Paya

Financial Services90% confidence

Paya is a U.S.-based payment processing company that provides integrated credit/debit card, ACH, and check payment solutions for businesses, particularly in sectors like healthcare, education, non-profit, government, and utilities.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States
paya.com
Owned by Nuvei Corporation

About Paya

Paya is a payment technology company that offers integrated payment processing solutions for U.S. businesses, including card (credit and debit), ACH, and check processing services. Its platform is built to plug into front-end CRM systems and back-end accounting/ERP software so organizations can accept payments, reconcile invoices, and automate posting into their financial systems. Paya primarily serves middle-market and institutional clients across healthcare, education, non-profit, government, utilities, manufacturing, and other B2B verticals, processing tens of billions of dollars in annual payment volume from more than 100,000 customers.([linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paya?utm_source=openai))

A charge descriptor like “PAYA - WLV” typically indicates that a payment to a third-party merchant was processed through Paya’s gateway or merchant account, with the “WLV” portion most likely being an internal code, location code, or abbreviated merchant name. In many cases, these charges correspond to bill payments (such as utilities, tuition, medical bills, donations, or government/municipal fees), recurring invoices, or online/phone payments where Paya is the processor rather than the end merchant. The descriptor may show Paya’s name because the merchant uses Paya’s platform as its payment gateway or ACH processor rather than processing payments directly under its own name.([linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paya?utm_source=openai))

If you have questions about a Paya-related charge, start by checking recent bills, invoices, donation receipts, or online payment confirmations around the transaction date, especially for organizations that accept online payments (schools, clinics, utilities, municipalities, or non-profits). The paying organization (the actual merchant or biller) will usually be your primary point of contact for refunds, cancellations, or billing corrections, while Paya provides the underlying processing rails. If the merchant cannot be identified from your records, your bank or card issuer can provide additional detail from the transaction record (such as a phone number or more complete descriptor) to help pinpoint the originating merchant; they can also initiate a dispute if the charge appears unauthorized. For technical issues related directly to payment processing (failed or duplicate payments, ACH returns, etc.), the merchant may escalate internally to Paya or its support channels on your behalf.([support.paya.com](https://support.paya.com/310336-processing-transactions-through-the-paya-gateway-using-third-party-solutions?utm_source=openai))

Bank Statement Variations

1 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Paya.

  1. PAYA - WLV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paya and why does its name appear on my card or bank statement?

Paya is a payment processor that handles card, ACH, and check transactions on behalf of businesses and organizations. A descriptor like “PAYA - WLV” means your payment was routed through Paya’s system; the actual merchant is typically a biller such as a utility, school, medical provider, non-profit, or government office that uses Paya for payment processing.([linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paya?utm_source=openai))

How can I figure out which business is behind a “PAYA - WLV” charge?

Compare the date and amount of the charge to recent bills or invoices, especially for utilities, tuition, medical services, donations, or municipal payments you made online or by phone. Check email receipts for those payments—often the fine print or footer will mention Paya as the processor. If you still can’t identify it, contact your bank or card issuer and ask for the full transaction details, which may include the merchant’s name or phone number, then follow up directly with that merchant.

Can I get a refund for a payment that was processed by Paya?

Refunds must be initiated by the merchant or organization you paid, not directly by Paya. Contact the billing party (for example, your clinic, school, utility, or city office), reference the transaction date and amount, and request a refund or adjustment. The merchant can then issue the refund through their Paya portal, which will send the credit back to your original payment method.

Does Paya handle recurring or automatic payments, and how do I cancel them?

Yes, many merchants use Paya to manage recurring billing such as membership fees, tuition plans, or installment arrangements. To cancel or change an automatic payment, contact the organization that set up the recurring plan (not Paya directly) and request cancellation or modification. They can update or stop the schedule in their Paya system; always ask for written or emailed confirmation of the change.([support.paya.com](https://support.paya.com/44513-paya-products/308826-learn-more-about-paya-s-products?utm_source=openai))

Are small or duplicate-looking charges from Paya normal?

Some merchants using Paya may place small temporary authorization holds—often a low-dollar amount—to verify your card or bank details, especially when adding a new payment method or setting up autopay. These authorizations should either drop off within a few days or be reversed. If you see unexpected duplicate posted charges (not just pending holds), contact the merchant first to confirm whether multiple payments were intended, then work with your bank to dispute any truly erroneous or unauthorized transactions.

How can I get a receipt or invoice for a payment processed through Paya?

Receipts are issued by the merchant, not directly by Paya. Check your email (including spam/junk folders) for a confirmation from the organization you paid; many systems send an immediate receipt when a Paya payment is approved. If you can’t find it, contact the merchant’s billing or finance office and ask them to resend a receipt or statement referencing the date, amount, and the “PAYA - WLV” descriptor from your statement.

How do I contact someone if there’s a problem with a Paya-processed charge?

Your first contact should always be the business or organization you intended to pay—they can look up the transaction in their Paya dashboard using your name, date, and amount, then correct billing issues or request help from Paya support if needed. If you suspect fraud or cannot identify the merchant, immediately contact your bank or card issuer to report the transaction, request more details, and, if appropriate, file a dispute or block further charges.

Is Paya a legitimate company, and where is it based?

Yes. Paya (Paya Holdings, Inc.) is a long-established U.S. payment processor headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and it operates as a subsidiary of Nuvei Corporation, a Canadian fintech company. It is a PCI-compliant provider processing billions of dollars in annual volume across credit/debit, ACH, and check payments for over 100,000 customers.([linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paya?utm_source=openai))

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