Seeing an Essor charge on credit card can feel confusing if you don’t recall the purchase. Unfamiliar charges are often legitimate. This guide explains what the charge means, why it appears, and exactly what you can do next.
Table of Contents
What Is the Essor Charge?
An Essor charge on your credit card is typically a payment processed by Essor Limited, a UK company. Essor Limited operates Secret Food Tours and related brands such as Secret Tours and Local Food Tours.
These are guided walking food tours in more than 120 cities around the world. The charge appears when you (or someone using your card) books a tour through their website or partner platforms.
Common descriptor variants include:
- ESSOR LIMITED
- ESSOR LTD
- ESSOR LTD LONDON
- Secret Food Tours (sometimes mixed with Essor)
Typical amounts range from about $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on the city, tour length, and whether it is a private or group experience. Prices are set in the local or booking currency and convert at the time of purchase.
Why Did This Charge Appear?
The charge posts when a booking is confirmed and paid. Essor Limited handles the payment processing for its tour brands.
Common reasons include:
- You booked a Secret Food Tour or similar experience online.
- Someone in your household used the card for a tour gift or group booking.
- You purchased a gift voucher or private tour deposit.
- A travel agent or third-party site processed the booking under the Essor merchant name.
The company is registered in England and Wales (company number 08368703). It is the parent behind the well-known Secret Food Tours brand.
How to Verify the Charge
Follow these steps to confirm the source:
- Check the exact date, amount, and full descriptor on your statement.
- Search your email inbox for “Secret Food Tours,” “Essor,” or confirmation messages around the same date.
- Look for a booking reference, tour city, and date in any confirmation email.
- Log into the account used on secretfoodtours.com if you created one.
- Review recent travel or gift purchases made by family members who may share the card.
- Contact the company through the contact form on secretfoodtours.com or by emailing the support address listed on their site if no email appears.
Matching the amount and date to a confirmation email is the fastest way to verify it.
Is the Charge Legitimate or Fraud?
In most cases the charge is legitimate. Essor Limited is an established tour operator with hundreds of thousands of customers and strong ratings on major review platforms.
Common legitimate explanations
- Confirmed food tour booking in a city you planned to visit
- Gift voucher purchase
- Private or group tour deposit
Warning signs
- No matching booking email or confirmation
- Amount does not match any travel plans
- Multiple unexpected Essor charges appear
- You never visited the Secret Food Tours site and no one else uses the card
When to contact the bank: Reach out right away if none of the legitimate explanations fit. Ask your issuer to open a dispute while you investigate with the merchant.
How to Cancel Essor / Secret Food Tours Booking
Cancellation rules depend on how and when you booked. According to the company’s terms, most tickets are non-refundable once accepted.
- Locate your original booking confirmation email. It contains the reference number and any specific cancellation options.
- Visit secretfoodtours.com and use the contact form or email support with your booking details.
- Request a reschedule if the tour date has not yet passed. Many bookings can be moved to another date based on availability at no extra cost.
- Ask about credit toward a future tour. Credits are sometimes issued and remain valid for up to two years from the original booking date.
- If you booked through a third-party platform such as TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide, check that platform’s cancellation policy first. Some listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time.
- Keep records of all emails and responses.
Act as soon as possible. Policies become stricter closer to the tour date.
Can You Get a Refund?
Refunds are limited. The company’s standard terms state that tickets are generally non-refundable after acceptance.
Exceptions typically apply when Essor Limited itself cancels or reschedules the tour. In those cases you may receive a full refund or credit.
If the tour was canceled by the company, claim any refund within the time window stated in your confirmation (often one month from the original tour date). Credit, when offered, is usually valid for future bookings within two years.
If you believe the charge is unauthorized, start a dispute with your credit card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Provide the booking details or lack of them to support your case. Outcomes vary by issuer and the evidence you supply.
What to Do If the Charge Is Unauthorized
- Contact your credit card issuer immediately using the number on the back of your card.
- Report the charge as unauthorized and request a temporary freeze or dispute.
- Gather any emails, statements, or notes showing you did not authorize the purchase.
- Email Essor Limited support with the transaction details and ask them to investigate.
- Follow up with your issuer if the merchant does not resolve the issue quickly.
- Monitor the account for additional activity and consider a card replacement if fraud is confirmed.
Prompt reporting strengthens your protection under U.S. credit card rules.
Prevention Tips
- Save all booking confirmation emails in a dedicated travel folder.
- Use a virtual card number or secondary card for one-time travel purchases when possible.
- Review statements weekly so unfamiliar charges stand out quickly.
- Double-check the merchant name before completing any online tour booking.
- Enable real-time transaction alerts in your credit card app.
- Share card access only with people you trust and review joint activity regularly.
FAQs: Essor Charge on Credit Card
Q. What company is behind the Essor charge?
A. Essor Limited is a UK-based travel technology and tour operator. It runs Secret Food Tours and several related food and city tour brands across more than 120 cities.
Q. Why does the charge say Essor instead of Secret Food Tours?
A. Essor Limited is the legal company name that processes payments. Secret Food Tours is a trading name. Banks often display the legal merchant name on statements.
Q. Can I get a refund if I can no longer attend the tour?
A. Standard terms treat most tickets as non-refundable. You may be able to reschedule or receive credit for a future tour depending on timing and availability. Contact the company with your booking reference as soon as possible.
Q. Is Essor a scam?
A. No. Essor Limited is a registered and active company operating legitimate, highly rated food tours. Unrecognized charges are more often forgotten bookings or shared-card use than fraud, but always verify and contact your bank if nothing matches.
Conclusion
An Essor charge on credit card is usually payment for a Secret Food Tours experience or related booking handled by Essor Limited.
The company is a real tour operator with a global presence. Matching the amount and date to a confirmation email is the quickest way to confirm it is yours.
If the charge is legitimate and you need to change plans, contact the company promptly about rescheduling or credit options.
If nothing matches your records, report it to your credit card issuer right away. Staying on top of statement details keeps travel purchases clear and under your control.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Merchant policies, refund rules, and billing descriptors can vary. Always verify account-specific questions with the company or your card issuer.
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