The CSC charge is usually a payment processing fee, not a purchase
When you see "CSC Service Work" on your credit card statement, you are looking at a fee charged by a payment processor or merchant services company, not a charge for goods or services you bought. CSC stands for Convergys Customer Management Group (now part of TTEC Holdings), a company that processes payments and handles customer service for thousands of businesses. The charge appears when a merchant you paid uses their payment processing system.
The confusion happens because the charge shows up alongside your actual purchases, but it is separate from them. You did not buy anything from CSC itself. Instead, a business you paid — often a utility company, insurance provider, subscription service, or government agency — uses CSC's payment processing platform. That platform adds a fee to your transaction, and that fee is what lands on your statement as "CSC Service Work."
The amount varies depending on the merchant and the type of transaction. Some businesses pass the fee to you; others absorb it themselves. If you made a payment to a company and saw this charge appear days later, that timing is normal — payment processors often batch and report fees separately from the original transaction.
Key Takeaways
- CSC Service Work is a payment processing fee charged by a company that handles transactions for merchants, not a charge from CSC itself.
- The fee appears on your statement because a business you paid uses CSC's payment platform to process customer payments.
- You can identify which merchant triggered the fee by checking your statement for payments made around the same date the CSC charge appeared.
- If you did not authorize a payment to any merchant around that time, the charge may be fraudulent and should be reported to your card issuer.
How to find which merchant caused the charge
Start by looking at your credit card statement for the date the CSC charge appeared. Then look backward two to five days — payment processors often report fees after the original transaction clears. Find any payment you made during that window to a utility company, insurance provider, government office, subscription service, or online retailer. That merchant is almost certainly the one using CSC's payment system.
If you made multiple payments around that time, call the merchant whose payment seems most likely. Tell them you see a CSC Service Work charge on your credit card and ask whether they use CSC to process payments. They can confirm whether the fee came from them and explain whether it was passed to you or absorbed by their company.
Write down the merchant's name, the date of your payment to them, and the date the CSC charge appeared. This information helps if you need to dispute the charge or if you want to contact the merchant to ask why a fee was added.
When the charge is legitimate and when it might not be
The CSC charge is legitimate if you made a payment to a merchant who uses their payment processing system. Many government agencies, utilities, and subscription services use CSC to handle online and phone payments. The fee is a standard part of how payment processing works — merchants pay processors to handle transactions, and some merchants pass that cost to customers.
The charge is not legitimate if you did not make any payment to any merchant around the time it appeared. If your statement shows a CSC Service Work charge but you cannot match it to a payment you made, this could indicate fraud. Someone may have used your card information to make a payment through a CSC-processed system, or your card details may have been compromised.
If you believe the charge is fraudulent, contact your credit card issuer right away. Provide them with the date of the charge, the amount, and the fact that you did not authorize any payment that would trigger it. Your card issuer can investigate and reverse the charge if it was made without your permission. They can also issue you a new card if your information was compromised.
Whether you can avoid this fee in the future
Whether you can avoid the CSC charge depends on the merchant and the payment method. If you are paying a utility, government agency, or subscription service, check whether they offer payment methods that do not use CSC's system. Some companies let you pay by mail, automatic bank transfer, or in person at a physical location — these methods usually do not include processing fees.
If the merchant only offers online or phone payment and uses CSC to process it, you have limited options. You can ask the merchant whether the fee is mandatory or whether they will waive it for certain payment methods. Some merchants absorb the fee themselves and do not charge customers, so it is worth asking. If the fee is unavoidable and the merchant is essential (like a utility or tax payment), you may have to accept it as part of doing business with them.
For subscription services and optional purchases, you can shop around for providers who do not charge processing fees. For government payments and utilities, you usually have no choice of provider, so the fee is straightforward a cost of paying them.
What to do if you see this charge repeatedly
If CSC Service Work charges appear on your statement multiple times, you are likely making repeated payments to the same merchant or merchants who all use CSC's system. This is common if you have automatic bill pay set up with a utility, insurance company, or subscription service. Each month when the payment processes, the fee appears on your statement.
If the charges are unexpected or you do not recognize the merchant, contact your card issuer when ready. Repeated unauthorized charges suggest your card information may have been used fraudulently. Your issuer can review the pattern and help you determine whether the charges are legitimate.
If the charges are legitimate but you want to stop them, contact the merchant and cancel the automatic payment or change your payment method. Ask them to confirm the cancellation in writing so you have proof if charges continue to appear.
Disputing a CSC charge with your card issuer
To dispute a CSC Service Work charge, contact your credit card issuer by phone or through your online account. Tell them the charge is unauthorized or incorrect, provide the date and amount, and explain that you either did not make a payment to any merchant or that the fee was added without your knowledge.
Your card issuer will open a dispute investigation. They will contact CSC or the merchant to gather information about the transaction. This process usually takes 30 to 60 days. During that time, the charge may be temporarily removed from your balance while the investigation proceeds.
Keep records of all communication with your card issuer and the merchant. If you spoke to the merchant by phone, note the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with. If you have emails or written confirmation that you did not authorize the charge, include those with your dispute. The more documentation you provide, the stronger your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CSC Service Work a scam?
CSC Service Work itself is not a scam — it is a legitimate payment processing fee. However, if you see the charge and did not authorize any payment to a merchant, it could indicate fraud. Check your statement for matching payments, and if you find none, contact your card issuer to report it.
Can I get the CSC charge refunded?
If the charge is legitimate and you authorized the payment to the merchant, the fee is usually non-refundable — it is part of the transaction cost. If the charge is unauthorized or the merchant charged you without permission, you can dispute it with your card issuer and request a refund.
Why did CSC charge me if I paid by bank transfer?
If you paid by bank transfer directly from your bank account, CSC should not have charged your credit card. Check your statement carefully to make sure the CSC charge is not from a different transaction. If it is truly separate from your bank transfer, contact your card issuer to report it as unauthorized.
Do all merchants using CSC charge this fee?
Most merchants using CSC's payment processing system incur a fee, but not all pass it to customers. Some absorb the cost themselves. If you are charged a fee by one merchant but not another, it reflects their individual policy, not CSC's system.
How do I stop automatic CSC charges?
Contact the merchant directly and cancel your automatic payment or recurring subscription. Ask them to send written confirmation of the cancellation. If charges continue after you cancel, contact your card issuer and report the unauthorized charges.