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

The PETCO* charge is the billing descriptor that Petco uses when processing payments. It appears for in-store purchases, Petco.com online orders, Repeat Delivery subscriptions, Vital Care memberships, and grooming or vet services.

Why does the charge say PETCO* instead of just Petco?

The asterisk in PETCO* is added automatically by Petco's payment processor and is completely normal. It often separates the merchant name from a location code or transaction ID, and does not indicate fraud.

Can I get a refund for a PETCO* charge?

Yes. Petco accepts returns within 30 days of purchase for most items. Contact Petco customer service at 1-888-824-7257 or visit a store with your receipt to request a refund that will reverse the PETCO* charge.

How do I cancel a Petco Vital Care membership to stop recurring PETCO* charges?

Log into your account on Petco.com, go to 'Vital Care' under your profile, and select the cancellation option. You can also call Petco at 1-888-824-7257 to cancel and confirm no future PETCO* charges will be billed.

How do I stop future PETCO* charges from Repeat Delivery?

Sign into Petco.com, go to 'My Subscriptions,' and pause or cancel any active Repeat Delivery orders. Once cancelled, Petco will stop billing your card and no further PETCO* charges will appear on your statement.

Home›Browse Charges›Shopping›PETCO*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "PETCO*" charge is from Petco. Petco pet supplies purchase.

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

Petco

Petco pet supplies purchase.

PETCO*

Why does this charge appear?

When Petco processes a card transaction at one of its retail stores or through its online shop, the payment system automatically appends an asterisk followed by a truncated identifier, resulting in "PETCO*" appearing on your bank statement rather than the full company name. This format is a standard truncation used by Petco's payment processor to fit within the character limits imposed by card networks like Visa and Mastercard, which restrict merchant descriptors to a set number of characters. If you see "PETCO*" on your statement alongside a charge around $40.00, it almost certainly reflects a one-time purchase of pet food, supplies, or accessories from Petco.

🛡️

Got a suspicious message or link?

Free

Detect scams in seconds — texts, emails, websites & more, instant results.

🛡️ Check for Scam →

✅

Your next steps

Confirm Your Petco Purchase

Think back to any recent pet supply purchases you made at a Petco store or on petco.com. The PETCO* charge is associated with pet supplies, so check if you or someone in your household recently bought food, toys, or other pet items from Petco.

Log Into Your Petco Account

Visit petco.com and sign into your account to review your recent order history. This will help you match the PETCO* charge on your bank statement to a specific order, including the date, items purchased, and total amount charged.

Check for a Petco Repeat Delivery Subscription

If you use Petco's Repeat Delivery service for automatic shipments of pet food or supplies, log in at petco.com/account to review your active subscriptions. The PETCO* charge may be a recurring auto-ship order you set up and forgot about.

Contact Petco If the Amount Seems Off

If the PETCO* charge amount does not match any order in your Petco account history, reach out to Petco's customer service directly through petco.com to clarify the charge before contacting your bank, as it may be a legitimate transaction with a billing discrepancy.

🛡

Legitimate or scam?

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

Is the PETCO* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

A PETCO* charge on your bank or credit card statement is most commonly a legitimate transaction from Petco, one of the largest pet supply retailers in the US. The asterisk in "PETCO*" is a standard billing descriptor format used by Petco's payment processor and does not indicate anything suspicious. Common reasons you may see this charge include:

An in-store purchase at a Petco retail location for food, supplies, or accessories
An online order placed at Petco.com for pet products or medications
A Petco Vital Care membership or Repeat Delivery subscription auto-renewal
A grooming, training, or veterinary services appointment at a Petco location

How to Verify the PETCO* Charge

1
Check your Petco account
Log into your account at Petco.com and navigate to your order history. Any recent purchases, Repeat Delivery orders, or Vital Care membership fees will be listed there with matching amounts.
2
Search your email for Petco receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Petco (noreply@petco.com or orders@petco.com). Petco sends order confirmations and subscription renewal notices that will match the PETCO* charge amount and date.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or roommates if they made a Petco purchase using your card. It's common for a shared card to be used for pet food deliveries or in-store Petco visits by another household member.
4
Review your Petco subscriptions
Log into Petco.com and check 'My Subscriptions' for any active Vital Care memberships or Repeat Delivery orders. These recurring charges appear as PETCO* on your statement each billing cycle.
5
Contact your bank
If you still cannot place the PETCO* charge, call the number on the back of your card. Your bank can provide the exact transaction date, location, and last four digits used, helping you pinpoint the source.

How to Dispute a PETCO* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Report an unauthorized or incorrect PETCO* charge to your bank within 60 days of your statement date. Acting quickly is critical — most banks and credit card issuers have strict dispute windows that you must not miss.
2
Contact Petco first
Reach out to Petco's customer service at 1-888-824-7257 or via chat on Petco.com. Petco can often resolve billing errors, issue refunds for duplicate charges, or cancel unwanted subscriptions faster than a formal bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Petco does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card issuer to file a formal chargeback for the PETCO* charge. Provide any supporting documentation such as Petco emails, screenshots, or cancellation confirmations.
4
Request a new card
If you suspect the PETCO* charge is fraudulent and your card details were compromised, ask your bank to cancel the current card and issue a new one with a different number to prevent any further unauthorized charges.

Tips for Managing Petco Charges

🔔

Enable bank alerts for PETCO* charges so you're notified instantly whenever Petco processes a payment on your card.

📋

Save all Petco order confirmation emails so you can quickly match any PETCO* charge that appears on your statement.

🔑

Keep your Petco.com account login updated and review your saved payment methods regularly to avoid surprise charges.

📅

Note your Petco Vital Care or Repeat Delivery renewal dates to anticipate recurring PETCO* charges each billing cycle.

🛡️

Use a dedicated card for Petco subscriptions so PETCO* charges are easy to track and isolate from other spending.

🔍

Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify any related or unfamiliar charges that appear alongside PETCO* on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a PETCO* charge is simply a legitimate transaction from Petco — whether it's a pet food delivery, a Vital Care membership renewal, or an in-store purchase. A quick check of your Petco.com order history or inbox is usually all it takes to confirm the charge and put your mind at ease.