A “CTLP Air Vac Global” charge on your bank or credit card statement is a payment processed by Cantaloupe, Inc., a cashless payment technology company, for use of a self-service air or vacuum machine, usually at a gas station or car wash. The descriptor shows Cantaloupe’s name and NASDAQ ticker (CTLP) instead of the gas station or car wash brand because Cantaloupe supplies the card reader and runs the transaction through its own payment network. If the amount looks wrong or you want a receipt, call Cantaloupe’s consumer line at 1-888-561-4748 (option 1) to request a refund or documentation.1Cantaloupe. Consumer FAQs
Why Cantaloupe’s Name Appears Instead of the Gas Station
Cantaloupe manufactures and operates the card readers installed on self-service air compressors, vacuum stations, car washes, and similar coin-operated equipment. Its SEC filings list “air/vacuum” among the market sectors served by its ePort payment devices,2SEC. Cantaloupe Inc Form 10-K, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2021 and the company’s fiscal year 2024 10-K describes a partnership with a leading air vending operator “by equipping their machines with our cashless acceptance devices.”3SEC. Cantaloupe Inc Form 10-K, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 When you tap or swipe at one of those machines, the transaction posts under some combination of “CTLP,” “Air Vac,” and “Global” rather than the site’s brand name.
Why the Charge Amount Often Looks Wrong
Most surprise CTLP charges are not fraud; they’re pre-authorization holds. When you present a card at a self-service machine, the system places a temporary hold on your account, often for more than the eventual price, to confirm funds are available. If the hold is set to $5.00 but you use only $2.25 of air, your statement can briefly show a $5.00 pending charge. Cantaloupe states these holds “usually clear within 24–72 hours” once the bank posts the final amount.1Cantaloupe. Consumer FAQs
The math can look worse when several small purchases are made at once. A complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau in August 2025 described three separate $5.00 holds for three $1.50 sodas from a single vending machine before the amounts were adjusted downward.4BBB. Cantaloupe Inc Complaints Cantaloupe has introduced an “exact authorization” setting on some newer readers (G10 and G11 models in single-vend mode) that sets the hold equal to the actual price rather than a rounded-up estimate, but whether it’s enabled is up to the machine’s operator.5Cantaloupe. Understanding Exact Authorization – A Guide for Operators
Before disputing anything, check the statement a few days later. If the pending amount has already resolved to the correct final price, no further action is needed.
How to Get a Refund from Cantaloupe
If a hold hasn’t cleared after several days, or if the posted amount is higher than what you actually spent, contact Cantaloupe first. The consumer support line for transaction questions, receipt requests, and refund claims is 1-888-561-4748, option 1.1Cantaloupe. Consumer FAQs A separate general line for vending machine customers is 1-800-766-8728.6Cantaloupe. Contact Cantaloupe Have the date, approximate time, location of the machine, and the exact amount from your statement ready.
How to Dispute the Charge with Your Bank
If Cantaloupe doesn’t resolve the issue, you can file a billing dispute with your card issuer. Under federal law, a written billing error notice sent to the card company within 60 days of the statement date triggers an investigation; the issuer must acknowledge the dispute within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles.7CFPB. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill Report promptly. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency advises checking your account agreement for the correct address or method to report unauthorized use, since it may differ from the payment address.8OCC. Unauthorized Charge Steps Prompt notice also matters because it can limit your liability for unauthorized charges.
You May Not Owe for Air at All
A few states require gas stations to provide free air under specific conditions, which means some CTLP charges shouldn’t have happened in the first place. In California, any service station must offer free air, water, and a pressure gauge to customers who purchase motor vehicle fuel, under Business and Professions Code § 13651; noncompliant stations face $250 fines per valid complaint.9CDFA. California Business and Professions Code Sections 13650-13660 Connecticut requires licensed fuel retailers to provide an operable free air compressor during business hours to anyone who asks, under CGS § 14-325a.10Connecticut General Assembly. Office of Legislative Research Report 2019-R-0340 In other states, or at standalone air machines not tied to a fuel purchase, paying is standard, and those are the transactions that typically show up as CTLP charges.
Who Cantaloupe Is
Cantaloupe, Inc. was founded in 1992 as USA Technologies and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It rebranded and changed its NASDAQ ticker from USAT to CTLP in April 2021.11Nasdaq. USA Technologies Officially Launches as Cantaloupe Inc The company provides cashless payment hardware and software for unattended retail: vending machines, laundromats, car washes, amusement equipment, EV charging, parking meters, and the air and vacuum machines behind these charges.12Cantaloupe. Vehicle Services Cantaloupe was acquired by 365 Retail Markets in May 2026 and delisted from NASDAQ,13OCC. OCC Info Memo – Cantaloupe Inc though the CTLP billing descriptor can still appear on statements for transactions running through its installed readers.