

Why does the charge say COLES* instead of Coles Supermarkets?

Banks and card networks often truncate merchant names into short codes. COLES* is the official abbreviated billing descriptor that Coles Supermarkets uses across all transaction types.

Can I get a refund for a COLES* charge?

Yes — Coles Supermarkets offers refunds for incorrect charges, damaged products, or unfulfilled online orders. Contact Coles Customer Care at 1800 061 562 or visit your local store with your receipt.

How do I cancel my Coles Plus membership to stop recurring COLES* charges?

Log into your Coles account at coles.com.au, navigate to 'Coles Plus' in your account settings, and select 'Cancel Membership' before your next renewal date to stop future charges.

How do I stop future COLES* charges appearing on my card?

Remove your saved payment card from your Coles online account, cancel any active Coles Plus subscription, and notify your bank if you believe charges are being made without your authorisation.

Home›Browse Charges›Shopping›COLES*

COLES* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "COLES*" charge is from Coles Supermarkets. Coles grocery purchase Australia.

🌍 AU🕐 8 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Coles Supermarkets

Coles grocery purchase Australia.

COLES*

Understanding this descriptor

When Coles Supermarkets processes transactions through its point-of-sale payment systems across Australian stores, the billing descriptor is automatically truncated to COLES* due to character limits imposed by card payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, which typically cap merchant descriptors at a shortened format. The asterisk following COLES* is a standard formatting convention used by payment processors to separate the merchant identifier from any additional location or transaction reference data that may follow. So if you've recently done a grocery shop at a Coles store in Australia and see COLES* on your bank statement, it's simply how their payment processing system identifies the transaction rather than displaying the full Coles Supermarkets name.

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Recommended actions

Match the COLES* charge to a receipt

Log into your Coles account at coles.com.au or check your email for a digital receipt that matches the COLES* charge amount and date on your bank statement. If you shop in-store, check any paper receipts from around the same transaction date to confirm the purchase.

Review your Coles Supermarkets purchase history

Sign into your Coles account at coles.com.au and navigate to your order or purchase history. This will help you identify whether the COLES* charge corresponds to an online grocery order, a Click and Collect pickup, or a recent in-store shop using your Coles account or flybuys card.

Check your Flybuys points activity

If you linked your Flybuys card to the Coles Supermarkets purchase, log into your Flybuys account and review recent points earned. A matching points transaction on the same date as the COLES* charge is a strong confirmation that the charge is legitimate and tied to your shopping visit.

Contact Coles Supermarkets if the amount seems wrong

If the COLES* charge amount does not match any receipt or order you can find, contact Coles Supermarkets customer support directly through coles.com.au to query the transaction before escalating a dispute with your bank. Coles can look up transactions by date and amount to help clarify the charge.

ℹ️ International processing

This charge is processed in AU. You may see a foreign transaction fee from your bank (typically 1-3%).

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Is this charge fraudulent?

No, this is a legitimate charge from Coles Supermarkets. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the COLES* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see COLES* on your bank or credit card statement, it almost certainly comes from a purchase at Coles Supermarkets, one of Australia's largest grocery chains. This abbreviated descriptor is standard for Coles transactions and is not inherently a sign of fraud. Common legitimate reasons for seeing COLES* include:

In-store grocery or liquor purchases at a Coles Supermarket location
Online orders placed through the Coles website or app, including Click&Collect and home delivery
Coles Plus membership subscription fees charged on a recurring basis
Fuel purchases at Coles Express service stations linked to your payment card

How to Verify the COLES* Charge

1
Check your Coles account
Log into your Coles account at coles.com.au and review your order history to match the charge amount and date to a recent transaction.
2
Search your email for receipts
Look for confirmation emails from Coles Supermarkets — online orders and Click&Collect purchases generate automatic receipts sent to your registered email address.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or housemates whether they used your card at Coles Supermarkets, since in-store purchases are easy to overlook on shared accounts.
4
Review Coles Plus subscription
If you subscribed to Coles Plus for free delivery benefits, check whether the COLES* charge aligns with your monthly or annual membership renewal date.
5
Contact your bank
If you still cannot identify the COLES* charge, call your bank's fraud line and ask for the full merchant details attached to the transaction for further investigation.

How to Dispute a COLES* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require you to raise a dispute within 60 days of the COLES* charge appearing on your statement, so act quickly once you identify an unauthorised transaction.
2
Contact Coles Supermarkets first
Reach out to Coles Customer Care at 1800 061 562 or via the Coles website — they can often resolve billing errors or unauthorised charges faster than a formal bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Coles Supermarkets cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or card provider to initiate a chargeback, providing the COLES* charge details, amount, and any correspondence with Coles.
4
Request a new card
If the COLES* charge appears fraudulent and your card details may be compromised, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a replacement to prevent further unauthorised charges.

Tips for Managing Coles Supermarkets Charges

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Set up transaction alerts on your bank app so you're notified instantly whenever a COLES* charge is processed.

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Always keep your Coles in-store receipts until the COLES* charge clears correctly on your statement.

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Secure your Coles account with a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorised orders.

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Note your Coles Plus renewal date in your calendar to avoid being surprised by the annual or monthly membership charge.

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Use a dedicated card for Coles Supermarkets online shopping to make COLES* charges easier to track and dispute if needed.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges that may appear alongside COLES* on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a COLES* charge is simply a routine grocery or online delivery purchase from Coles Supermarkets — checking your recent shopping history or Coles account order page will usually identify it within seconds.