"SEATTLE WAUS" Charge on Your Bank Statement — What It Is & How to Get a Refund

What Is the SEATTLE WAUS Charge on Your Bank Statement?

If you see SEATTLE WAUS on your bank or credit card statement, it means a company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States processed a charge to your card. "SEATTLE WAUS" is not the name of a single merchant — it is a billing address descriptor that combines the city (Seattle), state (WA), and country (US) of the company's registered payment processing address.

The most common companies associated with the SEATTLE WAUS descriptor are Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, T-Mobile, Expedia, and Zillow — all of which are headquartered in or near Seattle, Washington. When the merchant's business name is truncated or not fully transmitted by the payment processor, your bank may display only the billing location, resulting in the generic "SEATTLE WAUS" descriptor.

This descriptor appears frequently because Seattle is home to some of the world's largest technology and retail companies. Amazon alone processes billions of transactions per year, and many of those charges show the Seattle billing address when the full merchant name doesn't fit in the descriptor field. If the charge turns out to be from Amazon, you may also see the related descriptor AMZN MKTP US on your statement. If you want to identify other unfamiliar charges, try our descriptor lookup tool or visit DidIBuyIt.com.

Which Companies Commonly Charge as SEATTLE WAUS?

Because SEATTLE WAUS is a location-based descriptor rather than a merchant name, it can come from any business registered in Seattle, WA. However, these are the most common sources:

• Amazon (Amazon.com, Inc.): The most frequent source. Includes purchases from Amazon.com, Amazon Prime subscriptions ($139/year), Kindle, Audible, Amazon Music, Prime Video, Whole Foods delivery, and Amazon Web Services. Amazon's headquarters are at 410 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA.
• Microsoft Corporation: Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Windows Store purchases, LinkedIn Premium, and other Microsoft services. While Microsoft's main campus is in Redmond, WA, some transactions process through their Seattle offices.
• Starbucks: Auto-reload charges for the Starbucks app/card, Starbucks Rewards, and mobile order payments. Starbucks is headquartered at 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA.
• T-Mobile: Monthly wireless bill payments, device installment plans, and T-Mobile insurance. T-Mobile's US headquarters are in Bellevue, WA (Seattle metro area).
• Expedia Group: Hotel, flight, and travel package bookings through Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and other Expedia Group brands. Headquartered in Seattle.
• Zillow Group: Zillow Premium subscriptions, advertising charges for real estate agents, and Zillow Rental Manager fees. Headquartered in Seattle.
• Nordstrom: Online and in-store purchases from Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. Headquartered in Seattle since 1901.

Is SEATTLE WAUS a Scam or Legitimate?

SEATTLE WAUS is almost always a legitimate charge from a major company headquartered in the Seattle metropolitan area. The descriptor itself simply indicates the merchant's billing city and state — it is not inherently suspicious.

However, because the descriptor is generic and doesn't clearly identify which company charged you, it can be confusing. The charge is most likely legitimate if:

• You have an Amazon account and have made recent purchases or have active subscriptions (Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Audible)
• You have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Xbox Game Pass, or have made recent purchases on the Microsoft Store
• You use the Starbucks app with auto-reload enabled on your card
• You are a T-Mobile customer and the charge matches your billing cycle
• You recently booked travel through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo

If you have no accounts with any Seattle-based company and cannot identify the charge, it may be unauthorized. Contact your bank immediately to report it and request a new card.

How to Identify Which Company Charged You

Since SEATTLE WAUS doesn't name a specific merchant, follow these steps to identify the source:

1. Check the charge amount: Match the dollar amount to known subscriptions — Amazon Prime is $14.99/month or $139/year, Microsoft 365 is $6.99-$9.99/month, Xbox Game Pass is $9.99-$17.99/month, Starbucks auto-reload is typically $10-$50.
2. Search your email: Look for order confirmations or receipts from Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, T-Mobile, or other Seattle-area companies around the charge date.
3. Check your Amazon orders: Log in to amazon.com → Your Orders. Check both physical orders and digital purchases (Kindle, Audible, Prime Video rentals).
4. Review Microsoft account: Visit account.microsoft.com → Payment & billing → Order history to see recent charges.
5. Check the Starbucks app: Open the Starbucks app → Manage → Auto-Reload. If enabled, your card is charged automatically when your balance drops below a set amount.
6. Review your bank's full transaction details: Some banks show more information in the transaction details view than in the statement summary. Look for additional merchant codes, reference numbers, or authorization IDs.
7. Call your bank: Your bank can often provide the full merchant category code (MCC) and additional descriptor details that aren't shown on your statement, which can help identify the merchant.

How to Get a Refund for a SEATTLE WAUS Charge

The refund process depends on which company charged you:

• Amazon: Most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery. Go to Your Orders → select the item → Return or Replace Items. Digital subscriptions (Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Audible) can be canceled for a prorated refund if you haven't used the service. Call 1-888-280-4331 or use the Amazon chat support.
• Microsoft: Digital purchases may be refundable within 30 days. Visit Microsoft's refund request page. Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft 365 can be canceled anytime. Call 1-800-642-7676.
• Starbucks: Contact customer service at 1-800-782-7282 or use the Starbucks app → Help. For unauthorized app charges, request a refund through the app.
• T-Mobile: Billing disputes can be filed by calling 1-800-937-8997 or chatting through the T-Mobile app. You have 60 days from the statement date to dispute.
• Expedia: Cancellation policies vary by booking. Log in to Expedia.com → Trips → Cancel or change. Call 1-866-310-5768 for assistance.

How to Dispute a SEATTLE WAUS Charge

If you cannot identify the merchant or believe the charge is fraudulent:

1. Try to identify the merchant first: Use the steps above to check Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, and other Seattle-based services. Many "unrecognized" charges turn out to be forgotten subscriptions or auto-renewals.
2. Contact your bank or credit card issuer: If the charge is truly unauthorized, call the number on the back of your card to report it. For credit cards, you're protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act — your liability for unauthorized charges is limited to $50 (most banks offer zero liability). For debit cards, report within 60 days under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.
3. Request a new card: If you suspect your card was compromised, ask your bank to issue a new card with a new number to prevent further unauthorized charges.
4. File a written dispute: Send a written dispute letter to your bank within 60 days of the statement date. Include the charge date, amount, and why you believe it is unauthorized. Keep copies of all correspondence.
5. Monitor your account: After reporting, watch your statement for additional unauthorized charges from SEATTLE WAUS or similar descriptors. Set up transaction alerts with your bank for real-time notifications.

Frequently Seen Amounts for SEATTLE WAUS Charges

These are the most commonly reported amounts for SEATTLE WAUS charges and what they typically correspond to:

• $1.00: Temporary authorization hold from Amazon or another merchant verifying your card is active — this will usually drop off within 3-5 days.
• $9.99 – $14.99: Amazon Prime monthly ($14.99), Microsoft 365 Personal ($6.99), Xbox Game Pass ($9.99-$17.99), or Audible ($14.95).
• $25.00 – $50.00: Starbucks auto-reload, Amazon digital purchases, or small product orders.
• $50.00 – $200.00: Amazon product purchases, Expedia travel bookings, or T-Mobile monthly bills.
• $139.00: Amazon Prime annual subscription fee.
• $200.00+: Large Amazon orders, Microsoft Surface/Xbox hardware, or premium travel bookings through Expedia.