ESSOR Charge on Credit Card: What It Means, Why It Appears, and What You Should Do

Have you noticed an ESSOR charge on credit card statement and don’t remember making the purchase? You’re not alone. Many cardholders become concerned when they see an unfamiliar merchant name, especially if it doesn’t match the business they recognize. In many cases, this happens because banks display a company’s legal business name instead of its customer-facing brand.

This guide explains what an ESSOR charge on credit card means, why it appears on your statement, when it’s considered legitimate, and the exact steps to take if you don’t recognize the transaction.

What Is an ESSOR Charge on a Credit Card?

An ESSOR charge on credit card is a billing descriptor that may appear when a payment is processed under the legal business name Essor Ltd. or Essor Inc. instead of the consumer-facing brand. According to official company documentation, these legal entities operate Secret Food Tours, a global travel company offering guided food and cultural experiences.

Because credit card statements often display the merchant’s registered legal name rather than its brand, many customers are surprised to see ESSOR, ESSOR LTD, or ESSOR INC. instead of Secret Food Tours.

If the transaction date and amount match a recent tour booking, the charge is usually legitimate.

Who Is ESSOR?

ESSOR is the legal business entity behind Secret Food Tours, an international tour operator founded in 2013. The company offers guided food tours, walking tours, wine tastings, and local cultural experiences in more than 120 cities worldwide.

Depending on where the transaction is processed, your payment may be billed by:

• Essor Limited (United Kingdom)
• Essor Inc. (United States)

Instead of showing the public brand, banks often display the merchant’s legal company name on your statement. This practice is completely normal and is known as a merchant descriptor.

Why Does My Credit Card Statement Say ESSOR Instead of Secret Food Tours?

Many people expect their credit card statement to display the same brand they purchased from. However, payment systems often use the merchant’s legal company name instead.

Here’s how the payment process typically works:

• Brand You Purchased From:-Secret Food Tours
• Legal Business Name:-Essor Ltd. or Essor Inc.
• Payment Processing:-
• Credit Card Statement:-ESSOR • ESSOR LTD • ESSOR INC.

For example, you may book a food tour through Secret Food Tours, but your bank statement later shows ESSOR INC. because that’s the company’s registered billing entity. This difference is common and doesn’t automatically indicate fraud.

What Purchases Can Create an ESSOR Charge?

Most ESSOR charge on credit card transactions are related to travel experiences provided by Secret Food Tours or other Essor-operated services.

Common purchases include:

• Guided food tours
• Walking tours
• Wine tasting experiences
• City sightseeing tours
• Culinary travel activities
• Other travel experiences operated by Essor

If you’ve recently traveled or booked one of these experiences, compare the charge amount and transaction date with your booking confirmation. If they match, the payment is likely legitimate.

Is an ESSOR Charge Legitimate?

Yes. In most cases, an ESSOR charge on credit card is a legitimate payment for a travel experience booked through Secret Food Tours.

The charge is likely valid if:

• You recently booked a food or walking tour.
• The amount matches your booking receipt.
• The purchase was made by you or an authorized user.
• The transaction appears after a recent vacation or trip.

However, you should investigate the charge if:

• You never booked a tour.
• The amount doesn’t match any purchase.
• Multiple ESSOR charges appear unexpectedly.
• You notice other unfamiliar transactions on your account.

Remember, an unfamiliar merchant name does not automatically mean fraud. It often reflects the merchant’s legal business name rather than the brand you remember.

I Don’t Recognize the ESSOR Charge—What Should I Do?

Before reporting the transaction as unauthorized, take a few minutes to verify it.

Start by:

• Searching your email for booking confirmations or travel receipts.
• Reviewing recent vacation or tour reservations.
• Checking whether a family member or authorized user made the purchase.
• Looking through your Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal payment history.
• Comparing the transaction date and amount with your recent bookings.

If you still can’t identify the purchase, contact your credit card issuer and ask for the merchant’s complete billing information. If the bank confirms the transaction wasn’t authorized, they can help you begin the dispute process.

Is ESSOR a Scam or Fraud?

No. Based on publicly available information, an ESSOR charge on credit card is not considered a known scam merchant descriptor. Official records identify Essor Ltd. and Essor Inc. as legitimate companies operating Secret Food Tours.

However, if you don’t recognize the transaction, you should still investigate it. An unfamiliar merchant name doesn’t automatically mean fraud—it may simply be the company’s legal billing name.

