A chargeback is a consumer protection mechanism that allows you to dispute a credit card charge and request a reversal from your card issuer. Protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), chargebacks cover unauthorized charges, billing errors, goods not received, and defective products.
16 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Try to resolve with the merchant first — Contact the merchant's customer service to request a refund. Many issues can be resolved directly. Keep records of your attempts (emails, chat logs, call no...
- Gather supporting evidence — Collect: receipts, order confirmations, tracking information, photos of defective items, screenshots of advertised terms, correspondence with the merchant, and any refu...
- Contact your credit card issuer — Most banks allow disputes online (log into your account and find "dispute a charge"), by phone, or by mail. Online is fastest. Explain why you are disputing the ch...
- File within the deadline — You have 60 days from the date of the statement containing the charge. For fraud, contact your bank immediately regardless of timing.
- Provide documentation — Submit all evidence supporting your dispute. Be specific about the reason (fraud, item not received, defective product, duplicate charge, incorrect amount, canceled subscrip...
- Receive provisional credit — Most banks issue a temporary credit to your account within a few days while they investigate.
- Bank investigates — Your bank forwards the dispute to the merchant's bank. The merchant has a set time to respond with evidence supporting the charge.
- Resolution — The bank makes a final decision based on evidence from both sides. If decided in your favor, the provisional credit becomes permanent. If decided against you, the credit is reversed.
- Appeal if necessary — If you disagree with the decision, you can request a second review with additional documentation. You can also escalate to the card network (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) for arbitr...
2. Key Details
- FCBA protects credit card holders (not debit cards, though Regulation E provides some debit card protections)
- Chargeback reasons: fraud/unauthorized use, item not received, item significantly not as described, duplicate charges, incorrect amount, canceled recurring charge
- Timeline: 60 days from statement date (federal law). Some issuers allow longer.
- Resolution typically takes 10-45 days
- Filing a dispute does NOT affect your credit score
- Provisional credits appear within a few days of filing
- Merchants can contest chargebacks with evidence
Common Mistakes
- Not trying to resolve with the merchant first (weakens your case)
- Missing the 60-day window
- Not providing enough documentation
- Filing chargebacks for buyer's remorse (not a valid reason — you must have a ...
- Not monitoring the dispute status for follow-up requests
Pro Tips
- Take screenshots of product listings and terms before purchasing (in case the...
- Save all order confirmation emails and tracking information
- Set calendar reminders to review credit card statements monthly
- For recurring subscription charges you canceled, keep the cancellation confir...
- If the merchant went out of business, you have strong chargeback grounds