A “PHLV LLC” charge on your credit card or bank statement is a payment processed by Peppermint Hippo, a gentlemen’s club chain with locations across the United States, including a venue on the Las Vegas Strip.1WhatsThatCharge. PHLV LLC If you recognize the visit, the charge is legitimate. If you don’t, federal law gives you a clear path to dispute it, and you have 60 days from the statement date to act.
What the Charge Means on Your Statement
PHLV LLC is the legal entity behind Peppermint Hippo. Nevada Secretary of State records list it as “PHLV, LLC dba Peppermint Hippo,” at 1531 Las Vegas Boulevard South.2Nevada Secretary of State. PHLV LLC DBA Peppermint Hippo Contributor Details The Las Vegas club opened in April 2022 on the former site of the Olympic Garden, and the brand also operates locations in Reno, Nevada; Akron, Ohio; North Little Rock and Fayetteville, Arkansas; Neenah, Wisconsin; and Pharr, Texas.3Peppermint Hippo. About Peppermint Hippo
The descriptor can appear in several forms on a statement. Common variants include “CHKCARDPHLV LLC,” “POS Debit PHLV LLC,” and “Visa Check Card PHLV LLC.” All reflect a transaction at one of the club’s locations.1WhatsThatCharge. PHLV LLC
One note on the name itself: the abbreviation “PHLV” is also used by Planet Hollywood (LV), LLC, a separate restaurant entity associated with Café Hollywood and the Earl Enterprises restaurant group.4Café Hollywood. Terms and Conditions Consumer charge databases consistently associate the “PHLV LLC” billing descriptor with Peppermint Hippo rather than the restaurant.1WhatsThatCharge. PHLV LLC
Before treating the charge as fraud, check whether anyone else with access to the card could have used it. A spouse, partner, adult child, or employee is a common explanation for a club charge the primary cardholder doesn’t remember making.
If You Don’t Recognize the Charge
The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) governs disputes over credit card billing errors and unauthorized charges. Your liability for unauthorized credit card charges is capped at $50 by federal law, and many issuers set that limit at zero as a matter of policy.5FTC. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Dispute the Charge Within 60 Days
Send a written dispute to your card issuer so that it arrives within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge first appeared. Address it to the issuer’s billing inquiries address, not the general payment address, and include your name, account number, and a description of the disputed charge.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation Z § 1026.13 – Billing Error Resolution Calling the issuer first is fine, and some issuers will try to resolve the matter by phone, but the written notice is what triggers your full FCBA rights.
You are not legally required to contact the merchant before filing a dispute, though some issuers will ask whether you tried.
What the Issuer Must Do
Your card issuer must acknowledge the dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within two complete billing cycles or 90 days, whichever comes first.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation Z § 1026.13 – Billing Error Resolution
While the investigation is pending, you can withhold payment on the disputed amount, and the rest of the bill must still be paid on time. The issuer cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent, attempt to collect it, or close or restrict the account solely because you exercised your dispute rights.5FTC. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
If the issuer finds the charge was an error, it must correct the bill and refund any associated interest or fees. If it finds the charge valid, it must explain the decision in writing and provide documentation on request.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation Z § 1026.13 – Billing Error Resolution
If the Card Was Stolen or Used by an Identity Thief
If you believe the charge is the result of identity theft, you can report it at IdentityTheft.gov. If a dispute outcome seems wrong, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.5FTC. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Why Prompt Action Matters
Disputed charges from adult entertainment venues can be harder to reverse than typical retail disputes when the business produces signed receipts, even where the patron contests having signed them. Industry cases have involved sizeable disputed amounts: a class-action lawsuit filed in late 2023 alleged that three Phoenix-area strip clubs defrauded customers of more than $1.1 million through forged signatures and unauthorized credit card charges, with the defense denying wrongdoing and citing issuer investigations that upheld the charges.7AZ Family. Phoenix-Area Strip Clubs Accused of Drugging Customers, Defrauding Them $1.1 Million There is no public evidence of similar fraud allegations against Peppermint Hippo. The lesson for a cardholder is simply practical: the sooner you dispute a charge you don’t recognize, the stronger your position, and the 60-day FCBA clock does not pause while you decide.