Watch for these warning signs:

• You never booked a tour or travel experience.
• The amount doesn’t match any recent purchase.
• Multiple ESSOR charges appear unexpectedly.
• You notice other unfamiliar transactions on your account.

If any of these apply, contact your card issuer immediately.

How to Verify an ESSOR Charge on Your Credit Card

Before disputing the charge, verify whether it’s connected to a legitimate purchase.

Use this checklist:

• Compare the transaction date with recent travel bookings.
• Match the charge amount to your booking receipt.
• Review your Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal history.
• Search your email for booking confirmations.
• Ask your bank for:
  • Merchant name
  • Merchant ID
  • Authorization number
  • Merchant contact details

These details often help identify the transaction without filing an unnecessary dispute.

Can You Get a Refund?

Yes—but eligibility depends on the merchant’s cancellation policy.

A refund may be available if:

• The tour was canceled by the company.
• Your booking qualifies under the cancellation policy.
• A billing error occurred.
• The merchant agrees to issue a voluntary refund.

A refund is less likely if:

• Your booking was non-refundable.
• The cancellation deadline has passed.
• You simply changed your travel plans.

Refund vs. Chargeback

A refund is issued directly by the merchant.

A chargeback is handled by your credit card issuer after investigating an unauthorized or disputed transaction.

Whenever possible, contact the merchant first before requesting a chargeback.

Can I Dispute an ESSOR Charge?

Yes.

You should dispute an ESSOR charge on credit card only after confirming that neither you nor an authorized user made the purchase.

A dispute is appropriate when:

• The transaction wasn’t authorized.
• You were charged the wrong amount.
• You were billed twice.
• The merchant refuses to resolve a valid issue.
• The merchant refuses to resolve a valid issue.

Before contacting your bank, gather:

• Credit card statement
• Booking confirmation
• Receipts
• Email correspondence
• Cancellation requests

Most banks complete investigations within 30 to 90 days, although the exact timeframe depends on your card issuer and card network.

Other Companies Named ESSOR

One reason this merchant descriptor creates confusion is that several businesses use the name Essor.

Essor Technologies

Essor Technologies is an India-based company that sells POS systems, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and retail hardware. Although it’s a legitimate business, there is no strong public evidence that it commonly appears as a generic ESSOR merchant descriptor on U.S. consumer credit card statements.

Essor Group

Essor Group Inc. is another separate company associated with brands such as Boka. It operates independently and shouldn’t automatically be confused with the company behind Secret Food Tours.

Because multiple businesses share the “Essor” name, the merchant descriptor alone doesn’t identify which company processed the payment. Always verify the transaction details before making assumptions.

Why Merchant Names Look Different on Credit Card Statements

Many consumers don’t realize that the merchant name on a credit card statement isn’t always the same as the brand they purchased from.

This happens because banks often display:

• The merchant’s legal business entity
• The registered billing descriptor
• Information provided by the payment processor

For example:

Brand	Statement Descriptor
Netflix	NETFLIX.COM
Apple	APPLE.COM/BILL
Google	GOOGLE *Service
Uber	UBER *TRIP
Secret Food Tours	ESSOR, ESSOR LTD, or ESSOR INC.

This is why an unfamiliar merchant name doesn’t necessarily indicate fraud.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ESSOR charge on a credit card?

It’s usually a payment processed by Essor Ltd. or Essor Inc., the legal entities behind Secret Food Tours.

Is ESSOR a legitimate company?

Yes. Official company records identify Essor as the legal business behind Secret Food Tours.

Why doesn’t my statement say Secret Food Tours?

Banks often display the merchant’s legal company name rather than its public-facing brand.

Is ESSOR a recurring charge?

Not usually. Most ESSOR charges are connected to individual travel bookings unless you agreed to another billing arrangement.

Final Thoughts

An ESSOR charge on credit card is most commonly linked to Secret Food Tours, whose payments are processed under the legal business names Essor Ltd. or Essor Inc. If the charge matches a recent travel or tour booking, it’s likely a legitimate transaction.

If you don’t recognize the payment, don’t panic. Compare the transaction date and amount with your recent bookings, review your digital wallet history, and contact your credit card issuer for additional merchant details. If the transaction still can’t be verified, report it immediately and begin the dispute process to protect your account.

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