Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Transit55% confidence

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) operates the Metrorail and Metrobus public transportation system serving Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Washington, DC
wmata.com

About Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is the regional public transit agency that runs Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess services across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. It provides rail and bus services to major destinations including downtown DC, suburban communities, and key hubs such as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Riders typically pay fares using SmarTrip cards, mobile payments, or contactless bank cards at station faregates, vending machines, or bus validators.

A charge with a descriptor mentioning “DC WASHINGTON INTER” and sequence details could plausibly relate to fare payment or card reload activity processed at a Metro station or transit vending machine, though the wording also strongly resembles generic bank text for international or interchange transactions. If the charge is from WMATA, it would usually reflect a SmarTrip card reload, a single ride, multiple trips over a period, or a stored-value auto-reload. Amounts are often relatively small or in round-dollar increments corresponding to fare additions. However, because the descriptor you provided does not explicitly include “WMATA,” “Metro,” or “SmarTrip,” there is some uncertainty and it could instead be a generic bank label for a different merchant located in Washington, DC.

To verify this charge, check recent SmarTrip usage in your WMATA account online or in the SmarTrip app to see if the transaction date and amount match your travel history. If you do not use WMATA or see no corresponding transit activity, contact your card issuer first to ask for more detail on the merchant ID and terminal location behind the charge, as that will definitively identify whether it is WMATA or another business. For confirmed WMATA-related charges, you can reach WMATA Customer Service through the contact information on wmata.com for assistance with disputed fares, card issues, or suspected card cloning on fare machines.

Bank Statement Variations

2 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

  1. POS Purchase DC WASHINGTON INTER POS Purchase DC WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL M WE SEQ# 565
  2. POS Purchase FORT TOTTEN WASHINGTON DC 00000001

Frequently Asked Questions

How do WMATA transit charges usually appear on my card statement?

WMATA charges most commonly appear with terms like “WMATA,” “METRO,” or “SMARTRIP,” sometimes followed by a station name or identifier. If your descriptor only shows generic bank text and “DC WASHINGTON,” ask your bank for the full merchant ID to confirm whether it is actually WMATA or a different merchant in Washington, DC.

What are typical amounts for WMATA charges?

Typical WMATA-related charges include small one-way or round-trip fare amounts, or round-dollar increments such as $5, $10, or $20 for SmarTrip reloads or auto-reload amounts. Larger or unusual amounts may indicate multiple reloads, a long series of trips, or that the charge is not WMATA at all and needs further investigation.

How can I confirm whether this charge is for a SmarTrip reload or Metro fare?

Log into your SmarTrip account on wmata.com or in the SmarTrip app, then review your transaction history for the date and amount of the charge. If you see a matching reload or fare transaction, the card statement charge is likely legitimate. If there is no match, contact your bank to request the underlying merchant details and then reach out to WMATA only if it is confirmed as a WMATA transaction.

Can WMATA place temporary authorizations or holds on my card?

When purchasing or reloading fares at vending machines or online, you may see a temporary authorization from your bank to verify available funds, which can look like a pending WMATA or DC-based charge. These authorizations typically fall off within a few days, leaving only the finalized fare or reload amount on your statement.

How do I dispute or ask about a specific WMATA fare charge?

First, gather the transaction date, amount, and any SmarTrip card details from your WMATA account. Then contact WMATA Customer Service via the phone number or contact form listed on wmata.com and provide those details. If your bank confirms that the merchant is not WMATA, you should instead open a dispute directly with your card issuer for potential fraud or billing error.

How do I prevent unexpected WMATA auto-reload charges?

If you use auto-reload for your SmarTrip card, sign into your account on wmata.com and review your auto-reload settings, including thresholds and funding card. You can adjust the reload amount, change the payment method, or turn off auto-reload entirely to avoid future automatic transit charges.

I don’t live near Washington, DC—could this be a fraudulent WMATA charge?

If you have not visited the Washington, DC region and do not hold a SmarTrip card, any transit-related charge associated with WMATA would be suspicious. Contact your bank immediately to block your card and open a fraud claim; ask them to confirm the merchant and terminal details so you can determine whether the charge is WMATA or another Washington, DC merchant mislabeled in the descriptor.

This merchant is in the Transit category

Browse all

Related Merchants

First Parking
Sydney Airport
SkyBus
GM Cabs
Translink

Compare Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

vsFirst ParkingvsSydney AirportvsSkyBus

Got more mystery charges?

Paste your bank statement codes and we'll tell you exactly who charged you.

Find out who charged you