A “Canteen” charge on your bank statement is almost always a vending-machine purchase from Canteen, a division of Compass Group USA and the largest unattended retail provider in the country, with more than 230,000 connected vending machines across 48 states.1Canteen. Canteen Home If you tapped or swiped a card at a workplace, hospital, airport, or lobby vending machine, this is what shows up afterward.
What the Descriptor Looks Like
Canteen says its charges appear on statements in one of two formats. The first is USA Canteen Vending followed by the city and state where the machine sits. The second is CMS Vend*CV followed by an abbreviated city name. The first type is processed through Cantaloupe (formerly USA Technologies); the second runs through Crane.2Canteen. Frequently Asked Questions
The city tag is often the quickest way to jog your memory. If it matches a place you were on the date of the charge, a snack or drink from a nearby machine is the likely source.
If You Don’t Recognize the Charge
Canteen routes refund requests to whichever processor handled the transaction, so match the request to the descriptor on your statement.2Canteen. Frequently Asked Questions
- For USA Canteen Vending charges, contact Cantaloupe through its online refund form or by phone at 888-561-4748.
- For CMS Vend*CV charges, use Crane’s portal at cmsvend.com.
If the processor can’t resolve it, or if the charge looks like fraud rather than a forgotten purchase, dispute it directly with your bank or card issuer.
Why the Amount May Be More Than You Expected
For years, many Canteen machines ran a two-tier pricing system: one price for cash and a higher price for cards, with only the lower cash price shown on the machine. Customers who paid by card were charged roughly ten cents more per item without notice.3ClassAction.org. Class Action Alleges Canteen Vending Machines Charge More for Card Payments Named plaintiff James Jilek alleged that a soda marked $1.00 cost him $1.10 and a package of Skittles marked $1.25 cost him $1.35.4ClassAction.org. Jilek v. Compass Group USA, Inc., Consolidated Complaint
If the machine you used displayed a cash-discount sticker or a digital screen showing both cash and card prices, that gap was disclosed and is not the hidden surcharge the lawsuit was about.5ClassAction.org. $6.94M Canteen Vending Class Action Settlement
The Class Action Settlement Is Closed
The case, Jilek v. Compass Group USA, Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Compass Group agreed to pay $6.94 million into a settlement fund while denying any wrongdoing.6ClassAction.org. Jilek v. Compass Group USA, Inc., Settlement Agreement7Investopedia. Vending Machine Users in 38 States May Claim Part of $6.94M Settlement8PR Newswire. Canteen Vending Machine Class Action Settlement Notice
The claims deadline was November 14, 2025, and a federal judge granted final approval on January 9, 2026.7Investopedia. Vending Machine Users in 38 States May Claim Part of $6.94M Settlement9Law360. Vending Co. Will Pay Nearly $7M to Hidden Fee Class New claims are no longer being accepted. If you already filed a timely claim, payments are distributed from the settlement administrator; if you didn’t, the surcharge dispute is not something you can still recover on through this case, though you can still request a refund for any specific transaction directly through Cantaloupe or Crane.