How To Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card

Any unfamiliar charge on your credit card can (and often should) set off your financial alarm bells. You should act immediately upon finding such a transaction. But what do you do?

Disputing a charge typically starts by checking its details, but it can escalate to contacting the merchant and filing a dispute with your issuer within a specific window if the issue isn’t resolved. Let’s take a look at how to dispute a credit card charge — and how long it takes to complete.

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Key Takeaways

• How do you dispute a charge on your credit card? Act fast and start by reviewing it: Compare the charge against receipts and emails before assuming it's an error.

• Contact the merchant first when appropriate: It's often the fastest fix for a billing mistake, wrong amount or undelivered item.

• File with your issuer if the merchant won't resolve it: You can dispute by app, website, phone or in writing, with the charge details and supporting documents.

• The FCBA gives you 60 days: You generally have 60 days from the statement date to dispute a billing error or unauthorized charge.

• Resolution takes about 90 days: Issuers acknowledge within 30 days and must resolve within two billing cycles.

• Buyer's remorse doesn't qualify: You can dispute errors, fraud or undelivered goods — but not a purchase you simply regret.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card?

Step 1: Review the Charge Carefully

To dispute a charge on your credit card, you’ll first want to review it carefully. Merchants don’t always code in plain language on your transaction history; you may spot a company you’ve never heard of, but that doesn’t automatically mean it wasn’t you who made the purchase. 

Compare the charge with receipts, emails and shipping confirmations to try and find the exact amount charged to your statement. Your goal is to confirm whether this is an actual billing problem or something like a forgotten subscription.

Step 2: Contact the Merchant First if Appropriate

If you’ve confirmed that you didn’t make the purchase, it’s for the wrong amount, it’s a billing mistake or there's another qualifying circumstance (we’ll cover these in a minute), contacting the merchant first is often the fastest way to fix it. This can be simpler than a formal dispute. It can lead to a refund or replacement — or simply a corrected charge.

Don’t let the merchant drag out the resolution too long, though. You’ve only got a specific amount of time to file before you lose the ability to challenge that charge, typically 60 days. If the issue isn’t fixed quickly, move on to the next step.

Step 3: File the Dispute With Your Card Issuer

If you’re quite certain the charge is incorrect, and the merchant isn’t satisfying your request, it’s time to file a dispute with your card issuer. You can usually do this either via the financial institution’s app, website or customer service line. You can even send a written request if you prefer.

Be sure to include the charge date, the amount, the merchant name and a clear explanation of the problem. You may also have to manually include the account number, depending on how you’re filing. You should also be given the chance to submit any supporting documentation (receipts, screenshots, emails, etc.).

It’s worth following up with your bank or credit union. Keep a copy of everything you send and note the date you filed.

Learn More: Who Pays for Credit Card Fraud?

What Charges Can You Dispute?

Of course, not all charges are eligible for dispute. Things like unauthorized, fraudulent or duplicate charges qualify — as do incorrect amounts and payments for goods or services that weren’t rightly fulfilled. You can also dispute subscriptions, memberships or other recurring bills that you’ve been charged for even after cancellation.

Keep this simple rule in mind: If a charge doesn’t match what you’ve agreed to or what you received, you may be able to dispute it.

Can You Dispute a Charge You Willingly Paid For? 

Just because you’ve willingly initiated a transaction doesn’t mean your right to dispute is gone. Again, you may encounter billing errors, duplicate charges, or defective products or services.

Buyer’s remorse, on the other hand, is not grounds for dispute. If you later decide that you don’t want a product, even though the merchant honored its part of the deal, it’s not a valid dispute.

The FCBA 60-Day Window and What It Means

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) generally gives you 60 days from your statement date to dispute billing errors and unauthorized charges. Once that window closes, things get more complicated.

Even if your credit card network or issuer gives you a longer window to dispute, it’s still wise to take care of the problem as soon as you notice it. Best practice is to treat the 60-day period as a hard deadline and initiate the dispute process immediately.

How Long Does It Take To Dispute a Charge?

It usually takes up to 30 days for your issuer to let you know they’ve received your dispute. It can then take up to two billing cycles to finish the investigation. Expect around 90 days to button the situation up, assuming you’re swift in giving the issuer all the supporting documentation it requests.

Some issuers may credit your account while they review the charge, but that doesn’t mean the problem is resolved. Depending on what the merchant provides and what your documents show, they may take the money back. However, they can’t take legal action against you as long as your claim is still pending.

Learn More: How To Dispute a Debit Card Charge

What Documentation Helps Your Case?

If you’re thorough with your documentation, it can make your dispute much stronger. Keep meticulous records, including:

• Copies of receipts

• Invoices

• Screenshots

• Cancellation confirmations

• Shipping records

• Emails or chats with the merchant

Common Dispute Scenarios

Here are some common dispute-worthy scenarios to watch for:

• Fraud or an unauthorized charge

• A duplicate charge

• The wrong amount charged

• An item that never arrived

• A subscription that continued debiting your card after cancellation

• A service or product that was not delivered as promised

If the charge does not line up with what you agreed to and what you actually received, it may be worth disputing.

What Happens After You File?

After you file a dispute, your credit card issuer will investigate. It will likely ask the merchant to respond to the “allegations.” Pending the merchant’s response, the charge will either be removed or stay in place if the issuer decides the merchant’s records trump yours.

Be sure to respond as soon as possible if the issuer asks you for more information — and remember to keep copies of everything you submit.

Bottom Line 

The best way to dispute a credit card charge: quickly. Figure out whether the issue is fraud, a billing mistake or a merchant dispute. Then immediately reach out to the merchant and the issuer (whichever becomes necessary) before the FCBA filing window closes.

Key Terms

• Credit card dispute: A formal challenge to a charge you believe is wrong, unauthorized or unfulfilled.

• Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA): The federal law giving you 60 days to dispute billing errors and unauthorized charges.

• Billing error: A wrong amount, duplicate charge or charge for goods not delivered as agreed.

• Unauthorized charge: A transaction you didn't make or approve.

• Chargeback: The reversal of a charge when a dispute is resolved in your favor.

• Merchant: The seller you transacted with, often the fastest first point of contact.

• Provisional credit: A temporary refund some issuers apply while investigating.

• Billing cycle: The monthly statement period; issuers must resolve disputes within two of them.

Sources

• FTC: Disputing Credit Card Charges

• CFPB: What should I do if I have a billing error on my credit card?

• CFPB: Am I responsible for unauthorized charges? 

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

FAQs About Disputing a Credit Card Charge 

Can I dispute a credit card charge that I willingly paid for? 

Yes, you can dispute a credit card charge that you willingly paid for in some circumstances. For example, if you bought a product that arrived damaged or were double-charged for a single purchase, you have grounds to file a dispute. Just note that you can’t dispute a charge just because you’d like to return a product.

How long does it take to dispute a charge?

It generally takes around 90 days for a dispute to be resolved. This includes up to 30 days for an issuer to respond to your dispute, as well as another couple of billing cycles to reach out to the vendor for their side of the story.

How long do I have to file a dispute?

The FCBA gives you up to 60 days from the date of the first billing statement that contains the error to file a dispute. Your credit card issuer may give you more time, but it’s wise to stay within the FCBA window.

Should I contact the merchant before disputing a charge?

Yes, you should contact the merchant before disputing the charge. If it’s a legitimate issue, they should be able to make it right. If they’re dragging their feet or not acting in good faith, it’s worth escalating it to your issuer.

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