A charge labeled “UNW Media Gifts” on your credit or debit card statement is a donation processed by Northwestern Media, the Christian radio ministry of the University of Northwestern–St. Paul. If the charge repeats every month, you signed up for a recurring gift during a pledge drive or through the ministry’s online donation portal, and it will keep posting until you contact the university to stop it.1My Faith Radio. Frequently Asked Questions
How To Cancel the Charge
All donations route through the university’s centralized Gift Receipting department, which handles accounts for every station in the Northwestern Media network, including Faith Radio and LIFE-branded stations.1My Faith Radio. Frequently Asked Questions There is no self-service cancellation through the online portal; you have to reach the office directly.2University of Northwestern. Giving
- Toll-free: 855-448-3269
- Local: 651-631-5348
- Email: GiftReceipting@unwsp.edu
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time
Have your statement in front of you when you call or write, so you can give the charge amount and date.
Why Your Statement Says “UNW” Instead of a Station Name
Northwestern Media operates dozens of stations under local brands like 98.5 KTIS, LIFE, and Faith Radio, but every one of them is owned by a single legal entity: the University of Northwestern–St. Paul. Because all donations are processed by the university, the billing descriptor reads “UNW Media Gifts” rather than the name of the station you pledged to.1My Faith Radio. Frequently Asked Questions Tax receipts arrive under the university’s name for the same reason.
The ministry uses several labels for its monthly giving programs, including “Ongoing Monthly Giving,” “Recurring Giving,” “Sustained Giving,” and “TFN Giving.” Signing up for any of these authorizes a monthly charge to your card or bank account that continues indefinitely until you cancel.1My Faith Radio. Frequently Asked Questions
If the Charge Keeps Posting After You Cancel
If you’ve already contacted the Gift Receipting office and the charge still appears, you have options through your bank. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises notifying your bank or credit union in writing that authorization has been revoked. Once you do, any further charge is treated as an error and you can ask your financial institution for a refund. You can also request a stop-payment order on future charges from the merchant, though banks typically charge a fee.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Stop Automatic Payments From My Bank Account
For credit card charges, the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute a billing error in writing within 60 days of the statement date. Your card issuer then has 30 days to acknowledge the dispute and 90 days to resolve it.4Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
One caveat worth knowing: closing the credit card account does not automatically stop preauthorized charges if your agreement with the merchant is still in place.5Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Preauthorized Payments and Closed Accounts Cancel the gift with Northwestern Media first, then handle the card separately if you need to.