If a charge on your U.S. consumer credit card is unauthorized, contact the issuer immediately. If the problem is a billing error covered by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), send a written notice that reaches the issuer within 60 days after the first statement containing the error was sent.

For a delivery, price, duplicate-charge, or missing-refund problem, you can contact the merchant first. Don't wait for the merchant's answer if the 60-day deadline is close. This process is for U.S. consumer credit cards; debit cards, prepaid cards, ACH payments, and business accounts follow different rules.

Identify the problem before you dispute it

The description you give the issuer matters. An authorized subscription that continued after cancellation is different from a card number used by someone else. A purchase that never arrived is different from a purchase you simply no longer want.

A billing dispute is the general term for challenging a transaction with the issuer. The FCBA billing-error process is a federal procedure with specific notice and investigation requirements. A chargeback is usually a card-network process that the issuer may use to seek a reversal from the merchant's bank.

A merchant's return policy doesn't turn an unauthorized charge into an authorized one, and it doesn't correct a mathematical error. On the other hand, a chargeback isn't an automatic refund for buyer's remorse or ordinary dissatisfaction. The issuer will assess the transaction, the evidence, and the rules that fit the facts.

The FCBA deadlines

For a qualifying billing error, the written notice must reach the issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was sent. Use the statement that first showed the charge. The purchase date or posting date may be different.

Send the notice to the address listed for billing inquiries or billing disputes. That address may not be the same as the payment address. Check the back of the statement or the issuer's dispute instructions.

Once the issuer receives a qualifying notice:

• It generally must acknowledge the complaint in writing within 30 days, unless it has already resolved the issue.
• It generally must resolve the dispute within two complete billing cycles and no later than 90 days after receiving the notice.
• You generally don't have to pay the disputed amount or related finance charges while the issuer investigates.
• You still have to pay the undisputed part of the bill and continue paying new charges under the account terms.

If you changed your address, FCBA protections can depend on having sent the issuer the new address in writing at least 20 days before the end of the billing period. Keep your address current and open statements promptly.

The Federal Trade Commission's guidance on using credit cards and disputing charges describes the written-notice process and these time limits.

How to dispute the charge

1. Save the statement and secure the account

Download or copy the statement showing the charge. Note:

• Merchant name and billing descriptor
• Transaction and posting dates
• Amount
• Date of the first statement showing the charge
• Date you noticed the problem
• Any case or confirmation number from the issuer

For an unauthorized charge, lock the card if that option is available, call the issuer, and ask whether you need a replacement card. Check recent transactions for other unfamiliar activity. Change passwords that may have been exposed and enable multifactor authentication where available.

Don't wait for every document before reporting suspected fraud. The FTC advises consumers to report charges they don't recognize promptly and to review credit card statements regularly.

2. Contact the merchant for a purchase problem

For non-delivery, an incorrect price, a duplicate charge, or a missing refund, contact the merchant when practical. Email or a support form is preferable to an unrecorded phone conversation.

Include the order number, purchase date, amount, and the remedy you want. Keep the response. If the merchant never replies, record the dates and method of your attempts.

A good-faith attempt to resolve the problem can matter under the separate FCBA claims-and-defenses rules. It doesn't extend the FCBA 60-day deadline. For suspected fraud, contact the issuer directly rather than waiting for the merchant.

3. Notify the issuer in writing

Call the number on the back of the card or use the issuer's secure online channel to report the problem and obtain a case number. A phone or online report may start the issuer's internal process, but it may not replace the written notice required for the FCBA procedure.

If you want to use that procedure, send a letter to the billing-inquiries address on the statement unless the issuer clearly provides another written method. The letter should contain:

• Your name and mailing address
• The credit card account number
• Transaction date, merchant, and amount
• The date of the statement on which the charge first appeared
• A clear explanation of the error
• Your communications with the merchant, if relevant
• Copies of supporting documents
• A request that the issuer investigate and correct the account if appropriate

Send it early enough to arrive before the deadline. Use a trackable delivery method, keep a complete copy, and save the delivery record. Don't send original receipts.

A simple letter can read:

I am writing to dispute a $ charge from posted on and shown on my statement dated . I believe this is a billing error because . I contacted the merchant on , and the result was . Please investigate the charge, correct my account if the charge is an error, and send me your written determination. I have enclosed copies of .

Don't put your full card number in an ordinary email. Use the issuer's secure channel for sensitive documents.

4. Send evidence that answers the specific issue

Organize the documents around the reason for the dispute. Highlight the charge and explain what each attachment proves.

A police report or identity-theft report can support a fraud claim, but don't delay notification while waiting for one unless the issuer specifically asks for it. Keep the claim narrow and accurate.

5. Pay the undisputed balance

A dispute doesn't suspend the entire credit card account. Continue paying amounts that aren't part of the dispute and make payments by the due date.

For example, if a statement contains a $200 disputed charge and $600 in ordinary purchases, don't stop paying the full balance without checking how the issuer has treated the disputed amount. Pay the undisputed balance and ask the issuer how it has applied the account credit or payment. If the issuer later decides the charge was valid, read the decision promptly and check the resulting payment deadline.

6. Track the investigation

Keep a timeline showing:

• Date and method of each report
• Representative names or identification numbers
• Case numbers
• Documents submitted
• Acknowledgment date
• Requests for more information
• Temporary credits or reversals
• Final written decision

Some issuers provide provisional credit, but the FCBA doesn't require an immediate temporary credit in every case. Treat a provisional credit as conditional. It can be reversed after the issuer reviews the merchant's response or completes its investigation.

