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Whether you found a billing error on your credit card statement, suspect a fraudulent charge or simply aren’t satisfied with a product you purchased, the Fair Credit Billing Act of 1974 (FCBA) gives cardholders recourse to dispute charges and get their money back. But that grace period comes with a time limit, as disputes must be submitted in writing no later than 60 days after your credit card statement is issued.
Here’s what you need to know about the FCBA, including credit card dispute time limits, valid reasons for filing a dispute and how long credit card disputes take once they are filed.
» MORE: How to dispute a credit card charge
Understand your legal rights
The ability to dispute false charges isn’t just a courtesy extended by credit card issuers; it’s a legal right protected by the FCBA. In accordance with that federal law, you have 60 days from the date your credit card statement is issued to dispute a billing error. To comply with this policy, your dispute must be submitted in writing.
🤓Nerdy Tip
The legal minimum time frame for filing a dispute is 60 days,but some credit card processors allow for a longer window. For example, Visa, Mastercard and American Express each allow chargeback requests up to 120 days from the date of the transaction in certain cases. If it’s been longer than 60 days, check with your issuer directly to determine whether you can still file a dispute.
Once you’ve filed your dispute, the FCBA provides that the credit card issuer must acknowledge receipt of your dispute and launch an investigation within 30 days. From there, it has 90 days to either resolve the dispute with a credit to your account or provide a written explanation of why the charges stand.
Before you dispute a credit card charge
Although all cardholders have the legal right to dispute unfair credit card charges, the process can be complicated, so it’s best to make sure your dispute is valid before filing it.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Disputes can’t be filed on pending charges, so if you see a suspicious transaction, you’ll have to wait until it has fully processed. Note that pending transactions can sometimes be caused by credit card holds, meaning they don’t match the final amount that will be charged.
To save yourself from unnecessary paperwork, take these steps before you follow through with initiating a dispute:
Run a search on the name of the company. Some companies operate under multiple names, using one name for customer-facing purposes and a different one for operations and logistics. If you see a transaction from a company name you don’t recognize, a quick online search may help you realize what the charge is.
Check your email, past statements and other payment records. Do you have a free trial or subscription that you forgot to cancel? Or do you have recurring but infrequent charges, like an annual bill? If you take a few minutes to check through your email for order confirmations and review past credit card statements, that will help ensure this isn’t a charge you simply forgot about.
Talk to authorized users to see if they recognize the charge. If your spouse, child, employee or anyone else is an authorized user on your credit card or has access to use the card, they may be the source of the unrecognized transaction.
Contact the merchant directly. If you’re certain there was a billing error — or alternatively, if you’re simply not satisfied with a product you purchased — contact the merchant directly. Explain the issue with the transaction and request a chargeback. If the chargeback is approved, the transaction will be reversed and funds will be returned. And even if the merchant is uncooperative, that documentation will help speed up the investigation once your dispute is filed.
Put your dispute in writing
Although it may make sense to initiate a credit card dispute online or by phone, full compliance with the FCBA requires that you follow up that initial contact in writing within that 60-day window. This ensures that both you and your credit card issuer have record of the dispute and that an investigation can be conducted with accurate information.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Many major issuers offer options to dispute a charge in writing from your online account. Simply go to your account activity, select the charge in question and look for a link that says “report a problem,” “dispute charge” or similar. Then follow the prompts to complete your written dispute.
Your written dispute should include your name and account number, the date you’re filing the dispute, the date of the transaction in question and an explanation of why you’re disputing the transaction. If you’re dissatisfied with the quality of a product and have already reached out to the merchant, include that information as well. And make sure to include copies of any supporting documentation.
» MORE: When credit card disputes become 'friendly fraud'
FAQs
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following. You have up to 60 days from the date your credit card statement is issued to dispute a charge, according to the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Is there a time limit to dispute a credit card charge? ›
However, there's a catch: you need to dispute charges within 60 days from when the purchase appeared on your statement. Since that's a relatively small timeline, make sure you regularly review your credit card account for signs of billing errors.
