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Short answer: For a U.S.-issued credit card, the FCBA deadline for a qualifying billing error is generally 60 days after the issuer sent the first billing statement showing the error. The issuer must receive your written notice by then.

That isn't one universal deadline for every chargeback. You may also see 120 days or, in narrower situations, up to 540 days in card-network or issuer procedures. Those periods depend on the dispute reason, card network, and event that starts the clock. Don't wait for the longest possible window: contact the issuer as soon as you spot the problem.

This information is for U.S. credit cards. Debit cards, ACH payments, prepaid cards, and peer-to-peer transfers follow different rules.

Credit card dispute deadlines at a glance

Timeframe What it usually controls What you should do
60 days Written notice of a qualifying FCBA billing error Make sure the issuer receives your letter within 60 days after sending the first statement with the error
About 120 days A commonly used network or issuer window for some dispute reasons Check the issuer's instructions and file promptly
Sometimes up to 540 days Narrow network situations, including some delayed-delivery or nonreceipt claims Ask the issuer whether the specific reason qualifies and what date starts the clock
30 days The issuer's acknowledgment of a timely written billing-error notice Keep the acknowledgment; follow up if it doesn't arrive
Two complete billing cycles, but no more than 90 days The issuer's investigation and resolution of a qualifying notice Watch for the decision and respond to requests for information

The 20-, 30-, or 45-day response periods mentioned online usually concern a merchant or acquiring bank after a dispute has entered the card-network process. They aren't the FCBA deadline for sending your initial notice.

The Federal Trade Commission's guidance on disputing credit card billing errors describes the federal notice and investigation process.

Why 60 days and 120 days are different

People use "chargeback" to describe two related but separate routes:

An issuer might review a dispute after the FCBA period under a network rule or its own policy. That doesn't necessarily give you the same statutory protections. Likewise, a network deadline doesn't automatically make a dispute an FCBA billing error.

The often-cited 540-day period isn't a general deadline for credit card disputes. Some network procedures use longer limits for limited situations, such as certain goods or services that weren't received. The issuer has to confirm whether that exception applies and identify the applicable last day.

How to calculate the 60-day deadline

The clock generally starts on the date the issuer sent the first billing statement showing the error. It usually does not start on:

For example, if the first statement containing the charge was sent on March 3, the 60-day deadline would generally be May 2. Send the notice early enough to allow for delivery.

A future delivery, subscription, or service scheduled for a later date can complicate a network dispute. Network rules may use the expected delivery or service date instead of the transaction date. That doesn't make waiting a good idea; send the issuer the information as soon as the problem becomes clear.

There is also a specific address condition when the alleged error is that the issuer failed to send a bill to your current address. You generally must have provided the new address in writing at least 20 days before the billing period ended. That condition doesn't apply to every type of billing error.

Which problems may qualify as billing errors?

The FCBA process covers specific billing problems, not every dispute with a seller. Examples can include:

A chargeback isn't a guaranteed remedy for buyer's remorse, a lawful no-return policy, or general dissatisfaction that doesn't involve a billing error. Describe the particular problem and attach records that support it.

What to do before the deadline

1. Confirm how you paid

Check that the transaction was made with a credit card. A debit card, bank-account transfer, ACH payment, prepaid card, or payment-app balance may have a different deadline and dispute process. Tell the financial institution exactly which payment method was used.

2. Secure the account if the charge is unauthorized

Call the issuer right away using the number on the back of the card. Ask whether the card should be blocked or replaced. A phone call can start a fraud review, but don't rely on the call alone if you want to use the FCBA written-notice process.

3. Give the merchant a chance to fix a genuine mistake

Ask for a correction or refund, preferably in writing. The exchange may resolve the problem and will create a record of what happened.

Don't let that conversation run past the issuer's deadline. Contacting the merchant doesn't automatically extend or pause the 60-day period.

4. Send the issuer a written notice

Use the billing inquiries address on your statement or in the card agreement. That address may be different from the address used for payments.

Your letter should identify:

Include copies, rather than originals, of receipts, cancellation records, delivery details, refund confirmations, and other evidence. Send the letter with a delivery method that gives you confirmation, then keep the letter and tracking record. Don't include the full card number unless the issuer specifically asks for it.

5. Pay the part of the bill you don't dispute

Follow the issuer's instructions while the investigation is pending. Continue paying amounts that aren't in dispute and keep payment confirmations. Stopping payment on the entire account can create a separate delinquency problem.

Evidence that makes the dispute clearer

Put the records in date order. A useful file might contain:

For non-delivery, state the promised delivery date and when it passed. For a recurring charge, show when you canceled and identify the specific later charge you're disputing.

What happens after the issuer receives the notice?

For a qualifying written FCBA notice, the issuer generally must acknowledge the complaint in writing within 30 days, unless it has already resolved the issue. It then must investigate and resolve the dispute within two complete billing cycles, and no later than 90 days.

The issuer may ask for more information. Answer by the stated deadline and keep proof of your response. If the issuer doesn't acknowledge a timely notice, contact it and refer to the date it received your letter.

A temporary credit isn't always a final decision. The issuer can remove it if the investigation finds that the charge was valid. If your claim is denied, request the explanation in writing, ask what information was considered, and use any reconsideration or appeal process the issuer offers.

Situations that need extra care

Unauthorized charges

Report unauthorized activity as soon as you see it. Prompt reporting helps protect the account and may be required by the card agreement. Send the written billing-error notice even if the issuer has already opened a phone or online case.

Items or services not received

Keep the original promised delivery or service date, delay messages, and any notice that the merchant stopped operating or stopped responding. A longer network window may apply to some delayed-delivery claims, but the issuer must confirm the reason code and deadline.

Recurring subscriptions

Cancel through the method required by the merchant and save the confirmation. If another charge appears afterward, dispute that particular transaction promptly and attach the cancellation record.

Refunds that never appear

A merchant's promise to refund isn't the same as a credit posted to the card. Keep the refund confirmation, amount, and expected posting date. If the credit doesn't appear, send those records to the issuer.

What if the 60-day deadline has passed?

Send the dispute to the issuer immediately anyway. Explain why it is late and ask whether the issuer can review it under a network rule or internal policy. The issuer may reject the claim under the FCBA, and you don't automatically receive a 540-day exception.

You can also ask the merchant for a refund or correction. If the problem involves a contract, warranty, or another legal theory, a separate remedy may exist outside the card-network process. The available remedy depends on the facts and applicable law.

Common questions

Is the credit card chargeback deadline 60 or 120 days?

Both numbers appear because they describe different processes. The FCBA written-notice deadline for a qualifying billing error is generally 60 days after the issuer sent the first statement showing the error. A network or issuer procedure may use a different period, often around 120 days for certain dispute categories.

Does every dispute qualify for 540 days?

No. A longer period applies only to limited network situations, if it applies at all. Ask the issuer to identify the dispute reason and the exact last day for submitting it.

Can I file directly with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover?

Usually, you start with the card issuer rather than the network. The issuer decides whether the claim should proceed through a particular network process.

Does contacting the merchant extend the deadline?

Don't assume it does. Keep a record of the merchant contact, but send the issuer's written notice before the applicable deadline.

Find the first statement showing the error, mark the 60-day date, and send a clear notice to the issuer's billing inquiries address. If the charge is unauthorized, call the issuer immediately as well.