Special situations

Unauthorized or fraudulent charges

Report an unauthorized credit card charge as soon as you discover it. If the physical card was lost or stolen, federal law generally limits liability for unauthorized use to $50 when the applicable reporting requirements are met. If only the account number was used and the physical card wasn't lost, federal protections can be stronger. The issuer or card network may also offer zero-liability protection under its terms.

Don't describe an authorized transaction as fraud simply because the outcome was disappointing. If a canceled subscription continued billing, or a merchant promised a refund that never arrived, give the issuer those facts instead.

Recurring subscriptions

Cancel through the method required by the merchant's terms. Save the date, confirmation number, email, and a copy of the cancellation page. If another charge appears, contact the merchant and the issuer with that evidence.

Tell the issuer that the charge occurred after cancellation if that is the issue. Calling the entire subscription unauthorized may make the record less accurate. Continue checking statements for later charges.

Goods not delivered or not as agreed

Send the order record, promised delivery date, tracking information, and merchant correspondence. If the merchant says the package was delivered, explain why the available evidence doesn't establish receipt by you or an authorized recipient.

Changing your mind may not qualify as an FCBA billing error. The return policy and purchase terms may control that situation. The analysis is different when the item never arrived, the service wasn't provided, or the transaction materially differed from what was promised.

The $50 and 100-mile limitation

The FCBA has a separate claims-and-defenses provision for some disputes with a seller. It generally involves a purchase of more than $50 made in the consumer's state or within 100 miles of the billing address, along with a good-faith attempt to resolve the problem with the merchant. Exceptions can apply, including certain relationships between the issuer and the merchant.

This limitation isn't a universal cap on every credit card dispute. The FCBA billing-error notice procedure has separate categories, including some charges for goods or services not delivered as agreed. Describe the facts in writing and ask the issuer which process it is applying.

Billing disputes and chargebacks are not the same thing

The issuer usually decides whether to use a card-network dispute process and which network category or reason code fits. Visa and Mastercard can have different evidence requirements and response windows based on the transaction and dispute type.

Keep these points in mind:

• Don't assume a general chargeback deadline applies to your transaction.
• Ask the issuer when it needs your evidence.
• Ask whether the matter is being handled as an FCBA billing error, fraud claim, network chargeback, or another review.
• Respond to requests even if the merchant challenges your claim.
• Don't treat a temporary credit as final.

Network procedures don't replace the FCBA written-notice requirement. If the facts describe a billing error and the 60-day deadline is approaching, send the written notice even if an issuer representative says an online chargeback has been opened.

If the issuer denies the dispute

Read the denial alongside your records. Check whether the issuer used the wrong transaction date, misunderstood the merchant's response, or treated a cancellation or non-delivery claim as ordinary buyer's remorse.

You can then:

1. Ask for the documents and merchant information used in the decision if they weren't provided.
2. Send a concise written response addressing the specific reason for denial.
3. Label each attachment and state the date, amount, and fact it proves.
4. Ask whether the issuer offers an appeal or review process.
5. Check for a reinstated balance, finance charge, or new payment deadline.
6. If the issuer did not follow the required process, consider a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, your state attorney general, or the appropriate state financial regulator.
7. Review the card agreement before considering arbitration or small claims court. Those options depend on the agreement, facts, and applicable law.

A complaint or appeal doesn't guarantee a credit. It gives you a chance to correct a specific misunderstanding or show that the required process was not followed.

Mistakes that can weaken a dispute

• Waiting for the merchant until the 60-day deadline passes
• Reporting by phone but never sending the required written notice
• Mailing the notice to the payment address instead of the billing-inquiries address
• Stopping payment on the entire account
• Calling an authorized subscription charge fraud
• Sending documents without identifying the transaction they support
• Assuming provisional credit is permanent
• Filing duplicate or inaccurate claims
• Ignoring requests for documents or the final decision
• Using a general network deadline instead of the date supplied by the issuer

There is no single success rate that applies to all credit card disputes. The result depends on the dispute category, evidence, account history, merchant response, and deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Can I dispute a charge after 60 days?

Report fraud or contact the issuer as soon as you discover the problem. Missing the FCBA written-notice deadline can limit your federal billing-error protections, but the issuer's agreement or a card-network process may provide another route. Ask what options remain.

Do I have to contact the merchant first?

For an ordinary purchase problem, contacting the merchant is often useful and may matter for some claims-and-defenses arguments. It isn't a reason to delay the issuer. Report suspected fraud to the issuer immediately.

Will the issuer always give provisional credit?

No. Some issuers provide temporary credit during an investigation, but timing and eligibility vary. The credit can be reversed after the investigation.

Can I use the FCBA process for a debit card transaction?

No. The FCBA process described here applies to consumer credit cards. Debit card and electronic bank-account transactions generally use different error-resolution rules, reporting deadlines, and liability standards.

How long does a credit card dispute take?

A qualifying FCBA dispute generally must be acknowledged within 30 days and resolved within two billing cycles, with a maximum of 90 days. Network timing varies by issuer, card network, transaction type, and reason code. Ask the issuer for the case deadline instead of relying on a generic timeline.

If your 60-day date is near, send the written notice to the billing-inquiries address now and keep proof that the issuer received it. You can continue working with the merchant separately.