Can I dispute a charge from 1 year ago? ›
What's the Time Limit for Filing a Chargeback? Each card network and issuing bank sets its own time limits for filing a chargeback, but U.S. law sets a minimum time limit of 60 days. Most banks give cardholders 120 days to dispute a charge.
What is the 540 days chargeback rule? ›
On the other hand, when disputes are related to services not provided, merchandise not received or not as described, or defective merchandise, cardholders have 540 days to file. The 120-day time limit begins counting from the day the fraud is identified by the Merchant Fraud Performance Program.
Can I dispute a credit card charge that I willingly paid for? ›
Can I dispute a credit card charge I willingly paid for? You should never dispute a credit card charge you willingly paid for. Not only is doing so unethical, but you won't be able to keep the initial credit you receive if you don't deserve it.
How late is too late to dispute a charge? ›
The legal minimum time frame for filing a dispute is 60 days, but some credit card processors allow for a longer window. For example, Visa, Mastercard and American Express each allow chargeback requests up to 120 days from the date of the transaction in certain cases.
Can you dispute a credit card charge after 120 days? ›
For most disputes the time frame is 120 days (U.S.) and 180 days (International) from the transaction date of the original sale or the date of discovery of the issue (i.e., defective merchandise). However, in some instances the time frame may be longer or shorter depending on the specific reason code.
Can I dispute a 2 year old transaction? ›
Typically, they allow customers around 120 days from the date they made a purchase or noticed an issue to file a chargeback. This time frame ensures customers have a fair chance to dispute transactions they believe are incorrect or fraudulent.
How successful are credit card disputes? ›
You might not always get a fair outcome when you dispute a chargeback, but you can increase your chances of winning by providing the right documents. Per our experience, if you do everything right, you can expect a 65% to 75% success rate.
What happens if you falsely dispute a credit card charge? ›
Filing false chargebacks can lead to legal repercussions, as it can be deemed as fraud. If a cardholder knowingly disputes valid transactions to evade payment, they could face criminal charges, fines, or even imprisonment.
You typically have up to 120 days to get your claim in
The rules set by Visa, Mastercard and American Express only usually give you 120 days to get a claim in – and the clock usually starts ticking from the date of the payment, though it does depend on the type of situation. Here are some examples: Broken goods.
What is an illegal chargeback? ›
Chargeback fraud, also known as friendly fraud, cyber shoplifting, or liar-buyer fraud, occurs when a consumer makes an online shopping purchase with their own credit card, and then requests a chargeback from the issuing bank after receiving the purchased goods or services.
Can a company sue me for a chargeback? ›
The business can sue the person who issued the chargeback in small claims.
Who loses money when you dispute a charge? ›
With disputes, though, the bank pays the consumer up front. They then claw back the transaction amount from the merchant's account. Chargebacks can wreak havoc on your cash flow and profitability. This FREE paperback book is your guide for preventing chargebacks and, when they happen, fighting them more effectively.
What to do if a merchant refuses to refund? ›
If asking the merchant for a refund didn't work, request a chargeback with your credit card issuer. Many card issuers let you dispute transactions by phone, mail or online. You may also be able to submit a dispute directly through your card issuer's mobile app.
Can I dispute a charge if I'm not satisfied? ›
You don't need to talk to the issuer before disputing a payment in cases of fraud or billing errors. But if you're simply dissatisfied with a purchase, the law requires you to make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue with the merchant first.
Can you dispute a credit card charge after 6 months Chase? ›
You typically have 60 days from the statement date that reflects the unauthorized charge to dispute it. The time limit may also depend on your card issuer, so check your cardmember agreement to confirm how much time you have.
What is the federal law for credit card disputes? ›
Consumers have 60 days from the time they receive their bill to dispute a charge with the card issuer or other lender. While the FCBA protects consumers from unfair billing practices, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) addresses practices involving the use of a consumer's personal information.
How long does a merchant have to finalize a transaction? ›
Generally speaking, credit card issuers don't have a time limit for charging a customer's credit card. The issuing banks, however, will often impose a limit on merchants for charging. These limits can range anywhere from three to 30 days.
